1/72 SAAF Puma

Ah yes, that is a super Puma. The SAAF developed their own version of a "super Puma" using the much lightened old Puma airframe and replacing the engines ,transmition ,instruments and rotors with locally made improvements.

I recall doing ops in the new Oryx and being weighed down by a flackjacket, opsbags and other heavy things it still felt like a real kick in the rear when the pilot hauled the collective with a stick of Army and a stick of Police in the back.....all of this in the summer at an elevation of 5800' AMSL

A realy amazing helo that, but for pure good looks, the old Puma takes the prize :-)

Theuns

Here's them pics I promised....

Here's their parts doner

Cool!

I have a hobbyboss 1/72 H-34 Chocktaw in the stach, yes the one whith the wrong direction turning main rotors! :-(

The French do have an eye for style I must admit.

Theuns

Looks quite nice Theuns!

The Puma is starting to grow on me. The airport that I work at has a company called "Construction Helicopters". The operate H-34s, H-3/H-63s, and thier most recent aquisition is a Puma.....quite impressive!

(I'll post a pic or two in a bit....photobucket is being retarted

Completed.

The replacement tail # for this SAAF Puma is 143 , while the nose # is 156.

Paints are Humbrol enamel # 29 and 30. Future matt coat to dull it down. Out the box build except for modified sponsons and added antenna and standoffs.

Thanx

Theuns

A little work done, the boom colour do not match the rest of the airframe as you might see. This is because the full size one I am modling had it's boom replaced in-field after loosing the tail rotor.

The door rails on this kit are way to big and needs some surgey to rectify.

Theuns

I made the exhause plates from thin clear sheet but the front canopy and cockpit doors have been giving me a hard time. They just do not fit well and allot of work will be needed to get them sorted.

Theuns

The fuse halves have been joined and the bottom joint sanded.

The SAAF used different wheel sponsons on later Pumas so I needed to modify the round ones to the squared off ones. Some plastic sheet and a little filler. I was very surprized at whow well the sponsons seated on the fuse! To try and sand that joint will result in loosing difficult to replace raised detail.

Theuns

Howzit!?

I live in Jhb , but I lived in PTA for a while...miss it.

I must still see if I will do the Puma with the squared off sponsons or leave it as is.

Theuns

Hey Theuns. Ive also got a couple of these. Been planning to do one as well. Where are you living now. Im from Pta, now in Christchurch.