What if the Gazelle was upgraded from a single 590hp Turbomeca Astazou III to a pair of 890hp Rolls-Royce Gem 2s?
It might provide a handy performance boost.
Should prolly also get more fuel capacity.
I'm not completely sold on "Super Gazelle" as a name.
The beginning.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48509844887_0756e0e205_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2gUDCPZ)Suoer Gazelle Start (https://flic.kr/p/2gUDCPZ) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
Today I put the cockpit together gluing as much liquid gravity as I could to the underside in an attempt to pre-empt tail sitting.
I also started to put the engines together.
Kudu?
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e4/Male_greater_kudu.jpg/220px-Male_greater_kudu.jpg)
Eland?
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Taurotragus_oryx_-_young_bull_-_Etosha_2015.jpg/220px-Taurotragus_oryx_-_young_bull_-_Etosha_2015.jpg)
Springbok?
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Antidorcas_marsupialis%2C_male_%28Etosha%2C_2012%29.jpg/260px-Antidorcas_marsupialis%2C_male_%28Etosha%2C_2012%29.jpg)
Maybe not the Springbok, it's a bit lightweight. ;)
Thanks for the suggestions. Oryx I think.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/The_book_of_antelopes_%281894%29_Oryx_beatrix.png)
The Arabian Oryx became extinct in the wild in 1972. ISTR reading about them being hunted from helicopters with high powered rifles which to my mind makes the name appropriate.
I assume that's one of the Italeri re-pops Tamiya do for their home market ?
Interesting to see what you do with this, and then the left over bits ?
Quote from: zenrat on August 11, 2019, 05:16:17 AM
Thanks for the suggestions. Oryx I think.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/The_book_of_antelopes_%281894%29_Oryx_beatrix.png)
Sorry to party poop, but the Oryx is already taken, incidentally by South African Atlas Co, for their indigeneous Aerospatiale Puma update..
Quote from: Pellson on August 15, 2019, 09:04:27 AM
Sorry to party poop, but the Oryx is already taken, incidentally by South African Atlas Co, for their indigeneous Aerospatiale Puma update..
But this is WhiffWorld, so perhaps they haven't here................... ;) ;D
...and who is to say that Aerospatiale did not chose that name first ! :wacko:
Thanks Pellson.
This (at risk of setting off an outbreak of Pythonitis) is an Arabian Oryx. You are thinking of an African Oryx. They can carry more. ;)
I did a search for Aerospatiale Oryx. Nothing showed up. That is enough due diligence for me so i'm keeping the name.
I'm more surprised that there never was a twin engined Gazelle.
Fuselage is adjoined and engines are in place. The red hand gang are just resting their feet for the moment.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48549975556_47273ba635_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2gYcjh5)Aerospatiale Oryx WIP 16-08-2019 02 (https://flic.kr/p/2gYcjh5) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48550121092_3a2793cf1a_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2gYd4xj)Aerospatiale Oryx WIP 16-08-2019 01 (https://flic.kr/p/2gYd4xj) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
That looks seriously overpowered! :lol:
Quote from: Dizzyfugu on August 16, 2019, 05:53:21 AM
That looks seriously overpowered! :lol:
Yes, those engines could be used on a 1/48 Gazelle. <_<
:o :o a beast in the making... :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Three times the power. So surely three times as fast... ;D ;D :mellow:
As my last three completed flying thing builds have all been civilian aircraft the in the interests of balance I suppose I should arm this to the teeth.
The Mangusta has stub wings with rocket pods and TOW missiles to hang from them.
That red plastic is going to take some covering, especially on the crew figures.
Looking good sir :thumbsup:
Thanks Chris.
I may ditch one of the figures in favour of another from the stash. They look a bit ridiculous sitting there in exactly the same pose.
The red plastic is one reason it's not going to be a police chopper in white or pale grey.
Quote from: zenrat on August 17, 2019, 06:51:31 AM
The red plastic is one reason it's not going to be a police chopper in white or pale grey.
With you on that one. I've only ever had a couple of kits moulded in that colour plastic and thankfully they were all when I was a kid and it was all about getting them up and running rather than the finishing of them.
Quote from: zenrat on August 17, 2019, 06:51:31 AM
Thanks Chris.
I may ditch one of the figures in favour of another from the stash. They look a bit ridiculous sitting there in exactly the same pose.
The red plastic is one reason it's not going to be a police chopper in white or pale grey.
You could make it Military Police ... it'd go with their red caps ....
I ordered some resin & PE hellfires yesterday. So maybe Military Police Riot Control...
Test fitted the glazing today to find that the front of the instrument panel needed a trim to get the "glass" to fit.
Riot control with Hellfires? :unsure: Rather sounds like zombie apocalypse...
Quote from: Dizzyfugu on August 19, 2019, 07:44:54 AM
Riot control with Hellfires? :unsure:
For breaking down the barriers? :unsure:
Quote from: Old Wombat on August 19, 2019, 08:15:28 AM
Quote from: Dizzyfugu on August 19, 2019, 07:44:54 AM
Riot control with Hellfires? :unsure:
For breaking down the barriers? :unsure:
You need to nip civil unrest in the bud or it snowballs.
Today I added fuel tanks. Dragon MiG 15 slipper tanks.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48583334272_2c31e856d2_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2h29hEm)Aerospatiale Oryx WIP 20-08-2019 (https://flic.kr/p/2h29hEm) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
Quote from: Old Wombat on August 19, 2019, 08:15:28 AM
Quote from: Dizzyfugu on August 19, 2019, 07:44:54 AM
Riot control with Hellfires? :unsure:
For breaking down the barriers? :unsure:
"Crowd Control from the Air? That's been tried before, y'know - didn't work out so well."
"Where was that?"
"Place called Vietnam."
"Oh, yeah - well, we've added a few new wrinkles."
Same chopper, too... for a given value of 'same'.
The beauty of crowd control with Hellfires is that once the demonstrators have been cleaned up by street sweepers then the next rainstorm just washes what is left down the drains.
Today, stub wings (from the Mangusta). Tomorrow, primer.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48598241982_c396b9c9e0_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2h3sGcQ)Aerospatiale Oryx WIP 22-08-2019 (https://flic.kr/p/2h3sGcQ) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
You know, with the tape and foam in place of the actual transparencies and missing the rotor, this makes for a really convincing sci-fi anti-grav drone! :thumbsup:
Quote from: ChernayaAkula on August 26, 2019, 02:59:39 PM
You know, with the tape and foam in place of the actual transparencies and missing the rotor, this makes for a really convincing sci-fi anti-grav drone! :thumbsup:
I've seen quite a cool hopper based on the Bo-105, so why not a Gazelle?
Looks like Blue Thunder 2.0! <_<
I had contemplated building Blue Thunder. I even found some plans on the interweb. Maybe I still will if I get hold of another Gazelle.
Primed.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48629865007_1c1cd33939_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2h6fLCp)Aerospatiale Oryx WIP 26-08-2019 (https://flic.kr/p/2h6fLCp) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
Painting has commenced.
Base of dark yellow followed by green. Black to come.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48646574121_5d38fc44de_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2h7JpEz)Aerospatiale Oryx WIP 30-08-2019 (https://flic.kr/p/2h7JpEz) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
:thumbsup:
I've enjoyed painting this. I did it the old fashioned way (well, to me anyway). Using a brush and making up as I went along. No referring to plans or pre-drawing pencil lines on the base colour. Just how I used to do it.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48652234207_7b3f539272_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2h8eqdg)Aerospatiale Oryx WIP 31-08-2019 (https://flic.kr/p/2h8eqdg) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
I like that scheme...............a lot :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
More and more interesting.
Scheme is loosely based on this.
(https://www.ainonline.com/sites/default/files/styles/ain30_fullwidth_large_2x/public/uploads/2017/03/weboz-army-tiger-helos.jpg?itok=DS4LxHr3×tamp=1488915600)
Thought I recognised it. Looks good! :thumbsup:
I sourced some transfers for this last night.
An Australian Army Eurocopter Tiger set from Ronin Decals (https://roningraphicsaustralia.com).
Started painting the rotors today.
Transfers arrived today so I cleared the fuselage.
When I de-masked the rotors a couple of days ago the tape removed some of the paint from the yellow tips. I was going to respray them but this looks like deliberate weathering so i'll claim it as such and leave it be.
;)
Decals are on and I have painted the crews boots and helmets.
I've hit a problem. Its legs are too short (or its wings are too low).
There isn't room to fit a four pack of Hellfires (or the TOW four pack or Rockets in a tube from the Mangusta) between the underside of the wings and the ground.
Oops. I should have checked that before I put the wings on.
Options include spacing the Hellfires as a single row of four on each side rather than two rows of two, mounting the TOW four packs on top of the wings or using SNEBs instead.
Option two will obscure the kangaroo transfers on the fuselage while option three would seem to not be taking advantage of the power of those engines.
Maybe i'll see what else I have in the weapons stash. Exocets? KH-29s? ASM-2s? Those Swedish things Airfix put in the Viggen kit? Prolly al to large also.
After that discovery I started to look at fitting the glazing.
A tip for anyone building one of these in the future. Check the fit and make any adjustments to the rear side glazing (it fits from the inside) before putting the fuselage halves together. It would have been a lot easier than doing it with the interior in the way.
Quote from: zenrat on September 13, 2019, 03:33:53 AM
I've hit a problem. Its legs are too short (or its wings are too low).
I felt this coming when I saw the last WiP pictures.
Problem solved. I can fit three Hellfires under each wing. I'm going to save the Eduard resin & etch examples I bought for this for later and use injection moulded ones from an Italeri Blackhawk.
Nearly done. Today I installed the crew. As I used superglue I thought it best not to also fit the glazing lest the glue fumes cloud it.
I did also fit the Hellfires. They are close to the ground but there is clearance. I should get it finished tomorrow or Thursday.
Finished. Beauty pics soon.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48753792232_956ef3708c_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hhcVSG)Aerospatiale Oryx Finished 18-09-2019 (https://flic.kr/p/2hhcVSG) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
:thumbsup:
Come out very well mate :thumbsup:
Man that looks so good, a Gazelle GTI. :thumbsup:
Quote from: JayBee on September 18, 2019, 11:46:40 AM
Man that looks so good, a Gazelle GTI. :thumbsup:
Have you hacked my toplap and been reading my draft back story?
A big beauty of a beast indeed, excellent work, Fred! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
My original intention with my Airfix Gazelle was to convert it to the Blue Thunder. Probably found the same build thread you did, which was the motivator for buying the kit but once I bought the 32nd Monogram Blue Thunder kit from our fellow whiffer Bungle, i just went ahead with a slight whiff for the PoAF with it.
Blue Thunder is still on the cards when I find another Gazelle. Shouldn't be too hard as they knocked them out in a number of releases. And who knows, maybe Airfix will re-pop it?
Aérospatiale SA 345 Oryx
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48780573728_fb0cc47f36_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hjzc5C)Aerospatiale Oryx - 14 (https://flic.kr/p/2hjzc5C) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
The Aérospatiale SA 341/342 Gazelle is a French five-seat helicopter, commonly used for light transport, scouting and light attack duties. It is powered by a single Turbomeca Astazou turbine engine and was the first helicopter to feature a fenestron tail instead of a conventional tail rotor. It was designed by Sud Aviation, later Aérospatiale, and manufactured in France and the United Kingdom through a joint production agreement with Westland Aircraft. Further manufacturing under license was performed by SOKO in Yugoslavia and the Arab British Helicopter Company (ABHCO) in Egypt.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48780574693_2b4940f607_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hjzcng)Aerospatiale Oryx - 2 (https://flic.kr/p/2hjzcng) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
The Oryx is the Gazelle's faster and stronger sibling. Replacing the single 590hp Astazou with a pair of 890hp (each) Rolls-Royce Gem turboshaft engines resulted in the ability to carry a heavier weapons load and to travel higher (20,000ft as opposed to 16,000) and faster (250mph compared to 190). It can also travel further thanks to additional tankage. To use motoring terminology the Oryx is the V8 Grand Tourer to the Gazelle's four-cylinder fleet model.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48781112902_71571a7d67_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hjBXmJ)Aerospatiale Oryx - 11 (https://flic.kr/p/2hjBXmJ) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
Since being introduced to service in 1978, the Oryx has been procured and operated by a number of export customers. It has also participated in numerous conflicts around the world, including by Syria during the 1982 Lebanon War, by Rwanda during the Rwandan Civil War in the 1990s, and by numerous participants on both sides of the 1991 Gulf War. In Australian service, the Oryx has been supplemented as an attack helicopter by the Eurocopter Tiger, but remains in use primarily as a communications and scout helicopter.
[Text shamelessly plagiarised from Wikipedia]
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48780574248_094fcd165f_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hjzceA)Aerospatiale Oryx - 8 (https://flic.kr/p/2hjzceA) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48780574528_0634eb2986_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hjzcjq)Aerospatiale Oryx - 4 (https://flic.kr/p/2hjzcjq) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
The Model
Airfix Aérospatiale SA 342 Gazelle
Engines and rotor from Tamiya (nee Italeri) Augusta SA129 Mangusta
Hellfires from Italeri Sikorsky UH60 Black Hawk
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48780573688_8c138d2265_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hjzc4W)Aerospatiale Oryx - 15 (https://flic.kr/p/2hjzc4W) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48780573653_8897a78e97_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hjzc4k)Aerospatiale Oryx - 16 (https://flic.kr/p/2hjzc4k) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48781112502_6d43f29bb5_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hjBXeQ)Aerospatiale Oryx - 17 (https://flic.kr/p/2hjBXeQ) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
That's nice! Very nice! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
That's come out very well Fred, particularly the colour scheme :thumbsup:
Quote from: zenrat on September 22, 2019, 04:44:37 AM
Blue Thunder is still on the cards when I find another Gazelle. Shouldn't be too hard as they knocked them out in a number of releases. And who knows, maybe Airfix will re-pop it?
I'd buy another Airfix Gazelle but the Blue Thunder conversion is quite a lot of work, especially in 1/72. The "glass" bits look like quite a challenge.
weird... and nice! :thumbsup:
Thanks folks.
Quote from: DogfighterZen on September 23, 2019, 08:16:09 AM
Quote from: zenrat on September 22, 2019, 04:44:37 AM
Blue Thunder is still on the cards when I find another Gazelle. Shouldn't be too hard as they knocked them out in a number of releases. And who knows, maybe Airfix will re-pop it?
I'd buy another Airfix Gazelle but the Blue Thunder conversion is quite a lot of work, especially in 1/72. The "glass" bits look like quite a challenge.
Maybe. IIRC they are all flat. I was planning to try folding up the whole canopy from clear blister pack plastic.
Very nice. Quite an hot rod to pilot, I suppose. <_<
I am surprised it's from the "official" australian army and not one of the various pirate outfits/independent kingdoms that teem down under. ;D
Oooooh, that's a funny little thing, but I LOVE the seriously over-powered look! :thumbsup:
That is off the charts, dude!!!! :mellow: :mellow: :mellow:
Quote from: zenrat on September 24, 2019, 03:51:58 AM
Thanks folks.
Quote from: DogfighterZen on September 23, 2019, 08:16:09 AM
Quote from: zenrat on September 22, 2019, 04:44:37 AM
Blue Thunder is still on the cards when I find another Gazelle. Shouldn't be too hard as they knocked them out in a number of releases. And who knows, maybe Airfix will re-pop it?
I'd buy another Airfix Gazelle but the Blue Thunder conversion is quite a lot of work, especially in 1/72. The "glass" bits look like quite a challenge.
Maybe. IIRC they are all flat. I was planning to try folding up the whole canopy from clear blister pack plastic.
They are but i believe that in order to get the edges sharp as they were in the "real" beast, in 72nd, they're better be cut and glued with some clear glue and even some thin styrene strips to make the framing... unless you can fold it up with really sharp edges, that is... i don't think i can but i've also never tried... :rolleyes: ;D
That's sexy - and I like the Australian paint scheme a lot, too. :thumbsup:
Thanks Dizz.
Quote from: DogfighterZen on September 24, 2019, 10:57:19 PM
Quote from: zenrat on September 24, 2019, 03:51:58 AM
Thanks folks.
Quote from: DogfighterZen on September 23, 2019, 08:16:09 AM
Quote from: zenrat on September 22, 2019, 04:44:37 AM
Blue Thunder is still on the cards when I find another Gazelle. Shouldn't be too hard as they knocked them out in a number of releases. And who knows, maybe Airfix will re-pop it?
I'd buy another Airfix Gazelle but the Blue Thunder conversion is quite a lot of work, especially in 1/72. The "glass" bits look like quite a challenge.
Maybe. IIRC they are all flat. I was planning to try folding up the whole canopy from clear blister pack plastic.
They are but i believe that in order to get the edges sharp as they were in the "real" beast, in 72nd, they're better be cut and glued with some clear glue and even some thin styrene strips to make the framing... unless you can fold it up with really sharp edges, that is... i don't think i can but i've also never tried... :rolleyes: ;D
We won't know until we try. I have a couple of different ideas in my head for doing it. Need another Gazelle first though.