Bladerunner Posted June 24, 2018 Share Posted June 24, 2018 Hi guys, My crazy project currently started in May this year, is to taking the ancient and basic Heller 1/50 scale SA330 Puma in early SAAF service, and scale it up to 1/48. The fuselage required to be lengthened and increased the height. This was very difficult, as continuous curves that get interrupted don't line up after the extensions. Will have to scratch build a lot of extras, as most of the other parts are either inaccurate or too basic. A lot of work ahead... The tail fin was too thick, so the inside was built up, to avoid the plastic collapsing from too much sanding. The tail rotor gearbox location also appeared a bit off, and it was. The tail fin shape was corrected after filling the old tail rotor gearbox placement, and a new cutout was made in the correct place. The fairing around the main rotor also needed some more work, as it was a few millimeters short at the front. A 1.5mm thick strip of plastic was heated and bent around a file handle to make it into a curve. It was glued onto the front and shaped. The the main rotor fairing has a flat surface on top, and the opening for the rotor mast had to be enlarged. Also the side profile of the fairing, which is supposed to be a curve down to the back was wrong. It also had a slight downward angle to the front, which needs to be raised level. Then discovered it's also too long at the back and the overall shape viewed from the top is wrong. This plate on top will be removed completely and replaced with a styrene sheet with the correct shape and size. The bottom of the fuselage halves were slightly warped inward. A rough slot was cut on the inside to make a weak spot to bend it out. Luckily it worked first time. With the panel line scribing completed on the port fuselage, after filling the trench like cabin door guides. Scribing was tricky on the hard kit plastic, extension joints and areas where filler was applied, because the pressure applied during scribing has to be adjusted over the various materials. The heat shield has been detailed behind the exhausts, and a resin copy was made for the starboard side, as this was very tricky and time consuming. They will be cast as separate parts from the fuselage. Also made the recess with the two connection points above the sponson. The cargo sling bay was re positioned and cut out. The cabin windows were made larger. Then major corrections were made to the port sponson so far. Not only was the original sponson corrected in height and length, but now also discovered it was too wide! It was cut down the length and made narrower. The Heller kit had no engines, so I made one, from which a copy will be made. Not going to detail the engines crazy, because not much of it will be visible once installed. Still a long way to go to get to a good shaped "shell" of the Puma, and once this has been sorted out, some normal building can begin. Here are some pictures from the start of the project 🙂 Cheers, John 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azgaron Posted June 24, 2018 Share Posted June 24, 2018 Excellent work so far! Håkan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bar side Posted June 24, 2018 Share Posted June 24, 2018 Nice - not even easy to find a 1/50 Heller Puma. A much overlooked subject. Looking forward to seeing your work on this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimB Posted June 25, 2018 Share Posted June 25, 2018 Bravo! Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bladerunner Posted June 25, 2018 Author Share Posted June 25, 2018 Thanks guys, The Puma in 1/48 has most certainly been neglected on the market. Made a resin copy of the "Turmo" engine master for the second engine. Also turned the center section of the gearbox, which still needs a couple of parts added to it. Cheers, John 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nocoolname Posted June 25, 2018 Share Posted June 25, 2018 Great stuff! I managed to land one of the Heller Puma’s recently, still in its factory wrap, so will be following this thread for as many tips as I can pick up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabat Posted June 25, 2018 Share Posted June 25, 2018 Nice, not one to shy away from the hard graft! Very cool project, I'd love to make a 1/48 Puma. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bladerunner Posted June 26, 2018 Author Share Posted June 26, 2018 Thanks guys, Got some more work done on the Puma. The Heller kit does not have an engine deck, so I made the engine deck from plastic card. Added some detail to the gearbox and made the lower part of the swash plate. Will be making the firewall between the two engines tomorrow, and hopefully some other parts too. Hardly any of this will be clearly visible, so detail will be limited to that. Here is a picture of the test assembly. Cheers, John 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 Great work and subject! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fewr9fkr9595 Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 That is an epic rework of a kit. Great stuff mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bladerunner Posted June 27, 2018 Author Share Posted June 27, 2018 (edited) Thanks guys Really relieved that every came together on the engine deck and actually fitted. I made the firewall between the two engines, and added some more detail on the rear part of the gearbox. Turned the swashplate and next section of the main rotor shaft. Also made the tail rotor driveshaft and main gearbox oil cooler. Edited June 29, 2018 by Bladerunner Missing text. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azgaron Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 Progressing nicely! Looks good! Håkan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bladerunner Posted June 29, 2018 Author Share Posted June 29, 2018 Thanks Azgaron Work started on the interior. Had to trim the cockpit floor at the front and extend the rear of it by 1.5mm. Built the two bulkheads behind the cockpit from plastic card. Also had to lengthen the cabin floor quite a bit, and scribed majority of the panel lines. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloman1 Posted July 2, 2018 Share Posted July 2, 2018 Great work John, if this turns out as good as your Allouette III then it's going to be a cracker. Popcorn and comfortable chair, I'm watching... Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rui Silva Posted July 2, 2018 Share Posted July 2, 2018 Very brave work of real modelling, keep it up, John! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bladerunner Posted July 2, 2018 Author Share Posted July 2, 2018 Thanks Colin and Rui This is a challenging, but fun build. I also hope to achieve a good outcome like the Alouette III. Got some more work done on the interior today. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bladerunner Posted July 4, 2018 Author Share Posted July 4, 2018 Good evening gentlemen, Some more progress on the 1/48 SA 330 Puma. Made the instrument panel from plastic card. Started detailing the center console. Also made the two cutouts at the front of the cockpit floor for the pedals, scratch built the pedals from plastic card and rods. Cheers, John 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted July 4, 2018 Share Posted July 4, 2018 Looks good to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted July 5, 2018 Share Posted July 5, 2018 Brave move to make such a drastic change to the basic shapes of the kit but it look to be well within your capabilities. Nice to see the SA330 getting some attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted July 5, 2018 Share Posted July 5, 2018 This is a hugely impressive start to what should be a fascinating build. Following! Martian 👽 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bladerunner Posted July 11, 2018 Author Share Posted July 11, 2018 Thanks guys It's a rather daunting, but fun build. Got some more parts completed on the 1/48 Puma. Detailed the back of the bulkheads, modified the intakes and made the overhead panel that will fit underneath it. Also started making the acoustic padding for the cabin interior. This picture is just an overview on the parts so far. Cheers, John 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bladerunner Posted July 19, 2018 Author Share Posted July 19, 2018 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azgaron Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 Looks very nice! Håkan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bladerunner Posted August 8, 2018 Author Share Posted August 8, 2018 Almost done, then the molds will be made. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloman1 Posted August 9, 2018 Share Posted August 9, 2018 Brilliant job John, I do hope fellow modellers are going to come to the party and order. It is going to be the only game in town for the foreseeable future... Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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