moaning dolphin Posted April 15, 2016 Share Posted April 15, 2016 Good day to one and all, and welcome to, I believe, my first RFI for 2016! I know I have been slacking so I do apologise. I built this in the Helo GB but display it here for those that don't frequent that far down. This is the Seaking MK4 from the newly tooled Airfix offering. I opted to backdate it to around 1990 when I was on 846 as a wee apprentice causing havoc. This depicts a Sea King that we were going to take into Egypt post Ex Dragon Hammer 90 but she had a main lift frame crack so was sent back to the UK for repair. It was the first to be fitted with a sand filter and we arrived back in the UK literally a couple of weeks before the start of the first Gulf War. I didn't go for that though as I was still a young apprentice and had to finish my course first. Now I must confess it turned out to be a bit of a half ars hearted build. First the decals in the kit don't provide for the stensiling of 25 years ago (jeeze that statement makes me feel old!) and I couldn't find anything anywhere! I had an old model decal sheet for a Seaking 3 that provided everything but it was yellow on a black background when it should just be yellow for this era. I also opted to do the mesh after the build was underway and I didn't do all of the mesh. Airfix do provide decals for all the applicable areas but this is black mesh and not green which would look a bit bizarre. If I do another I would cut out all areas, thin and then attach from behind. So what are the good and bad about this kit? Interior cabin is reasonable and a little embellishment will bring it all out, the cabin seats are overscale and not correct, Revell are much better. Cockpit is ok, IP decals are a little garish, the drivers seats are very nice and a good representation. I didn't like the strake on the kit (the piece of angle iron stuck to the left upper side of the rear fuselage) but lived with it. Tail rotor is fine if a little simple (separate star would have been nice), Tail fold detail is simple but a good base, To me the overall shape is decent and the fit is very good but a little tight in some areas. There are a couple of dodgy panel lines but overall I like it. It looks like a MK4 so that's good enough for me. Would I do another? Probably not a Mk4 but if a 5 or 6 was released then definitely and then I would spend a lot more effort on it. So the extras I added, scratched tail gust lock, tail fold detail, tips socks badly tied in to represent the 'snakes wedding' look of the real thing (never was a decent knot tier). Various handles and lashing rings added (but could have done more). Anti ice probes and OAT added to canopy. Rope from cotton, HF aerial from very fine rigging thread (it is there honest!), scratched main rotor swashplate and control rods, detail added to lower door steps, lots of lumps, bumps and holes removed/filled and finally a pee tube added inside. Painted with model master acrylics. Edit: She is displayed with the Revell sand filter as the airfix one is too simplistic and looks hideous with those decals! The only disappointing area of the kit for me. So I think that is about it. Thanks for looking Edit 2: She also has no number, I did apply one but it came off during handling so that is a 'follow up action!' Bob And with her Belgian cousin Finally a couple of shots of the real thing on HMS Intrepid, 1990 although the first one is VJ! And ..... just don't ask! 32 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viking Posted April 15, 2016 Share Posted April 15, 2016 Excellent work, I like all the extra tie down detail. The 'real' photos are great too! Cheers John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Head in the clouds. Posted April 15, 2016 Share Posted April 15, 2016 Nice to see Junglie, very much an unsung helicopter within the British armed forces and your model is a fine tribute to rebalance this a little. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted April 15, 2016 Share Posted April 15, 2016 (edited) Very nice indeed,...`lovely jungly'. Like yourself I was `in' during the 80`s & 90`s (but as a Pongo) and flew in them quite a few times but I seem to recall the troop seats being red back then,......am I just mistaken and getting mixed up with the Chinook and Herk which did have red seats? I was usually too knackered or busy to take in the colour of the seats if truth be told so if anybody `in the know' could confirm it for me I can get on and build my own model! As I said your Junglie looks superb and the Belgique one is very nice too, Cheers Tony Edited April 15, 2016 by tonyot 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted April 15, 2016 Share Posted April 15, 2016 Absolutely sensational. One of the best Sea Kings that I have seen on BM. Well done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phildagreek Posted April 15, 2016 Share Posted April 15, 2016 Nice work. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodders154 Posted April 15, 2016 Share Posted April 15, 2016 100% all good well done Rodders 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkdipXV711 Posted April 15, 2016 Share Posted April 15, 2016 Superb workmanship... one of the best I've seen especially in 1/72. Great old (ish) phots... never knew you junglies even had No8's although I guess camo was not allowed on pussers grey funnel line unless you were a booty !! 👍😉 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappy Posted April 15, 2016 Share Posted April 15, 2016 That's nice that is! cheers, Pappy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FIGHTS ON Posted April 15, 2016 Share Posted April 15, 2016 Very nice build -thank you for posting. I'm keen to try one and have the resin & etched sandbox from airwaves(?) somewhere in my stash. Doubt. I'll get as good a result as yours though. I remember getting a ride in a super sea stallion into Cagliari (just before the World Cup) in 1990 whilst serving on to the Intrepid as well as a trip in one of the embarked Junglies - happy days when a trip to the Med in the Navy was still fun, Glad I'm not on Cougar this year! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ c Posted April 16, 2016 Share Posted April 16, 2016 Really nice work and great details, nice one 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meatbox8 Posted April 16, 2016 Share Posted April 16, 2016 A great looking Junglie. I hope mine turns out this good. They used to fly over my house pretty regularly but, alas, no more. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eng Posted April 16, 2016 Share Posted April 16, 2016 Beautiful work, love the detailing of the tail fold and the tip socks. Personally I love the new HC.4 kit, but I wholeheartedly agree that the sand filter is crap! Need to get my finger out and finish mine. Rgds, Eng 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted April 16, 2016 Share Posted April 16, 2016 . Personally I love the new HC.4 kit, but I wholeheartedly agree that the sand filter is crap! Rgds, Eng I wonder if Hannant`s will re release the old Xtrabits resin and etched sand filter,....it was really good and would be just right for the Airfix kit? Cheers Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sig226 Posted April 16, 2016 Share Posted April 16, 2016 nice work ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince1159 Posted April 17, 2016 Share Posted April 17, 2016 (edited) Lovely build,to me the Seaking is the 747 of helicopters and will always be a legend.... Edited April 17, 2016 by Vince1159 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted April 17, 2016 Share Posted April 17, 2016 Great work Bob,Love the little detail's and folded tail rotor. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr B Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 Looks great Love the yellow caution contrast to the green.... Nicely done Bob Rgds 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moaning dolphin Posted April 18, 2016 Author Share Posted April 18, 2016 (edited) Thanks for the kind comments everyone, but the more I look the more I see missing. Just seen some rear view mirrors being fitted to another build but then again just how far should one go! Very nice indeed,...`lovely jungly'. Like yourself I was `in' during the 80`s & 90`s (but as a Pongo) and flew in them quite a few times but I seem to recall the troop seats being red back then,......am I just mistaken and getting mixed up with the Chinook and Herk which did have red seats? I was usually too knackered or busy to take in the colour of the seats if truth be told so if anybody `in the know' could confirm it for me I can get on and build my own model! As I said your Junglie looks superb and the Belgique one is very nice too, Cheers Tony Thanks Tony, but I am afraid that your memory maybe clouding over slightly. As far as I know the seats have always been kind of blue, like the Wessex and Whirlwind before. The good ole Air Force had the bright coloured (and more comfortable I'd wager) seats. never knew you junglies even had No8's although I guess camo was not allowed on pussers grey funnel line unless you were a booty !! Pussers grey funnel line rules, but once off there and onto the RFA Sir Galahad it was off to pretend we were all booties, although not as good. I wonder if Hannant`s will re release the old Xtrabits resin and etched sand filter,....it was really good and would be just right for the Airfix kit? Cheers Tony That would be a better option, or just replace the panels with etch, compared to the Revell version it is very poor! Very nice build -thank you for posting. I'm keen to try one and have the resin & etched sandbox from airwaves(?) somewhere in my stash. Doubt. I'll get as good a result as yours though.I remember getting a ride in a super sea stallion into Cagliari (just before the World Cup) in 1990 whilst serving on to the Intrepid as well as a trip in one of the embarked Junglies - happy days when a trip to the Med in the Navy was still fun, Glad I'm not on Cougar this year! That's the same time as I was on the Intrepid, however just after we left Cagliari we shifted over to the Sir Galahad and went off to Egypt. I did go through my old phots and discovered these, wonder if its the same Sea Stallion? And the only decent view of Cagliari that I got! Cheers now Bob Edited April 18, 2016 by moaning dolphin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junglierating Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 Yep best mk 4 sofar ....although you could have bashed thé flot cans about à bit lol 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glatisant Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 Excellent. A top class build. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted April 21, 2016 Share Posted April 21, 2016 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny jaguar and the jets Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 Thank you for a detailed review, a great real story, and an excellent build! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark4700 Posted April 25, 2016 Share Posted April 25, 2016 What can I say, terrific build, nice pictures, a good review and an interesting story from someone who was there. Top job. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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