LightningBoy Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 Blasts from the past. Wessex HAR2 XR501 of 22 Sqn - I built this model whilst on shift at ASF, RAF Manston in c1976. We worked 24 hrs on then 24 hrs off for 2 weeks then had 7 days off, can you believe it? Only one day in 3??? Anyway i built this model during the evenings when the shift had put the 2 Wessex in the hangar for the night. We were on call 24 hrs a day in case the helicopters were needed for Search and Rescue duties during the night. Anyway, building this Wessex was made easier by having the chance just to pop outside to see the real thing for any detailing required. Admittedly, it is quite basic by todays standards however it was a conversion from a Frog Mk 1, meaning it needed a completely different shaped nose made from balsawood fitted and completely new exhausts made from, guess what?? The second Wessex HAR2 is made form a Matchbox kits years later, long after I had left RAF Manston, however I did have a lot of photos to refer to. The Chipmunk T10 of 1 AEF RAF Manston was also made while I could just wander outside to check on any details I wanted. I had to do the modelling at home for this one as we were busy all day strapping Air Cadets into the back cockpit. No doubt some of you ex-Air Cadets from the SE will have WK518 in you F3822. LightningBoy (Hint on what the Wessex exhausts were made from) 18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stever219 Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 25 minutes ago, LightningBoy said: Blasts from the past. Wessex HAR2 XR501 of 22 Sqn - I built this model whilst on shift at ASF, RAF Manston in c1976. We worked 24 hrs on then 24 hrs off for 2 weeks then had 7 days off, can you believe it? Only one day in 3??? Anyway i built this model during the evenings when the shift had put the 2 Wessex in the hangar for the night. We were on call 24 hrs a day in case the helicopters were needed for Search and Rescue duties during the night. Anyway, building this Wessex was made easier by having the chance just to pop outside to see the real thing for any detailing required. Admittedly, it is quite basic by todays standards however it was a conversion from a Frog Mk 1, meaning it needed a completely different shaped nose made from balsawood fitted and completely new exhausts made from, guess what?? The second Wessex HAR2 is made form a Matchbox kits years later, long after I had left RAF Manston, however I did have a lot of photos to refer to. The Chipmunk T10 of 1 AEF RAF Manston was also made while I could just wander outside to check on any details I wanted. I had to do the modelling at home for this one as we were busy all day strapping Air Cadets into the back cockpit. No doubt some of you ex-Air Cadets from the SE will have WK518 in you F3822. LightningBoy (Hint on what the Wessex exhausts were made from) WB569 was my favourite of Manston’s Chippies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LightningBoy Posted January 23, 2022 Author Share Posted January 23, 2022 I spent 15 months on 1 AEF and flew in all 4 that we had at the time - WB569, WK518, WK642 & WZ845. Just for you, your favourite at RAF Manston Happy days. LightningBoy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Hartmann Posted January 25, 2022 Share Posted January 25, 2022 On 23/01/2022 at 23:54, LightningBoy said: I spent 15 months on 1 AEF and flew in all 4 that we had at the time - WB569, WK518, WK642 & WZ845. Just for you, your favourite at RAF Manston Happy days. LightningBoy Golden Horn 707 in the background 😎 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony G Posted January 25, 2022 Share Posted January 25, 2022 On 23/01/2022 at 23:54, LightningBoy said: I spent 15 months on 1 AEF and flew in all 4 that we had at the time - WB569, WK518, WK642 & WZ845. Just for you, your favourite at RAF Manston Happy days. LightningBoy Those chipmunks at Manston gave me my first ever taste of aviation and flying as an air cadet, if I had stayed on the ground I might have become a brain surgeon instead of an aircraft engineer for 45 years. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LightningBoy Posted January 26, 2022 Author Share Posted January 26, 2022 What year were you flying in the Chipmunks of 1 AEF Tony? LightningBoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stever219 Posted January 26, 2022 Share Posted January 26, 2022 (edited) On 1/23/2022 at 11:54 PM, LightningBoy said: I spent 15 months on 1 AEF and flew in all 4 that we had at the time - WB569, WK518, WK642 & WZ845. Just for you, your favourite at RAF Manston Happy days. LightningBoy @LightningBoy That’s a super image of her, thank you! I can remember walking out one afternoon to go flying and being given the choice of the two Chipmunks sitting waiting. “That one, please!” I said, pointing to ‘569. “Good choice” replied the airman looking after me. “The other one’s just come off overhaul, she’s a flying FOD-trap!”🤣🤣. I think “the other one” was WP501 but it was quite a while ago now...... Edited January 26, 2022 by stever219 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junglierating Posted January 26, 2022 Share Posted January 26, 2022 On 1/23/2022 at 11:07 PM, LightningBoy said: We worked 24 hrs on then 24 hrs off for 2 weeks then had 7 days off, can you believe it? Only one day in 3? Yes mate I was on 772 SAR at Portland....hoofin times Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LightningBoy Posted January 27, 2022 Author Share Posted January 27, 2022 Hello to the Senior Service. It used to amuse me when reporters said "A Navy Wessex was involved in the rescue of..." when our Wessex was yellow and had RAF written all over it or when they reported "An RAF helicopter was involved in the recue of..." when your RN Wessex was blue/red and had Royal Navy written on it!!!! Can't remember where our territory finished and yours started - was it around Brighton. Happy days of as much flying I wanted and volunteering for wet winching practice. LightningBoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Britman Posted January 27, 2022 Share Posted January 27, 2022 Nice to hear from another Manston chap. And yes 518 is in my little blue book. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony G Posted January 27, 2022 Share Posted January 27, 2022 On 26/01/2022 at 01:02, junglierating said: Yes mate I was on 772 SAR at Portland....hoofin times Snap 772 SAR crew grubber 74 -75 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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