The Super Puma twin turbine medium lift helicopter was extensively modified from the original Puma. The Super Puma AS 332 was a longer and upgraded version of the Puma, the type being continually improved and enlarged. It had a larger cabin and more powerfull engines. 

Eurocopter  AS 532 U2 Cougar technical data:
Main rotor : diameter  16.20 m , 4 blades with curved tips  (diameter 0.60 m more than the Super Puma)
Tailrotor: diameter 3.15 m, 4 blades 
Wheel track : 3.00 m
Cruising speed about max 277 km/hour;
Fuselage modifications: cabin plug with a 0.76 m forward section as compared to normal Puma with also new longer radar nose; rear section is quite different as compared to Super Puma with new composite fairing and shorter tailboom ; 
Overall, the AS 532 U2 fuselage length from forward radarnose to at most tailtip (exclusive rotors) is  16.27 m  (or  22.6 cm in 1/72 scale ).

The drawing shows the correct measurements for a AS 532 U2 Cougar. 

See also the 1/32 Cougar modelling Report here....
 

(NOTE: a story in Dutch on this model appeared written by me Meindert in the Dutch IPMS NL MIP 2008-3 magazine)

I wanted to model this as a Royal Netherlands AF AS 532 Cougar U2 mk.2. This has a NH90 type rotor hub as well as other modifications. 
It has length (without rotor) of 16,79 m
Height is 4,60 (without rotor)
Main rotor diameter is 16,20 m
Tailrotor diameter 3,15 m

After measuring the kit fuselage length, it was seen that this can be done with the exception of the rear composite fairing; (note: this same kit has also been issued by Revell). For a Dutch Cougar U2 mk.2 as compared to a Super Puma, the Cougar AS 532 rear fuselage cone fairing should be even longer. The longer cone also has a "straight" different shape, being  47 cm longer (= 0.65 cm in 1/72 scale). So the Italeri kit's fuselage fairing cone should be converted for a Cougar. 

Some smaller modifications are also needed that can done.

In the Revell issue (year 2002 boxtop on the right), some extra parts and other decals are provided for Dutch AF SFOR and German Bundesgrenzschutz. The Italeri kit decals are for a French Army helicopter, a civilian one, Swiss one and also provide roundels for a Dutch Cougar but the "blue" is too light. Also, the letter marking style is not correct. New decals will be made as required. 

The kit parts are fine with 80 parts light grey plastic and 18 in clear. The instructions are not always clear, particularly the antenna placement. Also, parts 58B and 49B are not needed. 

Above the original kit part is seen.

OK, how to make a nice AF Cougar AS 532 U2 .mk 2 ?

Start with the fuselage halves:
A cut was made at the rear fuselage area as seen here at vertical LINE "Z1" :

Then, an insert was made from bended white plastic card. The overall extension should be 0,65 cm (or 0.25 inch). This is visible as the overall look is different with straight cone.

The two larger rear windows (seen in STEP 2 of the instructions) were openened up, as incidated on the insides of the fuselage halves. (Version"C"). part 17C is not needed. 

Also, the Royal Netherlands AF Cougar can be made as in model in various configurations: 
 - It is flown with two types of main gear interchangeable sponsons: a smaller type and a larger type (note that the
 larger one is very different than the ones in the BGS kit). The smaller sponsons from the kit will be used (the larger ones are also included, indicated as 31A or 32A)
 - Various engine exhaust configurations are seen with sometimes a JDD, jet diffusion devices which is in fact
 a Infrared protection fairing. This will not be used on this model. 
- The kit windows in the cabin are correct for a Dutch Cougar. Only a small change should be made (will be described later on).

The interior was completed as per instructions and set inside the fuselage. The floor was "closed" near the pilot foot area as the floor is closed here and not open as in a Puma. The interior was simply painted dark grey. 

Some detail was added at the engine compartment.
....

Next, the fuselage part for the hatch (79B) was also glued on and the height will be made bigger was sections of plastic card. A lot of putty was used, sanded and reworked until a smooth result was achieved. Check this by applying a light grey base coat. When happy with it, the rest of the model can be assembled.

Some tiny antenna panels were added from thin card. 
 
Below the fuselage, some cable ducting was set as well. Note the masks on the windows. The forward cockpit glazing is fine and also has provision for the longer radar nose. The intake filters as per kit were installed, but I added the adjustable intake cones by carving two bomb tips from the spares box as setting these inside. 


The inside of the frames were painted black. The two lower smaller windows should be painted/ covered for a Dutch Cougar. 

The main instrument panel with EFIS displays is by the way a bit too large to small, so cut some plastic. On each pilot seat , armour plates are fitted on Dutch Cougars, so make this from thin card. Seat cushions are dark blue. Above the main panel, sun visors are seen inside the cockpit for the pilots. Make these from thin clear sheet and paint transparant green (e.g. with Tamiya clear paint). 
......
The plates parts 67A and 68A are too thick, I did not used them. This area will be simply painted black later on. 

The four main rotor blades are fine but sand a bit more the curved tip. Also the inboard blade section "triangle" should be removed, see picture.
Also, the main rotor diameter should be a bit larger (2x 4 mm in 1/72 scale) as provided in the kit for this Dutch Cougar (the real diameter = 16,20 meter). This was achieved by extending the blade root points (2x 4 mm), good enough at this smaller scale. 
Use the parts 62A , 63A. Remove some height from part 65A and use also part 76A. 
Some hub detail was added like the hydraulic lines from stretched sprue. The balance weights were also added from rod. 
....

The leading edges of the blades are metallic. These were masked and sprayed with the airbrush, with the blades being medium green (Humbrol 117 enamel) upper surfaces and black lower surfaces. 
...
The tail rotor should have 4 blades (and not 5 as in this kit)! So these were cut loose and a new small hub made from a bomb section from the spares box. The blades were also masked to get metal leading edges. The rotor head is painted in a grey/blue base coat. Tail rotor tips are red. 

The cockpit glazing is seen here set on and the model got a grey base coat. Also, the intake  filters (called MPAI: Multi purpose air intake) are fitted. These are in the kit. 


Time for applying the final colours. The Royal Netherlands Air Force  Cougars have a particular colour camouflage scheme: 
 - RAL 8027 Brown  (about FS 32184  ?) 
 - RAL 9021 Black    (about FS 32106 ??) 
 - RAL 6031 Green   (about FS 32165) 
Revell has these colours available with Revell 84, 6 and 65 (or 69) enamels, these were used for the model. 

(Note: in 2007, many Dutch Cougars got an overall grey coat and so have no camouflage; that can be an alternative paint scheme).

After masking, the camouflage scheme was applied through the airbrush. 

The interior of the engine compartment is "chamois", being a mix of lightbrown/yellow. Wheel hubs are off white. 

Smaller antenna's and pitot tubes on the nose were added from rod (the kit parts 70B and 71B are a bit different, so were not used.).
The entry bars (74A and 75A) were set as well as the chaff dispensers 78B. 

The slotted horizontal stabilizer 33A was set on as well (parts 83B and 85B not required).

A red edge was painted on some windows that are emergency exits, on other windows the edge is black.

The gear legs were fitted and painted medium grey and the wheels painted and fitted. 

It was now time to add the decals for the Dutch Cougar. A gloss coat of Johnson Pledge/Kleer was always set below a decal. 

The smaller squadron emblem of the Cougar was printed on a with sheet of BareMetal foil white decal sheet (for inkjet). After gloshing  it was cut out and added as a normal decal. The 300 squadron marking was found on the internet; it was downloaded, set to correct size.

The KONINKLIJKE LUCHTMACHT title on the sliding doors were printed on clear decal sheet (like of BareMetal foil for inktjet printes). This because the kit decal letter style is inaccurate; it should be Typeface AMARILLO.

The roundels came from a Dutch Decal roundel sheet. 

After setting the few decal markings, the model got several sprays of semi-matt Johnson Pledge/Future. Mix 15% Tamiya matting agent (X21 "Flat base" ) with the Future acrylic to get a semi-matt effect. 

In the Dutch Cougar cabin doors there are large bulged observation windows, 1 in each door. These were suggested by simply glueing a thin sheet of clear acetate plastic on the kit window. The door edge is also red.

The result is seen here.

A nice Cougar helicopter in the Dutch 1/72 model collection.

IPMS Nederland Cougar Walkaround 

IPMS Nederland real Cougar info pages...