Wez Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 Hullo all, I've got a couple of questions regarding Junglie Queenies. Looking at Jen Wright's build of the new Airfix Sea King HC.4 it looks as though the kit comes with composite blades and the later intake filter, in the text it states that the earlier intake guards are provided. Does the kit come with the earlier metal blades (I suspect not), which IIRC have a different shape to the composite ones? Also, what is the time-line for the changeover to composite blades? Thanks Wez Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyf117 Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 (edited) Content withdrawn - I will NOT be threatened by a moderator, simply because I queried the actions of another... Edited June 27, 2020 by andyf117 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted December 24, 2015 Author Share Posted December 24, 2015 (edited) First flown in June 1986, MoD(PE) airframe ZF115 was the 30th production HC.4 and the first to be fitted with composite blades from the outset. Yet HC.4s ZF120-124 were deilvered to 772NAS at RNAS Portland in March 1988 still with metal blades. From what I can tell, the RN Commando helicopter fleet was retro-fitted with composite blades around 1988/1989. Photos of an Airfix kit test shot showed that you get nine main rotor blades (four are for the folded option), but they're all the composite type. Modifying them shouldn't be difficult, though - basically the same as for the Revell kit, as per my post here: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234975758-raf-har33a-172-revell-cat1/#entry1949335 A modfied set fitted to a MK.4X here: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234989958-172-revell-sea-king-mk4x-rae-farnborough-1986/#entry2128112 The 'Sand Box' filter was first used on RN aircraft during the 1991 Gulf War, but didn't become standard until the later 90's. So the earlier 'Barn Door' FOD guard was carried by aircraft fitted with both the earlier metal and later composite blades. If you get the kit to build an earlier version and have no use for the various later aerial/antennae parts, I can certainly make use of them - i'm sticking with converting a couple of Revell kits! Andy, Thanks for that, the one I'd want to build would be a very early one with the Barn Door anti-icing guard and metal blades. You're certainly welcome to the later lumps and bumps but I'd be keeping the jammers though, I need them for a Wokka (when I get around to it). I'll PM you when I get the kit. Thinking about it, I may have some metal blades in the spares box Merry Christmas! Wez Edited December 24, 2015 by Wez Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junglierating Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 Hullo all, I've got a couple of questions regarding Junglie Queenies. Looking at Jen Wright's build of the new Airfix Sea King HC.4 it looks as though the kit comes with composite blades and the later intake filter, in the text it states that the earlier intake guards are provided. Does the kit come with the earlier metal blades (I suspect not), which IIRC have a different shape to the composite ones? Also, what is the time-line for the changeover to composite blades? Thanks Wez, I can say that 772 was the last squadron ( unless someone knows different) to have metal blades. We were on det to Manston and we had the bins change colour. So there was a problem.we went over to the then raf sar sea king squadron who laughed us out of the building.they had composite blades for years. That was 1991 Wez Wez, I can say with certainly that 772 was the last sea king squadron with metal blades. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyf117 Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 (edited) Content withdrawn - I will NOT be threatened by a moderator, simply because I queried the actions of another... Edited June 27, 2020 by andyf117 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grizzly Posted December 26, 2015 Share Posted December 26, 2015 My plan is to bookend the HC.4's combat career - a Falklands aircraft with metal blades, Barn Door, and almost non-existent ECM fit, and an Afghanistan one with Carson blades, EAPS filter and the full range of aerials, antennae and defensive countermeasures. I'll happily swap a set of CyberHobby metal blades for the Airfix 'lumps and bumps'..... It is a shame Airfix have not produced the nose mounted towelrail aerials @ the three box aerial/sat coms on the tail rotor drive housing they also show the sat/nav recevier in the instructions but it is not moulded on !!! . There is no mention of the different sensor/cockpit seat options in the kit & the trooping seats have not got the cut out at the top . That said a lovely kit at long last of this stalwart helecopter that the twilight of it,s faithful services, role on Mk5 / 7 kits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyf117 Posted December 26, 2015 Share Posted December 26, 2015 (edited) Content withdrawn - I will NOT be threatened by a moderator, simply because I queried the actions of another... Edited June 27, 2020 by andyf117 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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