Splash's Rhodesian Cheetah ***finished ***

[splash]

My build will be a Bell 205 (Cheetah) as flown by the RhAF.

[jssel]

It appears that RhAF obtained 11 of these quite possibly from Israel. Appears they lost four and the rest was sold in the 90's.

[splash]

The background to how the RhAF obtained the 205's seams to be shrouded in mystery and odd conspiracy theories

I have found sites on the internet that say that Rhodesia had ordered new a/c and they got swapped for old Israeli a/c via a shady middle man or that they where obtained as SAR a/c for a small island nation, what ever the background stories are the a/c would have had a tough life, so this build will give me practice making a well use grubby a/c.

Most of the images I have seen of RhAF Cheetah's (local name given to the Bell 205) show the a/c minus the rear side doors and roof mounted SAR hoist in a plain Earth Brown and Green colour scheme with no national markings (now you see why I picked this country for the GB )

The kit on initial inspection looks like a nice kit, with the only scratch building I can see, are the engine intake covers and the upturned exhaust pipe. So this should be a straightforward build (please don't quote me )

[splash]

The cheetah is on the bench along with a vac form Wyvern and soon to be started SeaHawk why is it all the good GB's start at the same time?

As this is originally a police helicopter Italari have molded it in deep blue plastic that makes it hard to see the detail when you are working with it. So far I have added the cockpit and ear cabin seating and given it a blow over with grey primer.

[DavidWomby]

I'll be interested in this as the RhAF is a favourite of mine. Nicely detailed interior in that kit!

David

[splash]

I'll be interested in this as the RhAF is a favourite of mine. Nicely detailed interior in that kit!

David

I have a selection of 1/48 helicopters I'm building for a friend including a RhAF K-CAR, when it gets to the top of my build pile I will build it on the aviation thread.

I must admit looking at the interior of this kit it should be a pleasure to build and simple to paint.

Regards Splash

[Przemek]

The prophecy of the Delphic say, that the last decommissioned Black Hawk will be delivered to the the steelworks, suspended from the UH-1 Iroquois
Or they are not prophecy, but the ordinary American "urban legend", for scare naughty children...
Either way your Iroquois of Rhodesia is as exotic like wisdom from Delfi ;)

[jssel]

Looking real sweet Splash. Full troop carrying configuration. I like Przemek's comment. The "Yankee" version Huey is about as far as that airframe can go IMHO.

[splash]

The prophecy of the Delphic say, that the last decommissioned Black Hawk will be delivered to the the steelworks, suspended from the UH-1 Iroquois
Or they are not prophecy, but the ordinary American "urban legend", for scare naughty children...
Either way your Iroquois of Rhodesia is as exotic like wisdom from Delfi ;)

Przemek that has translated well and I agree

[Przemek]

Believe me Splash - google translator and dictionary pol-eng/eng-pol often have quite me

[Marek]

Google translator, with all its vices and funny translations is THE THING . This thing by itself should get a Peace Prize . Try Polish - Czech

[Przemek]

I hope Splash will not be offended for offtopic ;) In Polish "samolot sanitarny/lotnictwo sanitarne" by google translator: "aircraft plumbing" or sometime "flying bathroom" :D
Believe me - I write in Polish, then translate into English, check, translate from English to Polish, to make sure everything is oki...
I think, I better get back to the model
Przemek

[splash]

[fredk]

Thats a fine start.
Loved the thukka-thukka sound of an ex-Vietnam service one of these when it did a flying demo at Portrush Air Show last September

[splash]

Thats a fine start.
Loved the thukka-thukka sound of an ex-Vietnam service one of these when it did a flying demo at Portrush Air Show last September

They do have a very distinct sound.