Sikorsky (Mitsubishi) S-62J

[Whirly]

Hello all,

I'd like to enter this build of a rather exotic subject. Here is the box contents for a start: hope the kit won't fight me too much!

Fabio

[dude_gan_ainm]

Nice one Fabio,best of luck.

Jimbob...

Edited April 9, 2016 by dude_gan_ainm

[CliffB]

Should be a stunner!

Cliff

[Whirly]

Did some progress detaching the main components from the pouring blocks. It was quite awkward and needed a very thin saw because there is no clearance between the parts and the excess resin:

anyway all went well and now I have the main parts free and thoroughly cleaned.

I stiil need to refine the side windows and this will require much care because of the paint scheme, they must be perfectly aligned.

Cheers

Fabio

[Smudge]

Nice choice. Looking forward to following along.

[ForestFan]

Nice choice, it's fair to say you don't see many of these! Look forward to seeing it progress

[Jabba]

There does not seem to be much room between the art and the resin block, at least I had a bit more with the MH-3E.

How are you finding the instructions, as I am finding mine a little difficult to follow?

[Whirly]

Hi Jabba,

the instructions are more a collection of advices on some stages of the construction than a complete guide from start to finish. Consider that I realized only a few days ago that I was missing all the transparent parts: they are not mentioned in the parts list and only deserve a brief note in stages B and F. Hope to receive a replacement soon...

How are yours for the HH-3?

Meanwhile, here is some little progress:

all the cockpit parts ready for assembly...

The seat supports where great fun but came out well in the end.

I have some reserves on the rudder pedals: they are supplied both as resin (huge) and photoetched (tiny). Neither seem in the correct scale, I'll see what to do later.

Cheers

Fabio

Edited April 18, 2016 by Whirly

[CliffB]

Coming along nicely and that PE certainly sharpens things up

Cliff

[Jabba]

Hi Jabba,

the instructions are more a collection of advices on some stages of the construction than a complete guide from start to finish. Consider that I realized only a few days ago that I was missing all the transparent parts: they are not mentioned in the parts list and only deserve a brief note in stages B and F. Hope to receive a replacement soon...

How are yours for the HH-3?

Meanwhile, here is some little progress:

all the cockpit parts ready for assembly...

The seat supports where great fun but came out well in the end.

I have some reserves on the rudder pedals: they are supplied both as resin (huge) and photoetched (tiny). Neither seem in the correct scale, I'll see what to do later.

Cheers

Fabio

Like the progress. My transparencies were in the kit although there are none really for the side windows, will probably make some out of clear plasti card. I am still finding the instructions a bit of a minefield, as I have two sheets to follow which I sometimes get a little mixed up.

[Radleigh]

Lovely subject!

[Whirly]

Thanks for the appreciations! I did a little more progress: cutting the plasticard templates for the floor and rear bulkhead I found they are quite approximate, will have to make some adjustments...

[Whirly]

I also added some detailing fo the cockpit bulkhead which was quite naked. Some aluminium sheet was embossed from behind with a dull point and then attached to the wall with thin acrylic adhesive:

after drying up the excess was trimmed with a sharp blade and this is the finished item:

Edited April 26, 2016 by Whirly

[CliffB]

That embossed detail looks very effective indeed - yet another technique for me to try sometime

Cliff

[Whirly]

Glad to inspire you Cliff: I used this technique for the first time and it was very easy and effective to my eyes, much better than anything I could have done with microstrips or sprue. Also it doesn't require special materials: the thick aluminium sheet came from a chocolate coin...

[Whirly]

Sorry for the lack of updates but time is so scarce I'm even behind schedule with posts in this forum...

I made some little progress on the interior: I cut the floor and rear bulkhead according to the instructed templates and had to do some adjustments.

Then I did the side windows using some very thick acetate. Another good trick I learned before on these forum is to run a black marker on the edge of each window: this helps to avoid all the reflexes that lend that toy-like feel to many helo models. The windows where then attached with Revell acrylic glue.

Here are the cockpit floor and bulkhead fitted in place. I added more tin foil to the rear wall to achieve the same effect with embossed detail.

Edited May 6, 2016 by Whirly

[Whirly]

While doing much research on the interior (can't help it ) I found a minor inaccuracy with the yaw controls: they are certainly oversized and I tried to reduce them all around but I also noted that the extra 'pads' are really present only in the right seat. It has to do with the commanding position, though I'd be curious to know why the co-pilot doesn't need them (and what they are).

You can get a good view of many internal details from this panoramic tour of the Pensacola excellently restored example:

http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/nnam/virtualtour/?s=pano692

[Whirly]

Now I'm struggling to find a way to do the cabin padding: it is very loose and my first try with lead foil is somewhat underwhelming...

I could do it with Milliput but I'm not too happy to test my scarce abilities with these material. Suggestions are very welcome.

[Jabba]

While doing much research on the interior (can't help it ) I found a minor inaccuracy with the yaw controls: they are certainly oversized and I tried to reduce them all around but I also noted that the extra 'pads' are really present only in the right seat. It has to do with the commanding position, though I'd be curious to know why the co-pilot doesn't need them (and what they are).

You can get a good view of many internal details from this panoramic tour of the Pensacola excellently restored example:

http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/nnam/virtualtour/?s=pano692

The extra bits on the yaw pedals might be the brake controls. I know that they are on Chinooks.

[moaning dolphin]

Great work so far, its looking really nice! wot he said reference to the yaw pedals. They are wheel brakes and (certainly in the UK and Canadian Seaking world) are only available to the pilot in the right hand seat who is deemed the aircraft captain. Not sure why the co pilot isn't trusted with a set!

Bob

[Whirly]

Hi Jabba, your idea seems good: I hadn't thought about the taxiing capabilities and actually the brakes aren't strictly necessary to handle the aircraft.

(thank you also to Bob, I saw the reply only now).

While struggling to finish the interior I found out that the japanese helos used different equipment from their USCG counterparts event though the mission should be the same. The USCG used a platform attached to the side of the open cabin, as you can see in the following video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3Y6zKVe7hw

While not in use that platform was always stowed in the rear left cabin as can be seen in the Pensacola link I posted previously.

If you look at images of JASDF and JMSDF S-62J the platform is never in sight and you can see through the rear left cabin windows there are canvas seats where the stowed platform should be:

So the nice etching provided in the box can't be used, while I have to build all the troop seats.

Edited May 11, 2016 by Whirly

[Whirly]

Just a quick update to say a BIG THANK YOU to Roger Evans, owner of Whirlybirds Models, who despite being in very hard troubles with his wife's illness found the time to send me the missing canopies so I can go along with this build.

[andyf117]

Content withdrawn - I will NOT be threatened by a moderator, simply because I queried the actions of another...

Edited June 27, 2020 by andyf117

[heloman1]

Great choice of kit, I love this cab. Good work wiyth ali sheet and pen and the rudder pedals look ok too.

Colin

[Whirly]

Hi Andy, so you are suggesting thin polythene attached with PVA glue? Seems good, but what about painting it? I fear the grey paint will peel off or not?

Thank you!