Can a Puma Crewmen help me please.
 

I am building a model of a Puma and it has a load pole, load pole hole and a pair of doors to cover the load pole hole. The instructions only allow for the load pole to be affixed through the hole in the closed load pole hole doors. I would like to leave the doors open and be able to see the hook and this is where my memory is failing me.

I remember, (or seem to remember), that the load pole was attached at the top with a pip pin to the MRGB but obviously it didn't just swing free. I seem to recall it also being pip pinned to the front of the load pole hole - but this is practically pure speculation. Also, I seem to remember the doors "concertina-ing" rearwards so they ended folded up against the frame of the most forward of the rear 8 seats, (12 seat fit).

Am I correct in my memories? If not, where am I wrong.

Thanks in advance.

Your memories are correct. The load-pole was pinned to the MGB and also to the leading edge of the hatch. The model may have a double sized hatch were the IFF lives, a hatch rarely seem open. The knuckle joint to permit swing is below the flloor soon after the lower pin. Nowadays there are bungies to limit swing and effectively stop a role change in flight from being possible. The hatch did concetina ala inverted 'V' to the stowed position just forward of the first bank of seats. In summary, as long as the load pole is vertical from the centre of the MGB, it is in the right place and if this means the hole is too large, it is an error in the model, even though there are a pair of doors in the floor at that point. The manual release is just above the floor mounting pin.

Thanks chaps... The model is wrong. The doors imply that they are hinged to the floor at the front and back of the load hole and there is a semi-circle cutout in each door at the center of the load hole to accommodate the load pole. I knew it didn't make sense because the load pole would, effectively, be free swinging if the doors were opened as they imply they would.

No problem, I'll adjust the way the pole hangs and fold the doors up as I remembered the.

Thanks for the pic Gweedo, I don't remember seeing those two in the pictures you sent me... :ok:

And remember, strictly, the pole is not quite vertical - as per top pic!
(And those strop ends should be clipped to the seat - stops it flailing around!)

lsh
:E
(nit-picking pain-in-the-arse!)

lsh:

I remember it wasn't vertical that's part of the reason I thought my memory was ok... :)

I'm still considering putting a strop in there... The model doesn't come with one...

Thanks:ok:

AA
 

The model isn't wrong the load pole hole can be doubled in size. Under the floor boards, forward of the load pole, a section of the floor simply lifts up and folds forward. I've only ever seen it used for single point abseiling but that was a very long time ago, it may also have been used to house the IRLS kit.

St. Johns.

Ok... Sounds reasonable... But I recall that when the door was open in the picture Gweedo has provided there was a panel that was the front of the load pole hole. Opening the other half of a door wouldn't seem to facilitate through the floor abseiling... and whenever I dropped abseilers or did it myself we went on four ropes through the doors, much more efficient.

AA
 

I have abseiled, fast roped and used a swarming rope from the gearbox, and dispatched from same, through the centre hatch. Puma SOPs did, at one stage contain photo's of how it should be done. The SOP changed early to mid 80's. I did say that it was a long time ago.

AA,

If the Wort says it's so then trust me it is so :ok:

How goes it Seldom?
 

You must be on or near the 'last lap' by now.:)

St John's - thought I'd find you on here as soon as I saw the Puma Crewman request! How's things?

Seymour
 

Retirement suits me no end:). Just off for a swim and a sauna, probably wont do the steam room as it makes my hair go 'frizzy' you know how it is;).

Hair.........:p

Just over a year to my exit date but I have quite a few things lined up course wise so ealry next I should start the becoming a Mr process :ok:

Yeah, SFFP, I was buying it too 'til I saw 'hair'!:ok:

CG

Seem to recall last time I saw him he had an "awful lot of face to wash" :p:p:p

Airborne Aircrew,

As one who tinkers in plastic and resin I can help out a tad..

Arospatiale Puma, XW212, RAF

Westland Puma HC.1 | Scale Rotors

Puma HC1 Walk Around Page 1

Puma HC1 (ZJ954) Walk Around Page 1

Matchbox 1/32nd Puma


Ohh and if your interested, one of my completed 200mm Resin kit figures.... :)

http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/f...6/sassmall.jpg

Apologies, slight thread drift.

When I was on 51 Sqn (yes, that one!), one of the airmen modified a plastic kit to resemble the shape of our B16s (long nose, accurate domes etc.), a damn good likeness it was, too!

Proudly bought it in to the hangar one day and all hell broke loose. Suffice to say that the model was confiscated and said airman had a very personal meeting with the Boss.:{

Nutloose:

Magic... I was familiar with the bottom link but had never seen the others. Gweedo, had already built the same 1/32nd Puma I'm working on and had a whole load of photographs, a CD with more pictures, moulds for additional parts etc. that he very kindly gave me so I am pretty well off in most areas but the load hole was bothering me.

St. Johns:

This is what I have for the hatch doors:-

http://www.hqrafregiment.net/images/loadholedoors.jpg

From what you are saying I should place the forward one in the closed position and I should cut the rear in half so that I can "concertina" it open against the rear seats. Then I would affix the load pole into the cutout of the closed door which would make it as close as possible to accurate, correct?

Thanks for your help... :ok:

AA Spot on! Dont forget the hook faces forward ;) Are you configuring the model to the mod state in 'your day'?

SFFP & CG. Sparing the rod with you 2 was a mistake I fear:) See you in Nov?

Sinjun,

Re: Nov, I have a chit, so I really hope so! Would I know SFFP? AA was after my time, I believe.

CG