Guideline Publications Westland Sea King - Warpaint series No.95

[bootneck]

Westland Sea King

 

Warpaint series Number 95

 

 

 

The Aircraft

 

 

In 1961 Sikorsky produced a new twin-engine helicopter for two major requirements; the first was anti-submarine warfare (ASW), in order to counter the new threat from the Soviet Union's growing submarine fleet; and the second being Search and Rescue (SAR) work. The designation allocated for this multi-role helicopter was the S.61. The design was the latest in helicopter advanced technologies and proved to be ideal for a multitude of ship-borne operational requirements. Driven by two turboshaft engines which gave the Sea King an extensive range of over 600 miles. The S.61 was later given the designation SH-3 Sea King.

 

The helicopter proved to be a very popular aircraft within all the services of the United States armed forces, including the U.S. Marines and Coast Guard and were also exported versions to many countries around the world. Westland Helicopters Ltd; based at Yeovil, England, had a long standing licencing agreement with Sikorsky which led to the U.S. firm awarding Westland the licence to build their own versions of the S.61. The first true Westland Sea King, designated HAS.1 was produced at the Yeovil plant in 1969.

 

 

The Book

 

 

Warpaint Publications continue to produce fine and detailed books for the aircraft modeller and enthusiast alike and this volume: number 95 - Westland Sea King is no exception. It is published in Warpaint's standard format of A4 softbound covers with the easily recognised two-tone blue upper titling accompanied with a photograph of the relevant aircraft beneath.

There are ninety-six pages, profusely populated with a well balanced mix of black/white and colour photographs; full colour profile drawings plus two pages of detailed plans. All this is nicely interspersed with well researched and easily readable historical narrative along with supplemental data lists.

The photographs accompany useful historical data which helps to explain the history of Westland Helicopters (becoming Agusta Westand in 2001), plus technical information with regard to the differences between the Sikorsky and Westland built machines and the UK built variants.

 

There are seven pages containing full colour profiles of Sea Kings, each page displaying five variants. Each aircraft depicted has it's own short descriptive which gives: Aircraft type, serial and code, Squadron and location at this specific date. The colours are identified by the British Standard scheme B.S.381/ followed by the sub-code and colour description. There is a further information sentence which covers any specific details with regard to lettering and other markings.

To accompany the drawings and photographs, and especially useful for the aircraft modeller, there is a full centre-spread set of schematic plans produced to 1:72 scale.

Further pages give additional useful information in tabulated list forms, such as the Naval Air Squadron (NAS) unit deployments, locations and dates; and include the aircraft version operated at that time period.

 

Two pages contain internal view photographs, providing additional detail that should be a real help for anyone wishing to provide extra detailing if building a kit of the Sea King. Also, with the modeller in mind, there is a section; kindly supplied by Hannants, highlighting all the known models kits that are, or have been, available up to the time of going to print and includes kits, decals, and aftermarket accessories; by manufacture and scale.

 

Conclusion

 

This is yet another very informative and profusely illustrated book by Warpaint Publications and should be a very welcome inclusion to the range. Charles Stafrace has produced a nicely balanced compilation of historical and technical information, interspersed with photographs, colour profiles, data sheets and plans which all together provide a very helpful resource for the modeller and helicopter enthusiast alike.

I really like this book and it should become a very useful piece of reference work and have a valued place in the modeller's reference library.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of

 

 

 

 

 

[DaveCS]

Out of curiosity, while I love the Warpaint titles, is there a title (be it in the Warpaint series or elsewhere) that covers the Sikorsky Sea King (instead of just the Westland)?

I'm interested specifically in the Canadian birds but just a general reference would be helpful as well.

Cheers,
Dave

[Julien]

I dont think so Dave. You could write to Guideline and suggest it?

Julien

[AntPhillips]

Out of curiosity, while I love the Warpaint titles, is there a title (be it in the Warpaint series or elsewhere) that covers the Sikorsky Sea King (instead of just the Westland)?

I'm interested specifically in the Canadian birds but just a general reference would be helpful as well.

Cheers,

Dave

Hi Dave,

There is a Squadron 'In action' book on the Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King, I can't remember if it included the Canadian aircraft.

Happy modelling.

Ant

[maarten.schonfeld]

On 05/01/2014 at 00:18, AntPhillips said:

Hi Dave,

There is a Squadron 'In action' book on the Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King, I can't remember if it included the Canadian aircraft.

Happy modelling.

Ant

The IPMS Canada branch https://www.ipmscanada.com/ wrote an article in their magazine 'RT' Vol 15/3 1982, paying extensive attention to the CH-124 Sea King in RCN/RCAF service up to that date, including the -A version with the dorsal radome, similar to the UK HAS.2/HAR.3 versions. I suggest contacting the IPMS Canada branch, someone should be able to provide you a copy. 

[treker_ed]

@Mike Stupid question time.....

 

I assume that back in the grains of history that there may have been a small amount of button mangling going on and this ended up in the wrong section. Should it not be in the reference material area?

[bootneck]

Hi Ed,

not sure that I understand your query, this review is posted in the reference material section of the aircraft review subjects.

 

Cheers,

Mike

[Mike]

24 minutes ago, bootneck said:

this review is posted in the reference material section of the aircraft review subjects.

NOW it is

[bootneck]

That section probably wasn't there back in my day when wot I wrote it. 

 

Mike

[Mike]

2 hours ago, bootneck said:

That section probably wasn't there back in my day when wot I wrote it. 

 

Mike

Excuses, excuses