Dan Hayward Posted April 8, 2021 Share Posted April 8, 2021 (edited) Here's one I've been working on since last summer and finally got across the finish line. It is the newish Airfix kit of the Westland H.A.S. 3 helo modified to represent a U.S. Navy SH-3D with further details specific to "Old 66" which saw service on many of the Apollo missions. I followed Jodie Peeler's excellent article on Tommy Thomason's "Tailhook Topics" blog here- http://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2016 ... irfix.html. I used Starfighter Decals' excellent set of markings to depict her as she would have appeared immediately after recovering the Apollo 11 astronauts. There are quite a few things to remove from Airfix's Westland version, and a few things that need to be scratchbuilt but nothing too difficult. The hardest was the mount and cameras that need to go just below and aft of the large sliding door. There should be another camera beneath the starboard sponson somewhere but I'm still looking for good images of that installation. If I ever come across any, I will add it. In the meantime I've put in place the yellow tape that secured the camera cables up into the cabin window. Here's the pics, hope you like her! -Dan Edited April 9, 2021 by Dan Hayward 47 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapam Posted April 9, 2021 Share Posted April 9, 2021 Absolutely magnificent! I feel like I am waiting for Messrs Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins to appear at the door and step down to the deck! I love it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmerboy Posted April 9, 2021 Share Posted April 9, 2021 Proper modelling, well researched, well built and superb finish, good job! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerndM Posted April 9, 2021 Share Posted April 9, 2021 Outstanding build. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Mc Posted April 9, 2021 Share Posted April 9, 2021 Excellent. Just the right patina. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinChipmunkfan Posted April 9, 2021 Share Posted April 9, 2021 Great looking model sir- well done. Whatever happened to the real 66? I hope she made it to a museum somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulcanicity Posted April 9, 2021 Share Posted April 9, 2021 Excellent work on the conversion and we'll finished too - nice to see an Airfix Sea King as something other than an RAF or RN cab! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viking Posted April 9, 2021 Share Posted April 9, 2021 Beautiful work, I'd quite like to have this one on my collection. Cheers John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alhenderson Posted April 9, 2021 Share Posted April 9, 2021 3 hours ago, ColinChipmunkfan said: Great looking model sir- well done. Whatever happened to the real 66? I hope she made it to a museum somewhere. Sadly she crashed into the sea off California in 1975. Al. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichG Posted April 9, 2021 Share Posted April 9, 2021 That's gorgeous - a stunning build, Dan. It's only the reference to Airfix that finally convinced me that that's not a 1/48 model... Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinSK Posted April 9, 2021 Share Posted April 9, 2021 Looks great, fantastic job, I thought that the scale is 1:48. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAT69 Posted April 9, 2021 Share Posted April 9, 2021 Your excellent work has earned you well deserved praise. Congratulations! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Crane Posted April 9, 2021 Share Posted April 9, 2021 That looks so much better than mine which I built in the early 70’s! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Hayward Posted April 9, 2021 Author Share Posted April 9, 2021 2 hours ago, RichG said: That's gorgeous - a stunning build, Dan. It's only the reference to Airfix that finally convinced me that that's not a 1/48 model... Rich Oh you're right- I hate it when the scale isn't mentioned and then I go ahead and do it myself. I've just edited the topic to include it, glad you pointed it out! -Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Hayward Posted April 9, 2021 Author Share Posted April 9, 2021 2 hours ago, Matt Crane said: That looks so much better than mine which I built in the early 70’s! The new kit really helps a lot, it is very nice. -Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark V Posted April 9, 2021 Share Posted April 9, 2021 That’s a great looking model. I haven’t seen a lot of these bigger helicopters built. I visited the USS Hornet about 20 years ago. It had recently opened as a museum ship in Oakland Alameda, California. They had an Apollo crew quarantine facility and a Sea King. I believe it was painted up as Ole 66, but there were signs stating that the original was lost at sea. There were the Apollo crew footsteps painted on the deck leading from the helicopter to the quarantine facility. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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