SA269 Leopard French attack helo

[KiwiZac]

Sud Aviation (Aérospatiale) SA269 Léopard/Leopard AH.2/Oeuf Volant
In 1965 the Armee de Terre asked for submissions for a light attack and observation helicopter, and Sud Aviation responded with the Gazelle. This very promising design unfortunately had several teething problems, and it wasn't until 1975 that the aircraft was finally abandoned due to serious issues with the fenestron tail rotor.
Sud's backup in case Gazelle failed was a licence-built version of the Hughes 369, but with a French engine – the Turbomeca Artouste – and the changed this entailed. A three-blade main rotor was designed and, due to the opposite rotation of the French powerplant, the tail rotor was shifted to the port side of the tailboom. The distinctive V-tail was also reversed. It was decided early on that the rear cabin would be completely given over to ammunition for the two XM61 miniguns, each mounted on the cabin doors. Provision was given for stub wings behind the doors, enabling a pod of seven unguided rockets to be carried on each side.

I can't be bothered doing more backstory, so feel free to add if you like the idea .

Working on this puppy now, Italeri 1:72 OH-6A and Airwaves PE. Photos tomorrow, if you're lucky!

[KiwiZac]

So I've made some changes. Now she's got tricycle gear and a new tail similar to the Hughes/Schweizer 300. Here's a teaser.



First lot of paint going on soon. Those damned PE seatbelts were so fiddly i ended up not using one pair of shoulder harnesses and simply painted them on the seat! The pilot's seat has full PE harnesses though, and the co-pilot has the PE lap-belt.

Due to the size of the Artouste compared to the Allison 250 I've decided the rear cabin is half ammo, half engine bay. A larger exhaust - scrounged from the Airfix Little Nellie - is in place.

More updates soon.

[KiwiZac]

The gear is on, guns and pods fitted, now this puppy is on hold while I work on my RNZAF F-35B and my 1:35 OH-6A. Got a pair of main rotor blades from a Hasegawa JetRanger, and a third match cut from sheet styrene.



Tell ya what, with the trike gear and the new tail arrangement, she looks damn odd!



More pics when progress happens. No promises as to when this'll be - I now have project juggling down to a fine art!