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Don those pictures are priceless for me mate, saved in I-wessexSAR on my pooter now I have always believed in getting to know your subject first, long before MEK touches plastic which is why I moved the blades around, tail rotor too. It is visible in most static shots of the cabs, but I knew it could go even more but I doubted most people looking would believe it so I underemphasised it on poipoise. For believability, as you say not enough but folks is funny that way. Studying the beastie is why I'm sure that humungeous nose filter is wrong and the MARK1 plans in the 4+ book bears me out so none of my Wessexes will look like round nosed snow ploghs. The kit ones are b' 'orrible so I fill 'em with Milliput and file them down to size. One day I might get the nerve to have a go at WIP ing my SAR2 project, nearly ready for yellowing now. Lots of pics but no contest when faced with the great modellers round hereabouts... Paul if you want any ref's gimme a nudge, OK? Musky, Paul has those plans mate, but a good idea to post em to help him/me/us.

Funnily enough NO The model is probably correct but only because an HAS3 in a museum (maybe Southend, bad old bloke's memory in play here sorry) has been painted completely as an RAF Rescue machine It makes me laugh me t*ts off every time I see pictures of her, sad old bird. I wonder if that is the one Italeri modelled for that kit The Wessex (yes I am completely perverted) I make after my HAR2 will be a HAS3, modified from a Matchbox one I had as a part finished HU5. More researching fun, but probably NOT Humphrey

I don't mind you saving anything of mine Paul When you look at that Photobucket link does it let you troll through the other images? If so there may be one or two that can help you with researching I dont use PB much but as I was considering a WIP then chickenend out I put a few of my "in progress" shots on there Most of the additional sensor additions are from the Northern Ireland period and after so could usually be left off if you wish I have stacks of photos, many donated by Pistionheads members, of Wessex in service I will look (tomorrow or Thursday) to see if I have a few you can use There must be someone (Per ardua ad... maybe) who can help you with relevant 18 sqn data

"a lot of my older models/builds went in the bin and so did the Wessex!! " So typical I made mine and then gave it to the daughter of a mate who was like me, a massive WESSEX FAN Never saw the model again, nor much more of the daughter, which is probably all very well. My missus wouldn't even try to understand THAT A long time ago I gave up modelling and chucked nearly everything "modelling" in the bin. Including the scratch built Shorts C23A Sherpa I made in 1/72 scale after drawing up the plans and moulding the engines and wheel sponsons. Lovely it were! Almost nothing left for when I decided to "have another go" a year or so ago At least I didnt throw my Wessex away... I hope

What he says! A bit like this but even more so http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee417/...xSARkit2026.jpg

Paul, looks as if you had some quality "camps" as a cadet, was your dad in the service in BFG? I should have picked up on the shingles thing, sorry. An awful thing to have I know, glad you are out of the effects now. (co-incidences matter!: The first Wessex I built by converting an elderly Frog kit was one from 18 sqn, I had great fun hand painting Pegasus onto small Almarks "type B" roundels. Happy days)

Ah yes now I see 'em And yes, absolutely right. Not On Wessex As I type this I have a pair of starboard side fuel dump pipes taped to my copy of the MARK1 drawing ready to bung undeneath the HAR2. If you don't feel comfortable with the huge number of pipes vents and ducts, why worry, it is your model, this was my last Wessex HC2 I only interfered acos' of seeing a lot of fine work on here that has been missing the chance to be even finer.

You just found my weak spot Paul I am refurbing a couple of models as we "speak" (No prizes for guessing what of...) I will enjoy watching you with this one too Bill

Hi If you look in the 4+ book you have one of the finest research tools there is on the Westland Wessex, pretty well all you need is in there to make a fabulous model of Wessex HC2s or any other British version. You should remember that the H-34 is different in many ways especially the fuelling systems, hence the under fuselage (very prominent) fuel ducting all over the old Westland beasties. From the book you can see what I mean about those almost architectural window frames too, far too prominent and they have a habit of standing out when the models are painted. P8 of the 4+ shows you enough detail of the fuselage along the sides with the differing fuelling points clearly shown. Trust the book, it's a good 'un. To my eye the fuelling points on the model are far too low on the fuselage, the Westland ones are reduced to two, one just aft of the jetpipe and one on the fuselage behind the crew cabin area a bit higher up. Down below and forward of that one is a defuelling point that is very prominent too. Not sure which vents are worrying you, do you mean the ones under the nose, just aft of the humungous filter (look at the MARK1 1/72 drawings, they prove my point), page 33 shows all the detail under the lower sections. Also the internet is chokka with detail pictures of Wessexii, I must have hundreds stored on my 'pooter. I'm on an HAR2 at present, soon be ready for paint, most of the detailing is finished now. At last

Have fun with that, I have some Modeldecals sheets I am working through too, both RAF HAR2and RN HAS3 versions on the way. I like the stronger looking oleo legs than those in the Matchbox kit, but the over large window framing puts me off a bit, so I'm using mostly Frog/Novo kits for my flotilla. I see what you mean about using both versions of the Italeri effort too, will you be filling the unwanted refuelling point near the cabin door? Is that the one with the tail rotor direction of rotation reversed? Do you think the filter box is oversize? I have very strong reservations about it both with this kit and the Matchbox one. I'm sure they have over-emphasised the width of them. Using the MARK1 plans in the 4+ gives a far more satisfactory size to my eye. Anyway, as a Wessex fan I will be with you all along the way, cheers. bill

Kev this is a great aeroplane I'd have to say that as the very first flight I ever had was in TG607 at Colerne back in '62 Walking uphill to a seat over the wing was an amazing thing for a 14 year old kid so as you can guess, watching you with this will be very important to me have fun mate

by some kind of lucky happenstance I may have used a pair of Matchbox Canberra wheels on mine, but to be honest it was so long ago I just can't remember. I'll have a nose at shelf level next time I pop in to see the model, just to see. Know what I mean... Anyway, my vote is still to whip off the rivets for a 1/72nd scale model.

It's really going to take some seriously heavy duty modelling abilities to make one as good as this Skii. It is brilliant. I forward to seeing it with Paul's exciting decals onboard. Bill

I took all of the rivets off mine when I built her in 1984 I'm still unsure how many of the rivets are visible at scale distances so I dont think I missed out anything vital by whipping them off. I love the old Frog Shackleton. I am a confessed Frog kit fan anyway so I "might" be a tad biased...

I simply love that 'plane "does it fly mister?" asked because it really does look as if it does Brilliant

Oh yes That is looking so very "right" I love the mast and rotor head detail, fabulous work.

Nobby, looking as good as ever mate I don't like to interfere as you are doing so well but as you are making the barrels look so good out of brass I wonder if you have thought about embossing the cooling slots with a french/needle file by rolling it across the barrel? A flat needle file usually has a series of cutting teeth along at least one edge, this can groove the brass if you roll it across the target zone. Pressing down can impart a series of grooves where you need them, practise on some 'immaterial' material first and you may get what you want from it I have been reluctant to mess with your thread but I took a picture to illustrate what I mean, just not sure where to post it so you can see the effect, so I'll see if I can PM it to you

You do know this is a true masterpiece don't you Kev? I have tagged along with you for quite a while and have learnt a huge load of stuff as you went along. Thanks, she's brilliant. you too mate

So Chris, shall I print the new one then? Same size I suppose... So, have you a favourite? #2 or #3? This is cruel really While Chris suffers I am enjoying myself trying out new technology for someone without much responsibility for planning and application But it is fun being on a learning curve

hey thats a nice Bambi but I ain't a'making any plans (yet) dude But now I have two sources of useful info... The Hannants advert it has a picture on it of the fonts in use, so do I now And the photo of Bambi's crew which on examining the codes on her side look to be about right for the Hannants sheet lettering. You need to allow for the perspective effect, if it were my model I would go ahead with what they supply in sizes. Shall I have a little go at getting a couple of Bs knocked out to suit the colour on the advert? So bearing in mind that your colour resolution and mine may differ how close to your surviving letters is the colour you see "on screen"?

I do have this sheet of white decal paper if you email the dims to me we might just be able to get that show on the road if Moofles sets cant help you Ideal world scenario- make all three for each side in the same red. Presumably dark almost rusty red like the colours on an old Almarks set I have around somewhere (1/72 for fighter size aircraft unfortunately, but with probably the right character faces) edit on the hoof, no sign of the Almarks sheet but I do have a set of Airfix Wellington marks from a 60's kit which I can scale to get a type face to work with it has KWE on it, what does you Hallibag have? Give Hannants a day or so to sort you out, their response speed has been phenomenal for me, just look how quickly they came through with the white dec film...

What a(nother)sod Chris I'd echo Troy's advice use an extra layer of film over the decals and shout ever so loud at Hannants. A couple of coats misted over from an aerosol varnish rather like we put on the nose art would help keep it all together but if you have to resort to making your own it isn't too difficult to cover the good ones that worked with a coat of matching paint to make it all fit together. When I printed off the bambi decal I coated it with a couple of coats of Microscale Liquid Decal film to bind it to the sheet just to stop what has happened to your Extradecs. but you ought to be able to trust the printers of mainstream after market gear from the off what a bugg*r!

brilliant!

OK fingers crossed Not an easy subject in 1/72, in 1/144 it's close to maniacal I built one without spats many years ago, the look is so different I wish I'd saved it This is undoubtedly a fabulous pice of modelling cheers

Best get cutting then This is working perfectly Are you going to drill across the forks to make an axle or rely on glue to hold it? As if I needed to ask Marvellous work, thanks. The inspiration is welcome