1/72 Italeri Eurocopter AS-332 M1 Super Puma

Gallery Article by Gerd Wilcken on Feb 13 2017

 

      

1/72 Italeri SA-532 Cougar (modified to Eurocopter AS-332 M1 Super Puma)

"In the approach to the ship", this diorama could be called. It shows an AS-332 of the German Federal Police in approaching a Police ship to get a person on board.

In this slightly older kit Italeri offers four different versions. These have different suspension linings due to the emergency water system of the Dutch variant. The kit itself is from the usual good quality and contained many useful components for the version chosen by me.

The version of the German Federal Police represents a special variant for the police maritime surveillance of the Baltic- and the North Sea, which was flown by the Federal Police Squadron Fuhlendorf, approximately 60 km north of Hamburg.

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During my active duty in the German Federal Police I had the opportunity to join several flights as a passenger in this Super Puma, so it was obvious to build such a machine. 

Following some of my own photos, numerous conversions are necessary for modelling a correct Federal Police AS-332 M1.

Since I also wanted to build the interior of the cabin - which was completely empty in the original kit - a lot of parts had to come from the spares box. The AS-332 is flown in the original with various interior fittings. I chose a version as it was in 2013/14. In addition to the pilot, copilot and the Navigator (so called Bordwart), a specialist from the Federal Police Maritime Department is also on board, who is responsible for the nautical sea surveillance and can also leave the helicopter by use of cable winches during rescue maneuvers.

Bordwart and Maritime specialist have extra seats in the front of the fuselage with additional electronic displays and screens. The seats used are the same as those used in the EC-135 Eurocopters.

Between the doors is a special floor mat to catch any seawater from water samples (Oil pollution) or rescue maneuvers. In the rear part of the machine are five passenger seats and numerous rescue and technical equipment.

The most important supplement to be seen outside is the winch on the starboard side of the helicopter and two rear mirrors. All these parts had to be scratch built. At least I saw on the photos, that I forget to paint one of the rear mirrors. 

Both rear windows had to be enlarged a little bit. On the port side of the rear fuselage is a round pot. The top sides of the engine cowling and the stabilizer is painted in high-visible orange-red. Also the front antennas had to be modified.

The kit was a few years with me, because I missed the right decals. Now I have found the appropriate however over the company
www.helo-stuff.de.

I have attached one of my photos of an original maneuver, on which one can well recognize the special supplements of this maritime variant.

All machines of the Federal Police are painted in RAL 5013 “Kobaltblau”. I found the right color at Hobbyline, No. 26, Acrylic. The outstanding figures are from PJ Productions, No. 721126, SAR Helicopter Crew.

The German federal police will soon receive three Eurocopter H215 as a replacement for older Super Puma.

Enjoy the photos.

Gerd Wilcken

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Photos and text © by Gerd Wilcken