What a Lark! Sud Aviation Alouette II

[MikeC]

I don't usually do WIPs, but decided for some reason that I'd make the effort with this one, as it's an unusual subject, not least that it's a helicopter in a proper aviation scale.  I bought the Revell kit at a show last year for a good price.  The kit is in Revell's new box and style, and it was only later I discovered that it was first issued in 1996.  This is not a problem, it will just need some work.  

 

The box has some colourful options, but I settled on going off-piste and doing a British one.  The Army Air Corps bought 16 or thereabouts in the late 1950s/early 1960s to fill a capability gap until the Westland Scout was available.  I'll be doing XR385 (c/n 1645) as it appeared at the Middle Wallop Army Air Day in 1975.

 

So on with the show.  First the box, illustrating how I deal with those end-opening boxes: cut the top out and tape up the ends.

 

 

It's a simple kit.  Three grey sprues, one clear sprue, instructions, decals, and safety info slip

 

 

 

At the moment I can't find any aftermarket for it, any suggestions welcome.  (Edit: just found some Eduard Etch - we'll see.)  I'll add a set of generic seat belts and some home-cut masks for the markings, otherwise it's from the box all the way.

 

Back later with (hopefully) some actual work accomplished.

 

 

Edited March 19 by MikeC

[RadBaron]

I bought the original release when it first came out, no idea why piqued my interest, it just seemed like a cool kit. 

Excited to see what you do with it!

[MikeC]

Well I've made a start.  A read-through of the instructions confirmed my suspicions that a modular approach would suit this kit, and the first module is unsurprisingly the cabin unit.  So no change with this kit, we start in the cockpit.  The seats have moulded-in seat harnesses, representing said harnesses fastened and tightened.  For the three rear seats, I decided the representation was good enough: I could live with this, given that if the aircraft was flown with these seats empty, their harnesses would be fastened - loose harnesses being a flight safety hazard, of course.

 

 

 

These seats are fiddly to assemble as they consist of the "bench" (they were actually canvas on a tubular frame if I've interpreted photos correctly) to which is added the two side struts: the locations are not the most positive, but provided it's left to set it works.

 

The front seats were a different matter, as the harnesses were more likely to be undone when on the ground.  So the first job was to scrape off  the harness ...

 

 

... then add the support frames.

 

 

Can you see the problem here?  The back and bottom of the seats are open, but in fact the photos I have show a filled-in back covering the frame.  (Alas I can't post said photos here due to copyright, but a quick Google should turn some up for you).  I'll have a think about how I do that while the glue sets properly.  In the meantime, I ordered up two sets of generic RAF seat belts, then made a start on the rest of the cockpit, adding the collective controls and the instrument panel. 

 

 

 

Firstly, on reflection, I removed the "add-on" on the right, as it does not seem to appear except in later years.  Some sort of nav instrument?  Secondly, I decided that I will probably use the panel decal supplied in the kit, but may see if I can scratch something up from the spares box.  Thirdly, I reflected that there would be some filler needed  in this model.

 

But I also made a start on the skid undercarriage.  The kit supplies a pair of wheels, which were sometimes fitted to Army Air Corps (AAC) examples; but not to to my subject.  However, the mountings were present on the real thing (presumably the wheels were a relatively easy optional fit if needed). So it was a simple matter of a couple of snips, some filing, and some drilling, to proceed from this ...

 

...to this.

 

 

And that's where we are so far.

 

 

[MikeC]

Sticking with the undercarriage (in all senses) for today's update.

 

Having sorted out the skids themselves, the frame they fit onto was next. 

 

 

Well it is a nearly-30-year-old kit, so a bit of flash is not unexpected.  But I'm a bit concerned about fitting the skids

 

 

As I'd suspected, a butt joint.  (Sorry for the poor quality, difficult to hold the parts in position and photograph them with only two hands.)  That may not last the build process, let alone taking the model out to any shows.  So out with the thin alloy rod, grab the drill and the superglue, and voila:

 

 

Only a short session: more later.

[Stevepd]

Somebody I know has recently built one of these. His only real gripe was a bit missing for a door (stbd) door. There should be some "gubbins" for the door hold open. They way it was explained to me, is that it's quite prominent and an easy addition.

 

Watching with interest.

 

Steve.

Edited March 21 by Stevepd

[MikeC]

On 3/21/2025 at 11:27 AM, Stevepd said:

There should be some "gubbins" for the door hold open. They way it was explained to me, is that it's quite prominent and an easy addition.

Thanks Steve: I think I can make it out on one of the photos I have.

 

So on with another short update. First, the postman arrived: these are near enough the right type, but will need colouring blue or black (they could be either):

 

 

Next, back to the seats (pun intended ).   I cut some plastic sheet to fit in the back, I'll fill that in with some filler later.

 

 

Finally for today, I made a start on the tail boom.  The basic structure is three parts, forming a triangular cross-section.  Butt joints again, but in this case, not enough plastic to drill and pin, so I'll have to live with it.  Taking it steady and giving it time to set, we see here two sides glued, the third side will hopefully add some structural strength.  And I thought WWI biplanes were delicate!!

 

 

I've also added some filler to the seats, more pics when it's set and I've shaped it properly.

 

 

[MikeC]

Oh dear, I've made a silly error.  My assessment of the seats was based on an example operated by other than the Army Air Corps.  Yesterday I found another photo of a former AAC machine, 2-ALOU (G-CICS, formerly XR379) and the cockpit was clear enough in the photo to see quite plainly that the front seats were exactly as depicted in the kit! 

 

What to do?  What decided me was that I was having problems with the 2-part epoxy filler I'd used (De-Luxe Materials 2-part epoxy) was singularly refusing to set!  I don't know why, because up to now it's always worked well when I've needed it: perhaps because I had had it along time, perhaps I'd failed to mix it properly?  But that being the case, I scraped it off, and have now removed the card I fitted, so the seats are back where they started, albeit that there's still some cleaning-up to do.  There is still scope to add a sheepskin cover as seen in the photo, and other details like the dangling r/t leads etc.

 

Normal service in this build will be resumed shortly.

Edited March 24 by MikeC

[MikeC]

Continuing with the tailboom.  I was pondering whether I needed to add weight somewhere in the nose, but this structure is very light, and with only the tail rotor, along with its drive shaft and gearing, to add behind the c/g it may be OK.  Time will tell. 

 

Anyway, this will now be left to set.  No more updates for a few days, I have a non-modelling (but not totally uninterested)  friend coming to stay at MikeC Manor.

 

 

 

As an aside, it's just occurred to me that this is like one of those children's puzzles - "There are X differences between the two pictures, can you find them?" 

 

See you later.

Edited March 26 by MikeC

[MikeC]

Just as an added thought: those circular depressions that look like ejector pin marks are not.  They are there irl, albeit hard to see on many photos.

[MikeC]

I'm back! My friend duly visited, and the next week we took ourselves off for a few days walking.  Not particularly aviation-centric, although we were in a county known for many Bomber Command bases during WWII; and sitting outside having lunch at a cafe, we were treated to two Typhoons heading somewhere very fast and very low.  Then, I had a day out at the Hickley Model Show yesterday, and now I'm back, although the weather atm is not conducive to staying indoors.

 

But visiting a model show is always inspiring, and I have got some work done on the Alouette - still building sub-assemblies, with some ready for an initial painting.

 

 

 

To be continued ...

[Grunticus]

Greta progress on this seldom built kit. Good of you to give this oldie a chance and improve it along the way. It surely is an interesting subject!

[Mal_Belford]

Never built a Heli, that is on my bucket list.

 

yep will follow this build.

 

That heli looks like a dragon fly.

 

 

[MikeC]

9 hours ago, Mal_Belford said:

That heli looks like a dragon fly.

Yes, it does, doesn't it?  I've always liked the look of the Alouette II, and was not aware there was a kit available until I spotted this one on a trader's stall at a model show.

[MikeC]

It's starting to feel like I'm making some progress!  The tail boom, skid and fuel tank assembly are now substantially complete, and ready for a quick undercoat of Tamiya XF19.  I know some cleanup is going to be needed, and there is scope for a bit more detail, but the latter can come after the main painting.

 

The fit on this kit is not perfect, and the V-struts at the back of the engine area do not quite meet up with the horizontal member on the tail boom.  I'll have to see what to do about that , but as it is concealed by the jetpipe (I think) I may, as a last resort, just leave it

 

 

In the meantime, on to the engine itself.  It's a difficult clean-up, with ejector pin maks inside the jetpipe and a little flash, but scrubs up quite well.

 

 

 

 

This still needs the main seam and other bits cleaning up, plus some other parts that can wait until after painting: but once that cleanup is done, I think this might be ready for a "reveal coat".

 

Know what?  It's a kit that was originally released nearly 30 years ago.  It has fit issues, a lot of flash, and is perhaps less comprehensive and complex than a modern kit.   I recently built a modern kit - no names, no pack drill, but it was one of Supermarine's finest in 1:32 - guess which one is the more enjoyable build experience by a country mile.  Yep, this one.  That may call for a discussion thread at some point, but not right now.  I really am having a fun time with this little helo

[LSP_Kevin]

Nice progress, Mike.

 

Kev