Corgi 1/72 Westland Wessex HC Mk.2 72 Squadron, Royal Air Force

[adey m]

The Corgi 1/72 scale Westland Wessex is probably my favourite of the Corgi Aviation models. Despite the scale trade-offs due to it being a metal diecast model I think that Corgi did a good job of producing a model that captures the look and character of a Wessex. I think that this HC.2 was their first Wessex model and Corgi would have had the chance to produce so many different versions and colour schemes for this model, yet not many appeared at all, I think Corgi have had problems in recent years. They did a very attractive Queens Royal Flight one and maybe two other military ones but the one that I would definately have liked, a Bristow Helicopters one, never appeared. Bristows had a Wessex Mk.60 based here at Scarborough in the 1960s at a small heliport just four miles from our house which supported the gas rigs off shore. I remember the hangar which was still standing until the 1990s. But I digress, the Wessex is one of my favourite helicopters, so I had to have one in my collection.

 

I carefully removed the cockpit canopy and added extra detail to the cockpit and repainted it and the crew. I repainted the cabin interior and added another crew member. Externally I added a few aerials and the fuel dump pipes and just touched up a few details and markings. The rotors spin, the wheels rotate and the cabin door slides open and closed.

 

So may I present my Wessex HC Mk 2 in the markings of 72 Squadron based at RAF Odiham in the late 1960s.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the apron with my Corgi Westland Whirlwind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On exercises in the field with the Army.

 

One of the happy memories from my childhood are the Christmas parties that the Royal Air Force would provide for the children of the serving personnel. I remember the Christmas party at RAF Tengah in Singapore where we were all excitedly watching skyward for the aircraft bringing Father Christmas to our party.

 

So this is my little diorama on that theme .............

 

 

Father Christmas arrives by Wessex at RAF Scarborough with presents for the base children.

 

 

He will then climb aboard the Alvis Salamander fire truck which will drive him to the excited children.

 

 

Welcome to Royal Air Force Scarborough Mr Claus, we hope you had a pleasant flight.

 

Hope you liked my Corgi Wessex, it is just for fun.

 

Regards, adey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 7, 2020 by adey m

[Vulcanicity]

Well I have never heard of anyone repainting and detailing a diecast before, but the results look great! Love the dio scenes too - you've got the whole airfield works there!

[SAT69]

Love the model, the figures and the diorama! Truly awesome!

[binbrook87]

These are absolutely fabulous. I've been looking to add a whirlwind HAR to my kit collection but having seen what you've been achieving with these diecast models I'm thinking of using the corgi offering as a starting point rather than try to convert to the old airfix kit. It may be a lot cheaper too! 😁

[Neil.C]

Lovely Wessex and Diorama Adey. 

[Booty003]

Very smart Adey.  Corgi do make very nice helicopters.  I have a Chinook and a few of their Sea Kings.  I did have a Wessex a few years ago but sold it on.  The addition of the chap in the main door is a nice touch by Corgi.

[desert falcon]

Lovely work and a beautiful presentation as well 👍

 

Now all of a sudden I’m looking forward Christmas 

[Pete in Lincs]

Very nice Walter, Adey. Many years ago I used to do Major servicings on 72 Sqn cabs. The white lettering dates it to the sixties, it was black in my time on them.

[adey m]

On 06/06/2020 at 21:14, Pete in Lincs said:

Many years ago I used to do Major servicings on 72 Sqn cabs. The white lettering dates it to the sixties, it was black in my time on them

That is correct Pete, the model is based on a late 1960s one. And as you say they did change the lettering to black in the 1970s when they introduced the low visibility blue/red roundels.

 

kind regards, adey

Edited June 8, 2020 by adey m