The SAAF Forum

Thanks for the info Geoff.

I only have one photo of the yellow and blue MD500D (Thanks to Rickus!). It only shows the right side (Starboard) of the fuselage and the tail is cut off. POLICE is visible on the side in the same position as on the newer white and blue MD500D. I cant see any SAP insignia on it and no flag. Registration, ZS-HWX in black. Guess its on the underside as well?

A few things I've noticed from studying other SAPS helicopter photos (BK117 and BO105):

1. The older yellow and blue helicopters had the title SAP on both sides. I have only seen one photo of ZS-HSF BO105 with a flag, old orange, white and blue on the tail stabiliser.

2. The yellow and blue choppers with the title POLICE / POLISIE has new SA flags on them so I guess that this was introduced post 1994?

So from this I take it that the yellow and blue MD500 in the photo Rickus sent me was taken post 1994 and has the titles POLICE / POLISIE on the sides of the fuselage. Anyone know if there might have been an SA flag or a SAPS insignia somewhere on it? When was the MD500D taken into SAPS service?



Check this out: http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac339/FOURIE1/2010_0419XXX0052.jpg

Take care
Nico

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http://www.aviationlink.co.za/
http://saafinscale.blogspot.com/

Thanks Wingman PM sent.

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VASBYT!

When it comes to SAPS Aircraft I must quote Geoff by saying “RESEARCH, RESEARCH” . Most of the BO 105’s still have the Afrikaans word “POLISIE” on the left side of the fuselage. There is only a few that have the word “POLICE” on both sides. Even some Squirrels like ZS-RDJ and ZS-RZV have the Afikaans spelling on the left side while some others have only them in English on both sides. Therefore it is vital to pick a specific one and only research that one because they are not all the same. @ Marius. The spelling of ZS-HMJ is also Afrikaans on the left side.
What Geoff is saying is true about the flag but is only applicable to the BO-105’s. For the MD500 and Squirrels the the black triangle faces only to the left side.

Cheers
Rickus

Marius, I will go through my fotos and mail you what I've got.

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There's no such thing as a good or bad gun. A gun in the hands of a bad man is a very dangerous thing. A gun in the hands of a good person is no danger to anyone except the bad guy.

@ Marius, before I forget. The BO-105's have only one flight stick on the right side of the cockpit (pilot side). The other one is taken out to make space for the onboard cameras ect. The crew member is a Law Enforcement Officer and is not trained to fly. He therefore doesn't need it. A box is fitted over the control area. The interior is painted white with the floor in blue. The back seats are grey leather and the front seats are covered in a grey cover. (looks like sheepskin) Hope it helps.

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There's no such thing as a good or bad gun. A gun in the hands of a bad man is a very dangerous thing. A gun in the hands of a good person is no danger to anyone except the bad guy.

The old SAP colour scheme (yellow/blue).

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So few, who did so much, with so little - the RhAF 1970 - 1980

The MD500's don't have any flags on them.

The MD500's were taken into service 16/3/1990 (the date they were registered to SAP) and were Hughes 369D models.

The correct colours for the old yellow / blue aircraft is Revell 12 (yellow) and Revell 51 (blue).

The 369's can be painted in 4 basic colour schemes,the 2 civilian schemes for HXY and HXW and then the 2 yellow and blue schemes.
The original yellow and blue scheme had yellow on the underside of the tailboom with the upper tailboom in blue.

Geoff

Thanks for the info Geoff, especially the correct colours! What colour should be used for the newer SAPS choppers? The blue seems a bit different to the old blue?

Regarding the two 369 registrations, shouldn't it read HWX and HWY?

By the way, I found this picture on the web: http://www.samagte.co.za/weermag/polisie/Lugvleuel/air13.html

Nico

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http://www.aviationlink.co.za/
http://saafinscale.blogspot.com/

I think it should read HWY.

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There's no such thing as a good or bad gun. A gun in the hands of a bad man is a very dangerous thing. A gun in the hands of a good person is no danger to anyone except the bad guy.

I have been batling with the cold weather and non-drying paint!
Eventually got the cockpit sorted out in my Hobbyboss 1/72 MiL 24 , I think is is a cool looking office

The cabin will be next and you can see it is not painted green, but light powder blue like on the bottom of the cammo. This is as far as I know the only heavy attack helo that not only kicks the "bollie" out of you but carries 6-8 Spetznaz in the back to make absolutely sure the job gets done



Theuns

Nice work on the pit Theuns, those Hinds were and are fearsome beasts. Apparently there is a statistic that the Hind is the only AH to be in combat around the world every year since 1978.

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EX ALTO VINCIMUS

Nice work so far T. Love the blue in the pit - looking forward to progress and final pics!

Pitty that MiL Moscow doesn't paint the cockpit and the cabin the same colour. Just makes more work for modlers
The US Army has a few Hinds that they fly in the same doctrine as eastern block countries to train their ground forces. Apparently the thing scares the absolute cr@p out of the new recrutes the first few times this thing pops out of nowhere

T

Some reference photos of SAPS BO 105 ZS-HRI and ZS-HSG

http://www.sa-transport.co.za/aircraft/mbb/zs-hri.html

and

http://www.sa-transport.co.za/aircraft/mbb/zs-hsg.html

Not SAPS but also a nice scheme to do in Netcare 911.

http://www.sa-transport.co.za/aircraft/mbb/zs-rnc.html

Cheers
Rickus

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There's no such thing as a good or bad gun. A gun in the hands of a bad man is a very dangerous thing. A gun in the hands of a good person is no danger to anyone except the bad guy.

Morning Gents

This GB has giving me the excuse I needed to carry on with my Frelon, so if possible may I join? It is in the same state as the last update in the SAAF section.

EDIT: Link to build thread. http://saairforce.co.za/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=3964

Cheers
Brenden

What scale?

I've built both the 1/35 and 1/72 scales.

Geoff