NAVY870 Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 My long winded no doubt tardy submission to this GB will be to attempt to beat this godawful thing into something resembling 836 a Wessex 31B of HU-816 Squadron RAN during national task operations mid 1986 A few shots of the lady herself She currently resides in the RANFAA museum collection at HMAS Albatross Nowra. The museum director a Mr Terry Heatherington (my old training chief and one natures true gentlemen) gave me unlimited access to the old dear so I'll have no excuse for cocking this build up! A few purchases, the etch is for a 5 but there's a few usable bits. The decal sheet is superb Some required bits lifted from the HAS.3 kit and some leftovers from a Gallery UH-34. The drop tank is the work of Ian McGonagle and are first class And some book learnin One cannot continue without mention of this bunch of pirates, HU.816 Squadron Royal Australian Navy under the Command of LCDR Ken Alderman. This shot was taken at RAAF East Sale in 1986 during one of our frequent flyaways supporting those steely eyed but delightful chaps of the SAS Muggins here is eight in from the right, back row. Busily making mods to the fuselage halves. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloman1 Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 Welcome aboard, never too late to start a Wessex build. I think I'm going to enjoy what you have planned. Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdu Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 NOW we're cooking! Looking forward to this immensely, I might be looking at this one too much and forget my own The museum one, gorgeous as all Wessii are but is the tail wheel a bit down? (Apologies for my ocd behaviour) External tanks yummy, wonder if........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloman1 Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 Bill I sent the masters for the tank and stores pylon to Colin at Frieghtdog. He now owns the ROTORcraft lable. Pester him to release the set. Colin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abat Posted December 4, 2016 Share Posted December 4, 2016 Ah, now this will be fun. I'm on board for this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloman1 Posted December 4, 2016 Share Posted December 4, 2016 Those exhaust stacks look extreamly long compared with the HAS I's and 3's. Was that a local mod? Colin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NAVY870 Posted December 5, 2016 Author Share Posted December 5, 2016 Best get on with it. First job was to open up the relevant holes in the fuselage, get the fuel points in the right place (Aft gravity point goes above the pressure fueling not Italeri not half way down the flipping tail) I chose to ignore the mismatch in the fuselage half where I guess the different window fit would go in, big black mark there. Started fitting some brass into t office and a splash of darkness Some more brass down in the foul smelling rabble area. I made up a small box for the D2 invertor housing and the outline for the seat that goes over the auto hover and stab black boxery Noted the cabin roof bears little resemblance to a 31B's (no oil leaks for a start!) We didnt have the padding and the tail rotor drive shaft housing is noticeably missing. A let over from the Gallery kit is being adapted to suit. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caerbannog Posted December 5, 2016 Share Posted December 5, 2016 Nice start. René Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moaning dolphin Posted December 6, 2016 Share Posted December 6, 2016 A very nice choice, I'm in for this one. The front cabin bulkhead does look very nice in brass. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloman1 Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 Looking good Steve, keep the pics and info coming. Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NAVY870 Posted December 10, 2016 Author Share Posted December 10, 2016 Some etch in the office Finished the stab box and added some mesh (yes it does look a bit rickety) Made up a bit of card to look like the great lump of marine ply we used to protect the floor And hacked out the sonar hole and covered it back up 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdu Posted December 10, 2016 Share Posted December 10, 2016 Looking very good so far Shame you had to fill in the hole and I've had to hack one out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloman1 Posted December 11, 2016 Share Posted December 11, 2016 Coming along nicely Steve. Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abat Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 Nice work there Steve - expertly neutered. Although to 31B's were without it, the early 31A's do appear to have sonar. Is that correct? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NAVY870 Posted December 13, 2016 Author Share Posted December 13, 2016 12 hours ago, abat said: Nice work there Steve - expertly neutered. Although to 31B's were without it, the early 31A's do appear to have sonar. Is that correct? 31A's had sonar, early 31B's had the same sonar as the A Then the B's got a different sonar and a wee radar scanner on the cockpit roof. The the Seakings arrived in 1976 and the B models became dump trucks.... sorry "utility Helos" 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abat Posted December 13, 2016 Share Posted December 13, 2016 Thanks Steve, useful info for all RAN Wessex modellers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin W Posted December 13, 2016 Share Posted December 13, 2016 Interesting update there Steve. I was at the Queensland Air Museum in July looking at what they claimed to be the last Mk31A . Apparently not enough upgrade kits were bought so it was obsoleted to an instructional airframe when the others were converted to B's. Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NAVY870 Posted December 14, 2016 Author Share Posted December 14, 2016 13 hours ago, Colin W said: Interesting update there Steve. I was at the Queensland Air Museum in July looking at what they claimed to be the last Mk31A . Apparently not enough upgrade kits were bought so it was obsoleted to an instructional airframe when the others were converted to B's. Colin 27 is indeed the last 31A. It was held in storage at H de H at Bankstown before being released to the RANFAA museum in 1984. We rebuilt it wit left over bits and put it on display. At some stage an idiot gave it to QAM without a thought to its significance. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abat Posted December 14, 2016 Share Posted December 14, 2016 Ouch! Didn't know that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdu Posted December 14, 2016 Share Posted December 14, 2016 4 hours ago, NAVY870 said: 27 is indeed the last 31A. It was held in storage at H de H at Bankstown before being released to the RANFAA museum in 1984. We rebuilt it wit left over bits and put it on display. At some stage an idiot gave it to QAM without a thought to its significance. Is there any chance you could get it back? Or is it being looked after well where it is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NAVY870 Posted December 14, 2016 Author Share Posted December 14, 2016 15 minutes ago, perdu said: Is there any chance you could get it back? Or is it being looked after well where it is? Its being very well looked after 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdu Posted December 14, 2016 Share Posted December 14, 2016 That's what matters, end of the day-wise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abat Posted December 14, 2016 Share Posted December 14, 2016 I shall give it my regards in a few week's time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin W Posted December 15, 2016 Share Posted December 15, 2016 Hi Actually the sign by 27 at the QAM notes that it is on loan from the RANFAA so presumably they can have it back one day . It is being well looked after . Colin 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devo Posted December 15, 2016 Share Posted December 15, 2016 Looking good so far Steve. A ? if I may, can the HAS 1 sonar stay as is, if one was to model a ASW fit 31A from the Italeri kit?? Cheers, Devo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now