This is a gallery of video and photos of several modifications done to standard Brickmania UH-1 Iroquois kits. The UH-1 Iroquis kit is one of the Durabuilder series, which means it was designed to be played with, but does not have the details of more premium priced Brickmania kits. The purpose of this gallery is to give ideas for people who are interested in adding another level of realism to their UH-1 models.  There are three models featured in this gallery, all of which were built using UH-1 kits plus some extra pieces from my own collection.

UH-1D with Doors and Machine Gun

Basically a UH-1 kit straight from the box, but with “sliding” doors and machine gunner added.

The gun is a prototype BrickArms M60. Until these become production items, a cheaper solution would be a BrickArms Combat LMG.  Note the arrangement of the round plates and tile in the door design. This is to enable the door to be attached at an able that conforms with the chopper body. There are other ways that doors can be attached, but I have found this to be the sturdiest.

I like to use the old castle body armor to simulate a flak jacket (it also covers up unwanted printing). The helmet is from a star was set. Both were purchased from Bricklink.

Motorized UH-1C Gunship

This UH-1C Gunship is a heavily modified Iroquois kit. The UH-1C has a shorter fuselage than the UH-1D/H and therefore the kit has been shortened by three studs.

This model has a Lego motor to power the main rotor shaft. Power is transferred to the tail rotor using a belt made from fishing line strung between a couple of pulleys.

The rotor is connected to the motor with a Technic axle and 5-stud technic plate as shown. If the blades were not locked together in the fashion they would fly off when the motor was powered up.

Gunship armaments (L-R): BrickArms prototype M60 LMG, 5-inch rocket pod (made using seven pieces of cut Lego flex tubing and healed together with rubber bands) and a BrickArms Minigun.

I have used the smaller Lego Power Functions motor in this helicopter. It fits inside the helicopter, but it requires some creative modifications to the design.

Notice the hole in the bottom of the model where the motor’s wire exits the aircraft.

Extensive changes to the landing skid assembly had to be made to accommodate the shorter fuselage. Those black bricks are 1×1’s with a stud one one side.

Of course every modification needs to include pilots!

Motorized UH-1D Transport Slick

I have also added a motor to  another UH-1D Iroquois (the same arrangement as the UH-1H kit). On this kit I experimented with ways to keep the fishing line from slipping on the pulleys. Here I have added a black rubber band from an old 4.5v train wheel to the pulley and it does an amazing job gripping the fishing line “belt”.

This train wheel with a built-in rubber traction band also works great. They’re relatively easy to get and also come in black.

The guy in the left is armed with a BrickArms M16 and the gunner on the right is equipped with a BrickArms prototype M60. The left hand torso comes in a currently available Lego Star Wars set and the torso on the right has a decal from Fine Clonier.

Electrical lead for motor.

Thanks for checking out this gallery…  I hope it gives you some ideas!

This entry was posted by Dan.