DENEL Oryx M1

It looks pretty good and like you have done a lot of work on it.  How about a description of the helo and what you have done with it.?  It looks like a version of the AS-330 Puma.

Hi,

 Thanks for the compliments and comments. The Oryx is South Africa's own update of the Puma to something close to the Super Puma. The canopy remains similar to a standard Puma, and features new sponsons. Very reliable and tough helo!

I used the fuselage halves, instrument panel, center console upper section, seats, rudder pedals, air intakes and front portion of the cockpit floor from the Heller Super Puma Exocet.

The canopy, cockpit bulkhead, pax-cabin floor, Cabin doors, cargo-sling bay and the lower section of the cockpit center console from the Heller/Airfix Puma.

The engine deck, Gearbox, exhaust heat panels, nosewheel assembly, cyclic, collective and observation window from the Italeri Cougar.

The sponsons are modified/corrected moulds of masters that a friend of mine, Rene, made. Prior to modification, these (not ready for production) sponsons were used in the BaxMod Oryx conversion set. The floatation gear is modified from the BaxMod kit, as I made the masters for that.

The main- and tail-rotor assembly and the horizontal stabilizer are from my Rooivalk kit.

I had the photo-etch made.

 Here is a Pic of the Oryx.

I've also made some progress on the sponsons detail today.

Cheers

Nice chopper - and a very nice project. Did they use 'em in the District 9 movie? Good luck, have a nice day

Paweł

Hi guys,

Added some detail to the floatation gear under the nose. It has a coat of primer on at the moment, and will be refined a bit more once it's dry. Also a test fit of the radome on the canopy.

Pawel, you are correct, the white UN Oryx's were used in District 9.

Cheers
John

Another update for today.

Just completed the floatation gear for the sponsons.

Cheers

Yet another update for today, I've started building the correct oil-cooler from an allumimum tube, a block of styrene and lots of filler. The one I wanted to use from the Italeri Cougar is wrong. I must be crazy, because the unit will not even be visible after assembly!  #-o
Also the engines are in place for a test fit with a piece of styrene between to determine the thickness of the firewall betwen the engines.

Cheers

 Good day everyone.

That little gizmo turned out to be a bit of a challenge, but it's taking shape. 

Basic firewall construction done and the engine fits perfect in the remaining space.

Cheers

Next update I needed to do something while the other stuff is busy drying, the blanking plates for the 17 Squadron Oryx's sponsons, as they dont generaly use floatation gear in-land.

Cheers

I made a mistake with the firewall on the engine deck and had to break it apart in order to fix it.  

Luckily managed to fix the problem. 
Cheers

Cheers

The photos look good! But I'd love to read a little about what is going on, what's comin' next etc. Good luch with your project and have a nice day

Paweł

Guys I can tell you the pix do not do justice to the build atall. I have just built a 1/72 Cheetah E wit a resin conversion set that Blade Runned does and it is so nice to work with and highly detailed!

I can say from my time in the SA Defence Force as a spec. combat Medic in the rapid deployment force the Oryx is one outstanding helo!Power to spare for SA's hot and high country ( if it fits in the cabin, it'll lift it!) and with the new FADEC powertrain on theTopaz engines it doesn't have the typical high workload for the flight engineer like on the old Puma. The new rotor also eleminates the wobble during startup.

As for all the upgrades I personally still like the looks of the old Puma LOL!

Looking good J.

Theuns