Can anyone advise me where to obtail good details of the Bell 47D engine and gearbox bay – photographs or good detailed drawings as found in Maintenance manuals. This is for a colleague who intends super detailing a 1/35 scale model of this helicopter and the only details he has are for the G model.
By: antiqueaviation - 8th February 2012 at 17:50
“Somebody needs to write a good book…it will probably have to be me:).”
That will be great!
As far as know (I will check) it is a Revell kit – will pass on this information, many thanks.
By: J Boyle - 8th February 2012 at 16:18
What model is your friend trying to build?
The MRC H-13D/E /Bell47D Korean War MASH kit?
The Revell kit is actually of a Bell 47G-2 and has a different engine.
There is a huge difference between the 47D engine bay and a Souix on display at the MofAF.
Not the least of which is they’re powered by different engines (200 hp Franklins vs 270 hp Lycomings) and the earlier aircraft lacks superchargers.
The 47D has its engine in common with later 47Gs (no suffix)…but not the later G-2s, 3Bs, 4s and 5s that, like the Soiuxs, have different engines, and in the case of the G-3Bs, superchargers.
A broad analogy can be made with the Spitfire with some powered by Merlins and later marks powered with Griffons.
The family members may look alike, but there are significant differences between the marks. And if you’re trying to make an accurate model, the differences must be noted.
If you’re trying to build a G3-B (US Army OH-13S or UK Soiux) you can’t use either of the current 1/35th kits. The best you can get is the Italian 1/48th kit.
I this time I don’t have any engine photos of a Bell 47D or G digitized.
All my photos of the straight “G” I flew were taken in the film age.
I have plenty of the later aircraft, but not of the earlier ones.
Even the model kit companies haven’t seemed to figure out that there are huge differences between the early aircraft and the later ones, different engines, tailbooms, fuel tanks, rotor lengths, cabin widths. They offer early mark decals on later aircraft and offer post 1953 aircraft as MASH aircraft (Revell).
Somebody needs to write a good book…it will probably have to be me. 🙂
By: Arabella-Cox - 8th February 2012 at 13:18
There are two version of the Bell/Westland 47 Souix on public display in the Museum of Army Flying Middle Wallop and there is a full set of Air Publications in the museum archive. If Wallop is too far to travel try contacting the archivist.
If you visit, ask politely and you’re likely to get better access than the general public, but remember to ask before climbing over the exhibits as the Wardens take a dim view of retrospective requests.
By: TonyT - 8th February 2012 at 12:27
There is a G here too, but also some US OH ones, do not know what model tey would relate to
http://www.primeportal.net/the_airstrip.htm
A UK one can be found here
http://www.scale-rotors.com/category/image-galleries/walkarounds/sioux-ah1
Good site, he sould register, there is a lot of info on it.
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February 8, 2012 at 11:54 am