heloman1 Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 (edited) Another voyage of folly into this hobby of ours. Madness you might think, he's already got a Wessex build thread going here on BM! Well, yes and one that hasn't moved for far too long at least. The kit has been reviewd elsewhere (me thinks?) so I'll dispence with the formalities here. This build started as part of my 'Wet Day box', that I took away to soak up the hours between visiting, whilst my wife was in hospital having major surgery and me staying in a B&B. Our expected stay away was intinially supposed to be seven to ten days. This was ultimately cut to four. As mentioned elsewhere, I was a Wessex 'grubber' (air mechanic), hence the passion for the type. We waited a long time for a Wessex kit in this scale and when Italeri released the Wessex HU5 in time for the Falklands 40th anniversary. There was much joy in the helicopter modelling camp. Short lived it was, to some as Italeri haven't done the subject justice from a modern day kit prespective. Soft and inaccurate detail badly researched decals and markings, etc. But non-the-less someting that could be brought up to a good standard without too much work! Ha!. Fortunately Italeri managed to sort out the fuselage dimension glitch, where on the 72nd kit, there is 6mm missing from just aft of the cabin!!! So for, those who haven't yet seen it, here is the box art with giant crewman sitting in the cabin door! The kit instructions showing the scheme I may build (still to be determined), a HAS Mk1 'Junglie' cab from 845 NAS, Borneo early 1960's. As depicted by the second cab in the box art in overall sand. My trusty Wessex modellers bible, the 4+ Wessex book for around twelve UK Pounds, money very well spent. The decal sheet which may well need supplementing and PE fret which is suspect... Next, the work I was able to manage in the four days in which we were away from home and a little I've managed since our return. Using the 4+ book and a walkround here on BM and on Prime Portal, I've started to check, add, remove and move detail around the two fus. halves. See the pencil marks where I need to rectify a few items of detail. I've already added the two brace plates on the tail pylon. A close up of the detail I'm moving or adding. I also decided wisely or not to attacher the two halves of the nose to their respective fus, halves before they will be joind together. My thinking behind this was that I could get a better butt joint at this stage rather than add the nose to the fus. I still need to do some tidying up!!! To the left is the weapons attachemnet stub and it's assosiated elec. connection socket/connection. Port side showing the correct positions for the two forward HF aerial posts. They are not symetrical as the front starboard is slightly further aft as it sits behind the hoist structs. Below the cabin windows is the position for the cable/connection duct for the stores and fuel tank connection. Just forward of this is the stores pylon support stub or where it should be. The early HAS Mk1's did not have BIM blades, so the indicatior pot has been removed. The blade pockets (the engraved sections) will be filled as the joint is an overlap and should be slightly proud and flat. Some detail needs to be added to represent the taper pin heads and lock nuts where the blades attach to the rotorhead. To my mind the profile of the blade tips look too rounded, so I've reprofiled to top one. The engraved line will be filled. OK, so this is where I'm up to at present. For those guys who requested I post some pics of my build, thanks for the interest. It's not going to be a speedy build as other matter need more of my atttention at present. Enjoy, I'll gladly answer any questions you may have as to where the build is going. Colin Edited July 29, 2015 by heloman1 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 Cant beat a tutorial from the guys that maintain them! Carry on No.1! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hendie Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 I particularly enjoyed reading the part when you stated.... ... But non-the-less something that could be brought up to a good standard without too much work! Ha!. this should be fun....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloman1 Posted May 17, 2015 Author Share Posted May 17, 2015 Thanks, I'll try and keep the build informative as well as interesting. Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloman1 Posted May 17, 2015 Author Share Posted May 17, 2015 I particularly enjoyed reading the part when you stated.... this should be fun....... Strictly tounge firmly in cheek, Hendie. You know as well as I that Italeri should actually be ashamed of the Wessex kits. However, when they do finally get around to the H-34 where this story had it's origins, they could surprise us all and get it right. Somehow, I doubt it... Colin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwaterous Posted May 18, 2015 Share Posted May 18, 2015 Ah, I have a feeling that our definitions of "build to take a break" are different Should be a great build to follow K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdu Posted May 19, 2015 Share Posted May 19, 2015 Strictly tounge firmly in cheek, Hendie. You know as well as I that Italeri should actually be ashamed of the Wessex kits. However, when they do finally get around to the H-34 where this story had it's origins, they could surprise us all and get it right. Somehow, I doubt it... Colin You know what Colin? I agree with him! But as as big a Wessex addict as I am, how could I not be here following with pleasure this assault upon planet Idiotaleri? naturally I'm IN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abat Posted May 19, 2015 Share Posted May 19, 2015 I'm watching this with interest too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moaning dolphin Posted May 19, 2015 Share Posted May 19, 2015 This will be a good one to follow, I do like all the variations of the Wessex. Although are you sure the box art is of Borneo? It looks like they've just picked up a rather large Australian sheep farmer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex-FAAWAFU Posted May 19, 2015 Share Posted May 19, 2015 I have both the Italeri HAS1 & HAS3 in my stash, so delighted to see a proper build from a proper Grubber (so therefore someone who knows what he's talking about, at least in theory...). See what you mean about the giant Aircrewman. I knew a couple of Crewmen who became fairly giant as they evolved beyond Petty Officer, but they generally got bigger round the belt rather than becoming 8 feet tall. (Mind you this is something of a "Pot, this is Kettle: colour check, over", according to my scales). The starboard wheel in the box art looks a tad on the big side, too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloman1 Posted May 19, 2015 Author Share Posted May 19, 2015 There are, if you just count the UK vatiants, ten Wessex you could build. Wessex Prototype (Anglisised H-34)(small cabin windows). Wessex HAS Mk1 Anti Submarine. Early (small cabin windows). Wessex HAS Mk1 Anti Submarine /SAR. Late (large cabin windows). Wessex HAR Mk2 RAF Rescue (small cabin windows) Wessex HC Mk2 RAF Logisitic Transport (small cabin windows). Wessex HAS Mk3 Anti Submarine.Early(large cabin windows)(no parrots beak intake shroud). Wessex HAS Mk3 Anti Submarine. Late (large cabin windows) (with parrots beak intake shroud). Wessex HCC Mk4 Queens Flight. (HU Mk5 extra cabin windows and VIP fit). Wessex HU Mk5 Helicopter Ulility/ Commando SupportEarly (large cabin windows and rounded nose profile). Wessex HU Mk5 Helicoopter Utility/Commando Support. Late (large cabin windows fitted with sand educter nose). Wessex HU Mk1 VIP Flag Officer Naval Air Command. Green Parrot. Wessex HU Mk5 RAF Rescue (based in Cyprus). Add to this the numerous aircraft establishments that had Wessex of many types on their charge and there are probably another ten you could model. So no shortage of choices then? Twenty Pounds per model multiplied by twenty comes to 400 UK Pounds, without AM parts or decals. Would you want to? Happy Wessex modelling. Colin At present Italeri are the only manufacturer of a Wessex model which has large cabin windows. They have been promissing an H-34/HSS-1 (small cabin windows) but as yet it has not appeared. This would allow soem cross kitting to allow the modeller the opportunity to moddel a small cabin window variant. You could use the Gallery H-34 kit but it's a tad expensive to go that route. Freightdog who now own the ROTORcraft lable do produce an HC/HAR Mk2 small cabin window conversion set. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloman1 Posted May 19, 2015 Author Share Posted May 19, 2015 I have both the Italeri HAS1 & HAS3 in my stash, so delighted to see a proper build from a proper Grubber (so therefore someone who knows what he's talking about, at least in theory...). See what you mean about the giant Aircrewman. I knew a couple of Crewmen who became fairly giant as they evolved beyond Petty Officer, but they generally got bigger round the belt rather than becoming 8 feet tall. (Mind you this is something of a "Pot, this is Kettle: colour check, over", according to my scales). The starboard wheel in the box art looks a tad on the big side, too! Well Crisp I'll try my hardest to remember all I did or didn't do to the various Wessex that fell under my hand. Regarding the over large starboard wheel, maybe Italeri had heard about ground resonance and thought extra air in one tire might be a cure... Thanks. Colin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted May 19, 2015 Share Posted May 19, 2015 Looking forward to seeing your progress on this one Colin,.....go for it mate! As for the huge bloke in the cabin,......I think that it is my Father in Law during his National Service,......he is a man mountain now with shovels for hands and was even bigger in his youth,........a scary bloke to meet for the first time 24 years ago but a real gentle giant and a Gent to boot,......thank goodness! Cheers Tony 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex-FAAWAFU Posted May 19, 2015 Share Posted May 19, 2015 There are, if you just count the UK vatiants, ten Wessex you could build. Wessex Prototype (Anglisised H-34)(small cabin windows). Wessex HAS Mk1 Anti Submarine. Early (small cabin windows). Wessex HAS Mk1 Anti Submarine /SAR. Late (large cabin windows). Wessex HAR Mk2 RAF Rescue (small cabin windows) Wessex HC Mk2 RAF Logisitic Transport (small cabin windows). Wessex HAS Mk3 Anti Submarine.Early(large cabin windows)(no parrots beak intake shroud). Wessex HAS Mk3 Anti Submarine. Late (large cabin windows) (with parrots beak intake shroud). Wessex HCC Mk4 Queens Flight. (HU Mk5 extra cabin windows and VIP fit). Wessex HU Mk5 Helicopter Ulility/ Commando SupportEarly (large cabin windows and rounded nose profile). Wessex HU Mk5 Helicoopter Utility/Commando Support. Late (large cabin windows fitted with sand educter nose). Wessex HU Mk1 VIP Flag Officer Naval Air Command. Green Parrot. Wessex HU Mk5 RAF Rescue (based in Cyprus). Colin ...and you haven't even mentioned the Aussies! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NAVY870 Posted May 19, 2015 Share Posted May 19, 2015 ...and you haven't even mentioned the Aussies! 31A Anti sub 31B Anti sub 31B Utility We liked to keep it simple. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody37 Posted May 19, 2015 Share Posted May 19, 2015 Another one with the popcorn ready Colin, the Wessex appears to have quite a following on here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moaning dolphin Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 There are, if you just count the UK vatiants, ten Wessex you could build. Wessex Prototype (Anglisised H-34)(small cabin windows). Wessex HAS Mk1 Anti Submarine. Early (small cabin windows). Wessex HAS Mk1 Anti Submarine /SAR. Late (large cabin windows). Wessex HAR Mk2 RAF Rescue (small cabin windows) Wessex HC Mk2 RAF Logisitic Transport (small cabin windows). Wessex HAS Mk3 Anti Submarine.Early(large cabin windows)(no parrots beak intake shroud). Wessex HAS Mk3 Anti Submarine. Late (large cabin windows) (with parrots beak intake shroud). Wessex HCC Mk4 Queens Flight. (HU Mk5 extra cabin windows and VIP fit). Wessex HU Mk5 Helicopter Ulility/ Commando SupportEarly (large cabin windows and rounded nose profile). Wessex HU Mk5 Helicoopter Utility/Commando Support. Late (large cabin windows fitted with sand educter nose). Wessex HU Mk1 VIP Flag Officer Naval Air Command. Green Parrot. Wessex HU Mk5 RAF Rescue (based in Cyprus). Plenty of time to save up for the Wessie STGB next year! Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 A good start! Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloman1 Posted May 20, 2015 Author Share Posted May 20, 2015 (edited) Thanks guys and not forgetting... Bruneo Mk 54 (HU Mk5 with extra cabin window forward port side). Ghana Mk 52 (as above) Iraq Mk 52 (HU Mk5). Oman HC Mk2 Uruguay HC Mk2 Uruguay Navy HC Mk2 (Grey Green.black underside) Uruguay Navy HC Mk2 )overall white with red nose and tail pylon, with large black ARMADA titles) So unless I'm mistaken, with the three Oz (Wessaroos) types and the seven above, that's 30 different types/operators. That should give you all plenty of scope for the STGB. Colin Edited May 20, 2015 by heloman1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloman1 Posted May 21, 2015 Author Share Posted May 21, 2015 OK guys, I've been working on the cockpit seats, which don't looks like the real thing (surprise, surprise!). I had initially thought they were too narrow but not, it's the seat cushion (dinghy pack) and backrest which are incorrect. So I fashioned new ones. I removed the lower portion for the front frame to better represent the real item. Then made a new seat pan, dinghy pack plus the backrest, all from plasticard and then sanded to give them some contour. Some small items still to add, like the height adjuster handle and the shoulder harness guide on the top of the back section. Once dressed up I think they should look a lot better. Colin 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdu Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 they cant fail to look better Colin, looking good now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloman1 Posted May 21, 2015 Author Share Posted May 21, 2015 Perdu. All I'm trying to do with this build, is point out to guys who might want to build this kit to a decent standard is what they might want to do. Nothing complicated just real modelling. Colin 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex-FAAWAFU Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 Colin, has anyone ever worked out what the aircraft that's on a WAFU's branch badge is meant to be? When I was serving, I always assumed it was a Swordfish (and matelots tend to think it's a bit weird when an officer starts staring intently at their uniform). But looking at your avatar, definitely ain't no Stringbag! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 Much better representations of the seats. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloman1 Posted May 21, 2015 Author Share Posted May 21, 2015 I don't think it's any actual type, just generic aircraft made up by the badge makers. A pity as a Swordfish would have been a great subject... Colin Much better representations of the seats. Martin Thanks Martin, I'm going to keep this build as simple as possible but with enough interest, to keep the enthusiastic modeller interested. Build a better Wessex as it were. Colin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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