1:72 EC665 "Tiger" (UHT KWS-M), "75+13" of the German Marineflieger, 2016

Dizzyfugu · January 01, 2020, 01:39:46 AM

The first one for 2020 - and probably with tactically poor timing, because it could have been a decent submission for the upcoming "In the Navy" GB: a 1:72 model of the Airbus Helicopters EC665 (UHT KWS-M) "Tiger"; "75+13" of the German Marinefliegergeschwader (MFG) 5; Nordhausen, on board of the Fregatte "Bayern" (F 217) during "Operation Atalanta", Somalia, summer 2016.

1:72 Airbus Helicopters EC665 (UHT KWS-M) "Tiger"; "75+13" of the German Marinefliegergeschwader (MFG) 5; Nordhausen, on board of the Fregatte "Bayern" (F 217) during "Operation Atalanta", Somalia, summer 2016 (Whif/modified Italeri kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Some background:
Airbus Helicopters Tiger, formerly known as the Eurocopter Tiger, is a four-bladed, twin-engined attack helicopter, which first entered service in 2003. It is manufactured by Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters), the successor company to Aérospatiale's and DASA's respective helicopter divisions, which designate it as the EC665. In Germany and Australia it is known as the 'Tiger'; in France and Spain it is called the 'Tigre'.

Development of the Tiger started during the Cold War and it was initially intended as a dedicated anti-tank helicopter platform to be used against a Soviet ground invasion of Western Europe. During its prolonged development period, the Soviet Union collapsed, but France and Germany chose to proceed with the Tiger, developing it instead as a multirole attack helicopter. It achieved operational readiness in 2008 and since the type's introduction to service, Tigers have been used in combat in Afghanistan, Libya, and Mali.

The Tiger has the distinction of being the first all-composite helicopter developed in Europe. Even the earliest models also incorporated other advanced features such as a glass cockpit, stealth technology and high agility to increase its survivability. The Tiger has a tandem-seat cockpit and is operated by a two-man crew; the pilot is placed in the forward position, with the gunner seated behind. Either of the crew members can manage the weapon systems or the primary flight controls, switching roles if necessitated. In addition to flying the aircraft, the Tiger's pilot would typically be in control of the self-defense systems and communications, as well as some secondary weapon functions.

1:72 Airbus Helicopters EC665 (UHT KWS-M) "Tiger"; "75+13" of the German Marinefliegergeschwader (MFG) 5; Nordhausen, on board of the Fregatte "Bayern" (F 217) during "Operation Atalanta", Somalia, summer 2016 (Whif/modified Italeri kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Airbus Helicopters EC665 (UHT KWS-M) "Tiger"; "75+13" of the German Marinefliegergeschwader (MFG) 5; Nordhausen, on board of the Fregatte "Bayern" (F 217) during "Operation Atalanta", Somalia, summer 2016 (Whif/modified Italeri kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Amongst the Tiger's notable qualities, it possesses very high levels of agility, much of which is attributed to the design of its 13-meter four-bladed hinge-less main rotor; the Tiger can perform full loops and negative g manoeuvers. Power is provided by a pair of FADEC-controlled MTU Turbomeca Rolls-Royce MTR390 turboshaft engines.

In Germany, the EC 665 is also known as the PAH-2 (Panzerabwehrhubschrauber 2 for "Second Anti-tank helicopter, the Bo 105 was PAH-1) and UHT (from Unterstützungshubschrauber Tiger German for "Support Helicopter Tiger"). As delivered, the German Tiger was originally a medium-weight multi-role fire support helicopter. The UHT can carry PARS 3 LR "fire and forget" and/or HOT3 anti-tank missiles as well as 70 mm (2.8 in) Hydra 70 air-to-ground fire support rockets. Four AIM-92 Stinger missiles (two on each side) can be mounted to the stub wings' tips for air-to-air combat. Unlike the HAP/HCP version (operated by France) it has no integrated gun turret, but a 12.7 mm (0.50 in) gunpod can be fitted if needed. The weapon configuration was designed to be multirole and easily convertible to cover the whole spectrum of possible mission scenarios and to be effective against a broad range of targets. Another difference is the use of a mast-mounted sight, which has second-generation infrared and CCD TV cameras (range 18 km).

Its introduction was not without trouble. In fact, the 68 ordered German EC 665s were hardly operational at all: In August 2009, the German magazine Der Spiegel reported that the ten operational Tigers in the German Army were only suitable for pilot training, while others had not been accepted due to defects. In May 2010, Germany suspended deliveries over "serious defects particularly with wiring"; in response Eurocopter stated that "Corrective measures related to wiring problems have been developed, agreed by the customer and are being implemented". These problems lasted, though, and under an agreement between the German government and Eurocopter made in March 2013, only a total of 51 Tiger UHs would remain in service – effectively, only 40 were operated in its original role in a single unit, the Kampfhubschrauberregiment 36 (KHR 36) ,,Kurhessen" in Fritzlar.

1:72 Airbus Helicopters EC665 (UHT KWS-M) "Tiger"; "75+13" of the German Marinefliegergeschwader (MFG) 5; Nordhausen, on board of the Fregatte "Bayern" (F 217) during "Operation Atalanta", Somalia, summer 2016 (Whif/modified Italeri kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Airbus Helicopters EC665 (UHT KWS-M) "Tiger"; "75+13" of the German Marinefliegergeschwader (MFG) 5; Nordhausen, on board of the Fregatte "Bayern" (F 217) during "Operation Atalanta", Somalia, summer 2016 (Whif/modified Italeri kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Airbus Helicopters EC665 (UHT KWS-M) "Tiger"; "75+13" of the German Marinefliegergeschwader (MFG) 5; Nordhausen, on board of the Fregatte "Bayern" (F 217) during "Operation Atalanta", Somalia, summer 2016 (Whif/modified Italeri kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

In order to mend the program and widen the helicopter's capabilities, Eurocopter launched in 2014 an upgrade program for the rest of the German Tiger order, the Tiger KWS (Kampfwertsteigerung, for combat capabilities update). A central upgrade was the introduction of more powerful engines, primarily for a better performance under hot/high climatic conditions. Further modifications of the Tiger KWS included a new tail section with a 10 blade Fenestron rotor system with a variable angular spacing, so that the noise was distributed over different frequencies and overall noise reduced The ducted tail rotor was also shielding both the tail rotor itself from collision damage and ground personnel from the hazard posed by a traditional spinning rotor. The stabilizing tail surfaces had to be re-located, though, but overall the helicopter became more compact thorugh this change.

The core of the program was the integration of the Artemis millimeter-wave fire-control radar (FCR) target acquisition system and the Radar Frequency Interferometer (RFI), housed in a dome located above the main rotor, replacing the UHT's optical Osiris system, which was relocated to a chin position. The radome's raised position enables 360° target detection while the helicopter is behind obstacles (e.g. terrain, trees or buildings). The Artemis system is capable of simultaneously tracking up to 128 aerial and ground targets and engaging up to 16 at once; an attack could be initiated within 30 seconds. A radio modem integrated with the sensor suite allowed data to be shared with ground units and other helicopters, allowing them to fire on targets detected by a single helicopter. In fact, this coordinating role was the Tiger KWS' prime role within the Bundeswehr structure, so only a small number of these machines was eventually necessary.

1:72 Airbus Helicopters EC665 (UHT KWS-M) "Tiger"; "75+13" of the German Marinefliegergeschwader (MFG) 5; Nordhausen, on board of the Fregatte "Bayern" (F 217) during "Operation Atalanta", Somalia, summer 2016 (Whif/modified Italeri kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Airbus Helicopters EC665 (UHT KWS-M) "Tiger"; "75+13" of the German Marinefliegergeschwader (MFG) 5; Nordhausen, on board of the Fregatte "Bayern" (F 217) during "Operation Atalanta", Somalia, summer 2016 (Whif/modified Italeri kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Beyond the UHT's standard armament, the Tiger KWS could be equipped with a wide range of guided air-to-ground missiles, including the AGM-65 Maverick against small targets and the Sea Skua ASM for anti-ship duties (for which the Marineflieger helicopters, designated KWS-M, had a GEC-Ferranti Seaspray I illumination radar installed in a thimble radome above the Osiris system).
The Artemis system also allowed full-fledged air-to-air missiles to be effectively deployed. Beyond the AIM-9 Sidewinder for self-defense, the UHT KWS could also fire the mid-range AIM-120 and therefore fulfill air space surveillance duties and point defense against incoming aircraft, even against low-flying targets like cruise missiles. The integration of air-to-air missiles was a major step forward for the Tiger's mission envelope, and was requested especially by the German Navy as a protection measure for its ships on worldwide NATO and UN peacekeeping missions. Heavier gun pods, carrying a Mauser BK 27 machine cannon with 150 RPG, were introduced, too, as more effective weapon against both ground and air targets.

In February 2016, the first of twelve newly built Tiger KWS was delivered to the German Bundeswehr and allocated to Luftwaffe and the Marineflieger units (each receiving six). Eight standard UHTs were to be updated until 2019, too. After initial trials 2016 on board of the German fregate "Bayern" in the course of the peacekeeping Operation Atalanta against pirates at the coast of Somalia, France became interested in the Artemis system, too, and considered the procurement of eight navalized and updated Tigers for the Aéronavale.

1:72 Airbus Helicopters EC665 (UHT KWS-M) "Tiger"; "75+13" of the German Marinefliegergeschwader (MFG) 5; Nordhausen, on board of the Fregatte "Bayern" (F 217) during "Operation Atalanta", Somalia, summer 2016 (Whif/modified Italeri kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Airbus Helicopters EC665 (UHT KWS-M) "Tiger"; "75+13" of the German Marinefliegergeschwader (MFG) 5; Nordhausen, on board of the Fregatte "Bayern" (F 217) during "Operation Atalanta", Somalia, summer 2016 (Whif/modified Italeri kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Airbus Helicopters EC665 (UHT KWS-M) "Tiger"; "75+13" of the German Marinefliegergeschwader (MFG) 5; Nordhausen, on board of the Fregatte "Bayern" (F 217) during "Operation Atalanta", Somalia, summer 2016 (Whif/modified Italeri kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

General characteristics:
Crew: Two (pilot and weapon systems officer)
Length: 13.21 m fuselage (43 ft 3 1/4 in)
Rotor diameter: 13.00 m (42 ft 8 in)
Disc area: 133 m² (1,430 ft²)
Height: 5.18 m (17 ft 11 in) with radome mast,
3.83 m (12 ft 7 in) w/o
Internal fuel capacity: 1,080 kg (2,380 lb)
Empty weight: 3,060 kg (6,750 lb)
Loaded weight: 5,090 kg (11,311 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 6,000 kg (13,000 lb)

Powerplant:
2× MTU Turbomeca Rolls-Royce MTR390-G turboshaft engines, 1.102 kW (1.500 shp) each

Performance:
Maximum speed: 290 km/h (157 knots, 181 mph)
Range: 800 km (430 nm, 500 mi) in combat configuration
1,300km with external tanks at the inboard stations
Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 10.7 m/s (2,105 ft/min)
Power/mass: 0.23 hp/lb (0.38 kW/kg)

Armament:
Four stub wing hardpoints for e.g. 12.7mm or 27 mm autocannon pods, 68 mm (2.68 in) SNEB or
70 mm (2.75 in) Hydra 70 unguided rockets pods, AGM-65 Maverick guided missiles or starters with 4x
PARS 3 LR and/or HOT3 anti-tank missiles; additionally, the German navy helicopters could carry up to
four Sea Skua missiles against sea targets

The kit and its assembly:
The second of my Italeri Tiger helicopters that I had purchased in a lot without a real plan some years ago. This one was simply spawned by the question what a) an updated UHT with a radar system like the AH-64D and b) a German Marineflieger UHT would look like? After the German navy got rid of their Tornados, what could be the more compact and economical alternative? This model combines these questions, and as a whif there was even a bit more to it.

The Italeri kit itself ain't bad, but it has raised details and fit, esp. around the engines and the rotor mast, is rather dubious. PSR is a must. Anyway, it was built more or less OOB, the only changes are the Fenestron (transplanted wholesale from a Revell EC 135) with a corresponding movement of the stabilizers forward, the radome from an Academy AH-64D and the re-located Osiris optical system to the chin. The latter necessitated a fairing, which consists of a piece from a drop tank half.

1:72 Airbus Helicopters EC665 "Tiger" UHT KWS-M; "75+13" of the German Marinefliegergeschwader (MFG) 5; Nordhausen, on board of the Fregatte "Bayern" (F 217) during Operation Atalanta, Somalia, summer 2016 (Whif/modified Italeri kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Airbus Helicopters EC665 "Tiger" UHT KWS-M; "75+13" of the German Marinefliegergeschwader (MFG) 5; Nordhausen, on board of the Fregatte "Bayern" (F 217) during Operation Atalanta, Somalia, summer 2016 (Whif/modified Italeri kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Since I wanted to add Sea Skuas under the stub wings (taken from an Italeri 1:72 NATO weapon set), I also added a small thimble radome for an illumination radar on top of the nose. This subtly changes the Tiger's profile and adds a purposeful, Mi-28-ish look. Some blade antennae were re-located and radar warning sensors added, as well as a pitot made from thin wire in front of the cockpit.
Beyond the Sea Skuas I gave the model a single AIM-9 Sidewinder with a mathcing launch rail and a scratched gun pod, made from a Soviet GSh-23-2 pod with a single gun barrel (a hollow steel needle).

For later display and beauty pics, a vertical styrene tube was added into the model's center of gravity as an adapter for a holder.

Painting and markings:
The late German Marineflieger Tornados wore some interesting camouflage schemes under the Norm 87 scheme, and I wanted something similar for this navalized Tiger. However, a direct adaptation of the Tornados' scheme and its murky colors (RAL 7009, 7012 and 5008) appeared too dark for the smaller helicopter, lacking contrast that would help breaking up the outlines against sky and ground.

An alternative would have been RAL 7030, 7009 and 7012, but I used this one already on another Marineflieger whif (an Aero L-39 target tug). Another potential option was RAL 7030, 7000 and 7012 (incl. a bluish grey tone "Fehgrau", which is used uniformly on the German navy's ships and on some Marineflieger Do-28D Skyservants and Do 228s operated in the pollution control role), but this would rather have been suitable for a fighter aircraft, operating at medium to high altitudes. For "ground work", both options were IMHO too bright.

I eventually went back to the Tornado colors and replaced the RAL 7012 (Basaltgrau, very similar to Dark Sea Grey) with RAL 7030 (Steingrau, a brownish light grey). This resulted in a good contrast with the RAL 7009 (Grüngrau) and RAL 5008 (Graublau), and I kept the more or less naval color palette with grey/green/blue tones - even though and AFAIK, no German naval aircraft ever carried such a scheme. Still looks quite convincing.

1:72 Airbus Helicopters EC665 "Tiger" UHT KWS-M; "75+13" of the German Marinefliegergeschwader (MFG) 5; Nordhausen, on board of the Fregatte "Bayern" (F 217) during Operation Atalanta, Somalia, summer 2016 (Whif/modified Italeri kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Airbus Helicopters EC665 "Tiger" UHT KWS-M; "75+13" of the German Marinefliegergeschwader (MFG) 5; Nordhausen, on board of the Fregatte "Bayern" (F 217) during Operation Atalanta, Somalia, summer 2016 (Whif/modified Italeri kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The camouflage pattern was adopted from the land-based German Tigers, just the colors were replaced. I used Revell 75, 67 and a 1:1 mix of Humbrol 77 and 79. The cockpit interior became medium grey (Revell 47), the rotor blades Anthrazit (Revell 9).
The kit received a light wash with black ink and some panel post-shading.

The German roundels, flags as well as the tactical codes were created with material from TL Modellbau. The "MARINE" marking on the IR dampers was made up with single black 3mm letters, also with TL Modellbau material. A few stencils were taken from the OOB sheet, and some additional inscriptions were gathered from an 1:72 MiG-21 sheet from Begemot or simply painted. Finally, everything was sealed with matt acrylic varnish.

1:72 Airbus Helicopters EC665 (UHT KWS-M) "Tiger"; "75+13" of the German Marinefliegergeschwader (MFG) 5; Nordhausen, on board of the Fregatte "Bayern" (F 217) during "Operation Atalanta", Somalia, summer 2016 (Whif/modified Italeri kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Airbus Helicopters EC665 (UHT KWS-M) "Tiger"; "75+13" of the German Marinefliegergeschwader (MFG) 5; Nordhausen, on board of the Fregatte "Bayern" (F 217) during "Operation Atalanta", Somalia, summer 2016 (Whif/modified Italeri kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

An apparently simple build, but the integration (and choice) of the Fenestron tail rotor caused some headaches and PSR sessions. But I am happy with the result: fist of all, I finally found a use for the surplus kit (reducing the stash height, marginally...), and the resulting helicopter does not look bad or unrealistic at all.

zenrat · January 01, 2020, 01:55:17 AM

Looks like a bought one.

rickshaw · January 01, 2020, 02:43:45 AM

The Australian Army has decided to retire it's Tiger helicopters. They are expensive to maintain and all parts need to come from Europe. I expect we will purchase Apaches to replace them in the near future.

chrisonord · January 01, 2020, 03:08:11 AM

This is great Dizzy, quite similar to a build I did a few years ago with a tiger and a dauphin fenestron tail. I armed mine with fixed forward cannons on ov-10 sponsons and air to air missiles. I also switched the landing gear arrangement too.it should be on here but I dare say photo bucket has removed it
Chris

Dizzyfugu · January 02, 2020, 02:41:42 AM

That sounds interesting. I actually considered a Dauphin Fenestron, because of the bigger fin, but did not want to "sacrifice" a NIB vintage Matchbox kit in the stash (which is even still in its original clear shrink wrap). The cheapest alternative was the Revell EC 135 - I thought that a bigger fin could be necessary, but in the end the whole tail matched well, just the Tiger's stabilizers had to be moved forward.

comrade harps · January 02, 2020, 04:20:20 AM

Another masterful whif!

Quote from: rickshaw on January 01, 2020, 02:43:45 AM
The Australian Army has decided to retire it's Tiger helicopters. They are expensive to maintain and all parts need to come from Europe. I expect we will purchase Apaches to replace them in the near future.

It's funny how we passed over the (proven) Apache for the (newish) Tiger and will probably replace them with the Apache, which we should have got in the first place.

NARSES2 · January 02, 2020, 06:39:41 AM

Oh that does look good

Snowtrooper · January 02, 2020, 08:29:23 AM

Stylish. The addition of a fenestron makes any chopper look futuristic (and better), but this one is particularly tasty!

(Also makes enough sense that I wonder why so few seaborne helicopters use it, even though it would certainly ease landing on a cramped flight deck of a ship on ocean waves, ie. it would not hit superstructure/water/seamen as easily. Parts commonality with land-based versions?)

wacek85 · January 02, 2020, 02:43:08 PM

Thats a beauty

Dizzyfugu · January 03, 2020, 12:14:06 AM

Quote from: Snowtrooper on January 02, 2020, 08:29:23 AM
The addition of a fenestron makes any chopper look futuristic (and better), but this one is particularly tasty! (Also makes enough sense that I wonder why so few seaborne helicopters use it, even though it would certainly ease landing on a cramped flight deck of a ship on ocean waves, ie. it would not hit superstructure/water/seamen as easily. Parts commonality with land-based versions?)

Yes, that's something I have been wondering, too. I find the Fenestron much safer in cramped conditions like a fregate.

And again: thanks a lot, everyone!

PR19_Kit · January 03, 2020, 01:04:49 AM

Quote from: Snowtrooper on January 02, 2020, 08:29:23 AM

(Also makes enough sense that I wonder why so few seaborne helicopters use it, even though it would certainly ease landing on a cramped flight deck of a ship on ocean waves, ie. it would not hit superstructure/water/seamen as easily. Parts commonality with land-based versions?)

Maybe because space is always at a premium on board a ship and the fenestron can't help but make the helicopter longer, even if it's only by the length of the extra rotor housing?

Snowtrooper · January 03, 2020, 01:30:49 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on January 03, 2020, 01:04:49 AM
Quote from: Snowtrooper on January 02, 2020, 08:29:23 AM
Also makes enough sense that I wonder why so few seaborne helicopters use it, even though it would certainly ease landing on a cramped flight deck of a ship on ocean waves, ie. it would not hit superstructure/water/seamen as easily. Parts commonality with land-based versions?
Maybe because space is always at a premium on board a ship and the fenestron can't help but make the helicopter longer, even if it's only by the length of the extra rotor housing?

But many naval helicopters fold their entire tail assembly, not just the tail (and main) rotor blades, so I don't see how the fenestron would cause any extra length compared to a tail rotor under such an arrangement.

Googling, for reasons it's not (yet) practical in the heavier helicopters so a CH/MH-53 with one is out of the question, but development for heavier and heavier choppers is underway and up to medium lift helicopters it should be fine even with present technology.

zenrat · January 03, 2020, 02:08:03 AM

Quote from: Snowtrooper on January 03, 2020, 01:30:49 AM
...so a CH/MH-53 with one is out of the question...

Well now you've gone and said that someone here is duty bound to build one...

PR19_Kit · January 03, 2020, 04:31:44 AM

Quote from: Snowtrooper on January 03, 2020, 01:30:49 AM

But many naval helicopters fold their entire tail assembly, not just the tail (and main) rotor blades, so I don't see how the fenestron would cause any extra length compared to a tail rotor under such an arrangement.

But some don't...............

Snowtrooper · January 03, 2020, 05:00:04 AM

Quote from: zenrat on January 03, 2020, 02:08:03 AM
Well now you've gone and said that someone here is duty bound to build one...

Well, I do have a MH-53 in the stash with no real plan for it (hey, it was only 5€ in a modelling show). Add faceted panels in the style of bin Laden raid MH-60's, a fenestron in a MASSIVE tail fin, replace the single tailplane with symmetrical tailplanes along the boom, and call it a "Silent Green Giant"

Whether I actually get around to building one is another matter (the longer the hiatus, the higher the threshold), but at least there is a plan for it now...