Help. 1/72 Nitesun and FLIR/Heli-telly needed.

[flying_medic]

Planning ahead for a future build, I need to find a 1/72 Nitesun searchlight and FLIR/Heli-telly pod suitable for adding to an Airfix Gazelle. I've searched all the usual places but can't seem to find anything suitable. Plastic, resin or metal - I don't mind, but I would like to build a Gazelle in the configuration I flew them in Northern Ireland. I know I can probably scratch build them, but I would prefer an aftermarket version to save me a lot of work. Even if there is something that looks relatively close, that would do as I will probably have to do a bit of conversion work on it anyway.

The pic below shows what I am aiming for:



I can scratch build the booms and cabling but would prefer if I didn't have to scratch build the light and the pod. Any help would be appreciated.

Oh, and while we are looking, does anyone know of a more realistic engine air intake than the one supplied in the Airfix kit (or do I have to get my modeling knives out again).

Thanks,

F_M

[scotthldr]

Mmmm, not sure if anything out there exsists, but I'm not too clued up on the 1/72 scene. But for the Helly- telly pod, the front part of a Litening targeting pod or similiar in 1/48 may work.

Litening pod
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/smart/lite1.jpg

[flying_medic]

Ok, after too many hours scouring t'internet (I need to get out more) I've found out that they do exist. There is a suitable FLIR pod in the resin parts of Hasegawa's HH-60 Rescue Hawk - top sprue 2nd bit from the right:



There is also a 1/72 white metal Nitesun available from Whirlybirds as part of its Alouette 3 upgrade kit (bottom left):



I'm now in a dilemma. Do I spend out for a complete Rescue Hawk kit and the Alouette 3 upgrade, just to use one small piece from each? I'd really like to build a Gazelle in the same configuration I flew in Northern Ireland, but I may prove to be very expensive - unless any forum members have those bits hidden in their stashes that they wouldn't mind sacrificing.

I don't want to build just the standard Aifrix Gazelle, and I don't necessarily want to scratch build both of the bits I would need. The other alternative is to do the Gazelle but to do one of the more exotic paint schemes that I flew. I am particularly drawn to the paint scheme that the Army Air Corps used in Canada at the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS):




I'm not turning this into a formal poll, but would be interested to know what other forum members think. I've already got a tin of dayglo orange paint . . .

F_M

[Seamus]

I guess it all depends on how much you want to model the NI Gazelle. If it were me, I'm not sure I'd be prepared to fork out what will probably be a lot of money on two additional kits, just for two parts, but then again I've never had a personal attachment to an aircraft like yourself to want to build a particular aircraft.

I would say though that dayglo is awesome!

[scotthldr]

Dayglo Suffield, one for me.

Pm inbound as well

[A40-BP]

Sorry to bring this back up, as ill be doing this as well at some point i thought i'd share the info. The Airfix tooling of the Chinook in 1/72 contains a searchlight which would be suitable, however thats not the kit that is available now, as the current boxing is the Italeri tool. I havent checked through the others yet, but im pretty sure the Matchbox kit doesnt include one. Might be worth looking at the Italeri MH-47 as that has got a FLIR turret in it, and might have the searchlight also.

Part way into my riot-control version ATM, so the FLIR version is on a backburner for now.

7

[flying_medic]

I've managed to source a Nite-sun which did, indeed, come from the Matchbox Chinook HC.1 kit. I can't vouch for earlier Airfix Chinooks having Nite-sun, as the only ones I've seen are the later Italeri re-boxing. I've also got an Italeri MH-47 kit which I acquired second hand - unfortunately it doesn't have the sprue that has the FLIR pod (I bought the kit with the intention of using it as the basis for an HC.3). If anyone has that particular sprue that they don't want . . .

F_M

[A40-BP]

Again sorry to bring this back up, but thought you may find this interesting...

300612 018 by Alien 7, on Flickr


300612 016 by Alien 7, on Flickr



7

[mattlaker]

Sorry, can't help... If you do find one, I would be interested to find out where you managed to get it!

[Deacon]

A40,

Do you know whether anyone does resin HOT missiles for the 1:72 Gazelle?

Alan

[A40-BP]

Whilst i didnt use the correct pod on this, i will be replacing it with the correct one shortly, plus ill be doing some resin copies if it looks good enough, so if your after some ill do some more.

Alan-only ever seen HOT missiles in the Heller Gazelle boxing, and the Airfix Bo105. I think the Airfix Army Lynx has some in the the kit, but would have to check on that.

7

[flying_medic]

Although my modelling is currently on hold due to a house move, I do occasionally have a look in here. I started this thread when I was planning to do an NI-spec Gazelle. I still haven't got around to finding the correct pods so I would be very interested in a couple of resin heli-telly pods in 1/72 and even 1/48 if you can source any.

Deacon, I have a Heller 1/72 Gazelle in my stash which has the HOT missiles. I'm not likely to use those parts so would be quite happy to let you have them. I think I've also got them in the leftover bits of an old Lynx kit, too. Let me know if you want them.

F_M