Kerojp8 Posted August 15, 2007 Share Posted August 15, 2007 (edited) Hi guys, I'm french and I have had the idea of dealing with this conversion a while ago, it looks its a big challenge for me, though I been modellin' for 25 years... Just in case you don't know what the Caracal is, its the latest Puma series evolution by Eurocopter. Ordered by both the french Armée de Terre (Army) and the Armée de l'Air (Air Force), it is used for SAR and special ops missions. It is the first french helo having the air refuellin capability. I had to have a try... Its ident name in the Air Force is the EC725 Caracal, this is the one I'll try. Let me bring you to my crazy scratch converted helo progress I need two kits (cos of the fuselage length), plasticard, putty and putty and putty... The dashboard First fuselage surgery step Best regards, Richard Edited December 21, 2008 by Kerojp8 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kerojp8 Posted August 15, 2007 Author Share Posted August 15, 2007 Carryin' on... Cockpit arrangement (no glued parts yet) Armor protected cockpit seats Windows and doors are different on the Caracal so they need to be opened... New approximate future profile in red. The blue writing says "cuttin doors and opening windows" Cheers, Richard Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kerojp8 Posted August 15, 2007 Author Share Posted August 15, 2007 On and on and on... Metal (aluminium) cab floor progress Fuel tanks stoppers Regards, Richard Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kerojp8 Posted August 15, 2007 Author Share Posted August 15, 2007 Want some more ??? :D Here we go with da cab ceiling Fuslage foot holes Cheers, Richard Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kerojp8 Posted August 15, 2007 Author Share Posted August 15, 2007 (edited) At last, a family pic... And I could not stop this w/o showing you I have still worked on the ceiling Hey, here's where I am ! So what do you think bout it ? Comments welcome. Nite ! Richard Edited August 15, 2007 by Kerojp8 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
helishark Posted August 15, 2007 Share Posted August 15, 2007 Enjoyed every single photo. Great and brave project! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChernayaAkula Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 Wow! Looks awesome! :blink: What did you use for references? Especially for the inside? I found a nice walk-around for the outside HERE. Maybe this could be of some help to you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Impatient Pete Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 :blink: Holy crap! ARC is the place for serious building these days. I am consistently inspired and impressed by all the work going on here. Great work Richard! Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kerojp8 Posted August 16, 2007 Author Share Posted August 16, 2007 (edited) Hi, Thanks for your comments ! As refs I use available internet pics and a french mag. Special thx to Moritz for this awesome link ! Regards, Richard Edited August 16, 2007 by Kerojp8 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 Looking VERY good! HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChernayaAkula Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 Special thx to Moritz for this awesome link ! You're welcome! I in turn have to extend thanks to Don and Mickey who linked that awesome site in THIS THREAD. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kerojp8 Posted August 20, 2007 Author Share Posted August 20, 2007 Nite, Still in the cabin... Ceiling details Left fuselage console C ya ! Cheers, Richard Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChernayaAkula Posted August 20, 2007 Share Posted August 20, 2007 Wow. Some serious progress! :D Watching this one closely! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hatchet Posted August 21, 2007 Share Posted August 21, 2007 Whoa, you're doing a Caracal from an original Puma That is some work you have to do there my friend. You seem to be capable of it tho' :D :blink: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Medevac71 Posted August 21, 2007 Share Posted August 21, 2007 Thats really nice ! I followed this build closely in the french forum :blink: Like it Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kerojp8 Posted August 22, 2007 Author Share Posted August 22, 2007 Hi, Thanks for your comments ! A tiny update tonite, just to show the almost completed winchman console. The lever is used to accurately place the winch exactly where the winchman wishes, cos he then gets the control of the stationary flying helicopter. Cheers, Richard Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kerojp8 Posted August 27, 2007 Author Share Posted August 27, 2007 (edited) Hi, I carried on scratchbuilding the cab... Side armor plates for gunners. Masked ceiling neon lights Right cab console, still missing some instruments to be added Armor plate is positioned for the picture Pearls are "pushed" a little more in the ceiling than before Little detail, better visual effect So, how'd you feel its coming along ? :D Cheers, Richard Edited August 27, 2007 by Kerojp8 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Intruder_bass Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 Its coming along great, Richard! I like all the extra detail you made. Keep us posted Andy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kerojp8 Posted November 9, 2007 Author Share Posted November 9, 2007 Hi fellas, Here I come again with the updated build of the EC725 Caracal. I started painting the inside cab. Sorry for the poor quality pics. 'Nite Cheers, Richard :D Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kerojp8 Posted November 9, 2007 Author Share Posted November 9, 2007 (edited) lil more Regards Richard Edited November 9, 2007 by Kerojp8 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kerojp8 Posted October 30, 2008 Author Share Posted October 30, 2008 Hello, Yes, she's back ! It's been a long while since I did not update that thread... Well the Caracal is now back on my workbench and I started dealing with it again. The floor AWA the roof are now attached to the left fuselage half : Then here you are with a mandatory device in the EC725 cab while on duty ... Then you got the mech seat, moving forward and rear on rails. It came from the Revell 1/32 EC-145 kit, barely identical to the one I needed. It was a spare in the box per the EC145 cab version I plan : More to come... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kerojp8 Posted October 30, 2008 Author Share Posted October 30, 2008 Then an electronics board where are gathered all the necessary controls, screens, to service the ECM/flares devices : Front Side Then come the side MG stands. The machine guns on the pic is an infantry MG, will have to undergo lotsa changes to depict a FN MAG 58, but the base is sound. The plasticard hamburger is the basic beginning for the MG casings tray Then do come the work on the ammo boxes racks... 0.25 and 0.5 mm plasticard as a raw mat : Assembly After glueing them I had to test fit the ammo boxes themselves. Blend "skull white" and "chaos black" from Citadel colors to paint the racks grey and boxes black : Hereunder is the result Place trial... Seems to be Ok, huh ? Right, I'll try and update that one sooner next time guys. Best regards, Richard ;) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rom Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 hello richard! i'm just reading your whole wip on Fighters.... i love it! great scratchbuilding skills!! want to see more!!! bye Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChernayaAkula Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Good to see you're still at it! Are those weapons in scratch-built in 1/32 or are they 1/35? If they are 1/35, you can get FN MAGs much easier than converting a SAW, which is a completely different weapon. Many kits contain M240s or L7A2 GPMGs, which are essentially FN MAGs. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Anthony in NZ Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Woohoo, I am pleased to see this thread get going again, I was really enjoying your fantastic work. Excellent recent progress too. Cheers Anthony Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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