Sud-Ouest SO.1221 Djinn by Arsenal Model Group 

1/48 scale
Kit No. 48-441
Retail: $42.00
Decals: Three versions, all French (one version stationed at Sidi bel Abbes airbase in Algeria, 1960-61)
Comments: Clear parts for extensive glazing/bubble canopy, includes paint masks and photo-etch details

History

The Sud-Ouest SO.1221 Djinn (“Genie” or “Little Devil”) was the world’s first production helicopter to make use of the ‘cold jet’ principle of propulsion. The term ‘cold jet’ indicates simply that compressed air from the gas turbine engine is ducted through channels inside the rotor blades and expelled through nozzles at their tips without further combustion; the air itself is in fact warm enough to eliminate the need for other means of de-icing the blades. No tail rotor is fitted, the aircraft having two outrigged fins and a large central rudder that is situated in the line of the residual thrust exhaust from the engine to provide directional control. The Djinn is a highly maneuverable little machine, and has been described as ‘lenient where flying faults are concerned’.

The Djinn’s career began with two single-seat SO.1220 prototypes, F-WGVO and F-WGZX, the first of which made its maiden flight on January 2, 1953. These were both intended primarily to prove the rotor and propulsion systems, and were open-framework machines without enclosed cabins; F-WGVO was later fitted experimentally with agricultural spray booms. On December 16, 1953 the first of five 2-seat SO.1221 prototypes was flown, having a fully enclosed cabin and an all-up weight of 600kg, and on December 29th this aircraft established a new altitude record in its class of 4789m. Twenty-two pre-series SO. 1221’s were then built, primarily for evaluation for the French Army, and the first of these was flown on September 23, 1954. Three machines from this batch were evaluated by the U.S. Army, under the designation YHO-1.

Chief customer for the Djinn has been France’s Aviation Legere de l’Armee de Terre (Army Light Aviation), which received 100 of the 150 production Djinns completed up to 1961, and still had about half of these in service in mid-1967. Six were also delivered to the Federal German Heeresfliegerei (Army Aviation). The military Djinns operate at a slightly higher gross weight – 800kg – than the civil models. One was used in France for the first experiments in launching Nord SS.10 anti-tank missiles from a helicopter, but the Djinn’s main military functions have been those of observation, liaison, training and (with one pilot and two external litters) casualty evacuation. Between forty and fifty civil Djinns are currently active in ten countries, most of them in an agricultural role, for which Sud-Aviation offered renewed conversion facilities in 1965. The so-called ‘agricopter’ version of the Djinn can carry up to 200 liters of liquid chemical in twin tanks, and is fitted with lateral spray bars for the spraying, dusting or ‘fogging’ of crops with fertilizers or pesticides.

The Kit

The Sud-Ouest SO.1221 is injection molded in grey plastic and consists of 104 plastic parts, 7 of which are clear plastic for the canopy, cabin, and cabin doors. In addition, there is a photo -etch fret containing 22 metal parts for the seat straps and instrument panels in the cockpit, and a small film insert for the main instrument panel. In addition, paint masks are provided for the clear plastic parts forming a canopy.

The clear parts will have to be carefully handled to avoid glue smears. Cyanoacrylate gel is recommended when cementing them together, as the clear parts for the canopy form a clamshell of sorts around the cockpit assembly at Step 7, which may be a bit tricky. The engine is remarkably detailed, consisting of 11 parts. The main rotor assembly is most complex of all at 17 parts. The rotor blade assembly consists of another 12 parts. Precision handling of numerous small and delicate parts for the boom, rotor and rotor blade assembly will be required.

Markings

Decals are provided for three versions of the Djinn, two of which served with Army cooperation squadrons in the 1959-1960 period. A third version, piloted by Guy Peyro stationed at Sidi be Abbes airbase, served in the Algerian Conflict from 1960-61. All machines appear to be painted Olive Green, for although a paint guide is provided calling out colors in the Gunze Sangyo line, the illustrations of the three versions give no clear direction on how they should be painted. The drawings of the helicopters provide guidance on decal placement only.

Reference

aviastar.org