Md500 Defender Daybuild By Zac

[K5054NZ]

Hi all,

In early 1983 the New Zealand government saw the need for a light anti-armour helicopter that would also fulfil the battlefield reconnaissance and tactical troop insertion roles. Out of the four aircraft examined by far the most suitable was the McDonnell Douglas MD500 Defender. This aircraft made real sense in light of the popularity amongst civilian operators of the similar Hughes 500 series, resulting in a ready supply of spares and associated equipment.



A contract was signed for eight of the aircraft, but due to the sensitive nature of their operations (namely transport for the SAS) the purchase was not made a major news story. The fleet (serialed NZ3500-07) were to be licence-built by AESL at Hamilton in New Zealand's North Island. Their construction was completed by May of 1984, and the aircraft (painted in SEA camouflage of dark green, green and earth) were flown to their new home at RNZAF Base Hood in the Wairarapa.



Home to several operators of the civilian Hughes 500 derivative, RNZAF Hood was an ideal base for the new helicopters due to its close proximity to both mountain ranges and the coast. The eight aircraft were signed into service with the newly created Number 5 Squadron RNZAF on May 4 1984, and intensive training operations began soon afterward. Several combat exercises with the Army at Waiouru proved the aircraft's worth in a battlefield situation.



The aircraft saw active service during the so-called "Rugby War" of 1987 against Australian forces in the Far North, and destroyed several Australian Army light armoured vehicles. One MD500 also reportedly sank a landing craft off Ninety Mile Beach, but this has still yet to be confirmed. A detachment of four MD500s served in a patrol role in Kuwait during Desert Storm, and recently returned to the Gulf in 2004. Two aircraft were flown to Afghanistan for work in conjunction with the SAS in 2002, and remain in the area.



At home, the MD500s have been less than visible, and it was widely believed during the late 1980s and early '90s that the RNZAF wished to keep the aircraft firmly out of the public eye. However this policy changed when two of the aircraft made a surprise appearance at the Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow in 1996, something that has continued at every airshow held since. Their most recent appearance was at the Wings Over Wairarapa 2007 show (Jan 20-21), where NZ3504 flew a spectacular mock attack run against a Scorpion tank.



In their standard reconnaissance/anti-armour role the MD500s fly with two pairs of podded TOW missiles (and the associated nose sight), and have also been known to carry door-mounted M60 machineguns for close support actions. A wire cutter above the cockpit is a permanent fixture, as are the separate side-mounted exhaust manifolds (to reduce the aircraft's IR signature). The aircraft currently wear a "super-low-viz" camouflage of all over dark green and no markings (except for Gulf- and Afghan-based machines, which instead wear an all over tan with black kiwis).



A 5 Sqn crewman who wishes to remain anonymous took the pictures accompanying this article during the height of the "Rugby War". They were taken at a forward operating base near Whangarei, and show to good effect the camouflage the aircraft wore during the conflict. Serials were not worn during the shooting war; the only markings carried being the standard RNZAF roundel on each fuselage side. The aircraft in these pictures are believed to be NZ3502 and NZ3507, although this cannot yet be confirmed due to the relevant documentation being highly classified.



One aircraft (believed to be NZ3501) suffered a heavy landing at RNZAF Base Wigram in 1992, and has since become a spares source for the fleet. A civilian Hughes 500D (ZK-HOT) was purchased in its place and modified to a pseudo-Defender condition with military avionics but no capacity for the TOW missile pods – this aircraft is serialed NZ3600, and used for pilot familiarisation training. Two additional MD500s (NZ3508 and '09) were produced at PAC in 1997, and fly as a permanent detachment based out of RNZAF Base Taieri. The RNZAF is currently exploring options for an aircraft to replace the MD500, the favoured platforms being the Bell ARH-70 and MD Explorer. An announcement regarding the successful aircraft will be made by May.



The kit used is the Tamiya 1:72 AH-6 "Little Bird" Lana got me for Christmas 2005. I've only just been able to get to it after needing to do a quickie. One day to finish this pup, although I did cheat a tad as I'd already painted and assembled the 'pit last year. This is my first finished build after moving into the flat behind Mum and Dad's place. Ah, home!

Comments, as always, are highly welcome. Enjoy dudes (and dudettes)!

Cheers,

Zac

[Captain Canada]

hehehe...funny to see all three of us MSN'n and looking at this at the same time !



beauty job, Zac ! Looks real...but you gotta do something about the scale of your grass !



Awesome paint....I love it !

 

[Shasper]

If NZ is looking for something that can insert troops, take a look at the EC-145.

Good looker there young hobbit!


Shas B)

[B777LR]

I like the bullet holes in the windows I like the tinynes, and great camo, and missiles, and i love MD500s (but KA-50s r better)

[Rafael]

Excellent Tiny monster, Zac!!!!    
This is a formidable bird to bolster the strenght of the Armed Forces of Kiwiland!!!!

Rafa

[Archibald]

Brilliant! I love the way you build your backstories    

[Chap]

Fantastic Zac! Wonderful little model and a great backstory to back it up.

~Steve

[cthulhu77]

Ah God ! The Hand is back again!  It must live in darkened caves underneath the ground !

  Good looking little chopter, neat story too.

                Greg

[anthonyp]

Cool build, Zac!  Always wanted to see how big one of those little 1/72 MD500's was.

   

[John Howling Mouse]

Wow, bet there must have been some serious squinting going on during this build.
I'm impressed!
No way I could build this bird in this scale.
Who am I kidding?
I must have busted a total of at least 3 (and those were in 1:48 and 1:32 scale!) as a teenager, muttering "Stupid glass everywhere" as I hucked yet another failed attempt in the trash.

I'm very impressed!

     

[Radish]

Good stuff, Zac.
I've a few rotory bird thingies to build, but in 1/48th....no way I can build such little thingies.

[chadders]

That looks really good Zak. I'm going to attempt my first helo this year as part of the Aerobatic Team SIG build, but I'm not looking forward to it  
  You on the other hand seem to have got these whirly ma bobs  sorted to a eally high standard. Mucho kudos to ya    

[B777LR]

Im going to build one of those soon, however it will be old Revell 1/32 kit in danish markings  

[BlackOps]

Another cool build Zac, we must be on similar wavelengths lately, I have a 1/72 Airfix Gazelle I'm workin' on, haven't decided on paint yet.


I do have a secret project that I will begin work on soon that I'm very certain will be different  

[markm70]

Very Cool, nice model and in only a day