Airfix Model World – September 2019

INTERMEDIATE BUILD
AS565 PANTHER

INTERMEDIATE BUILD

AS565 PANTHER

http://www.airfi xmodelworld.com 35

‘step’ noted between the parts

during dry-fitting was reduced

significantly – by comparison,

there were no issues with the

port-side window.

In hindsight, any transparencies

attached from the outside could

be left off until after the fuselage

halves were joined, as this

would allow easier manipulation

of these large components. It

would also reduce the possibility

of breaking one of the glazing

panels and then having to

spend time ‘crash moulding’ a

replacement from 10-thou

(0.25mm) clear styrene sheet...

Flight checks

Trumpeter suggested the fuselage

should be assembled with all

doors closed, but with a little

effort the cockpit items can be

displayed open. This is aided by

the airframe curvature, which

is such that the door(s) ‘touch’

the fuselage frame at almost the

exact point where the hinges

feature on the actual aircraft.

With fine plastic rod used to

replicate the hinge itself, the

doors can be secured in the open

position with several small drops

of cyanoacrylate gel. Suitable

internal cockpit door handles

were fashioned after a quick

check of the available references,

followed by another dip into the

PE spares box – a simple addition

that added to the finished

model’s realism.

Additional detail can also be

addressed at this point.

Panther cabin

doors typically

feature triangular NACA-

type air scoops on all the larger

panels, not just the port-side

forward door, as depicted by

Trumpeter. These can be made by

simply removing an appropriately

shaped amount of plastic from

the panel. A scribing template

made from DYMO Tape and

scrap PE ensured consistency

in shape and size; careful

scraping with a new scalpel blade

removed the plastic, with any

errors filled with Surfacer 500,

before a final sanding to finish.

Shackle attachment points and

associated protection, together

with door hinges and handles,

are also items that can be added.

Scratch-built from scrap PE, fuse

wire and/or fine brass rod, all

these items again added to the

exterior’s appearance.

Powering up

The fuselage halves, together

with the cabin floor pan and

Fenestron tail rotor assembly

came together cleanly with

minimal fuss or filler. It was

noted that there was a

slight distortion of

the starboard side

moulding (which may

have caused the windscreen

fitting issues highlighted earlier

in the build); this was corrected

by applying continuous tension

with a clamp and tape after being

glued. Examination of the rotor

hub revealed the rivet detail was

oversized, so this was removed

and replaced with more in-scale

items, courtesy of Archer

‘step’ noted between the parts

during dry-fitting was reduced

significantly – by comparison,

there were no issues with the

replacement from 10-thou

(0.25mm) clear styrene sheet...

Flight checks

replicate the hinge itself, the

doors can be secured in the open

position with several small drops

of cyanoacrylate gel. Suitable

internal cockpit door handles

were fashioned after a quick

check of the available references,

followed by another dip into the

PE spares box – a simple addition

that added to the finished

model’s realism.

Additional detail can also be

addressed at this point.

Panther cabin

doors typically

feature triangular NACA-

type air scoops on all the larger

panels, not just the port-side

forward door, as depicted by

Trumpeter. These can be made by

simply removing an appropriately

shaped amount of plastic from

the panel. A scribing template

made from DYMO Tape and

scrap PE ensured consistency

in shape and size; careful

scraping with a new scalpel blade

removed the plastic, with any

errors filled with Surfacer 500,

before a final sanding to finish.

Shackle attachment points and

associated protection, together

with door hinges and handles,

are also items that can be added.

Scratch-built from scrap PE, fuse

wire and/or fine brass rod, all

these items again added to the

exterior’s appearance.

Powering up

The fuselage halves, together

with the cabin floor pan and

Fenestron tail rotor assembly

came together cleanly with

minimal fuss or filler. It was

noted that there was a

slight distortion of

the starboard side

moulding (which may

have caused the windscreen

fitting issues highlighted earlier

in the build); this was corrected

by applying continuous tension

with a clamp and tape after being

glued. Examination of the rotor

hub revealed the rivet detail was

oversized, so this was removed

and replaced with more in-scale

items, courtesy of Archer

 The instrument panel received similar treatment, with the multi-function display screens

coloured with a dark green blend to simulate blank panels.

 Scratch-built rotor brake levers were crafted from painted pieces of PE and secured to

the overhead panel for a more complete look.

 Once the various interior sub-assemblies were built, they were fixed to the floor and the

result was a busy cockpit with open passenger compartment, just as in the real helicopter.