PK-653 SH-2F Sea Sprite It's not a Hokey-Pokey, but a Hooky Took

[LorenSharp]

Now that I've managed to get a big project further along, I can take a nice relaxing break and build something simple. And since there's not to many of these Sea Sprites in the GB I think its high time to start one. If you're wondering about the "Hooky Took" phrase, the original Tri-Service designation from 1962 was HU2K-1  which of course led to the name Hooky Took which stayed even after the designation  UH-2A and then  SH-2F changed. But this, with luck, will be about as straight out of the box as I can get with the exception of replacement  Print-Scale decals and Eduards P/E set (although its for a Super Seasprite some bits may work)

 

So let the Hooky Took begin cuz thats what its all about.

[JOCKNEY]

Blimey I thought Phantoms were bad for the number of decals but that's ridiculous 

Best of luck with this one, and if I could ask a personal favour keep an eye on Dave aka @Rabbit Leader's build of the same kit for me will you.

He's easily distracted by the other near 200 builds in this GB, and he can't be allowed not to finish  

Cheers Pat

[LorenSharp]

1 hour ago, JOCKNEY said:

Blimey I thought Phantoms were bad for the number of decals but that's ridiculous 

Best of luck with this one, and if I could ask a personal favour keep an eye on Dave aka @Rabbit Leader's build of the same kit for me will you.

He's easily distracted by the other near 200 builds in this GB, and he can't be allowed not to finish  

Cheers Pat

No worries Pat, I'll do me best to keep @Rabbit Leader on the straight and narrow path of the righteous (cough,cough)

[LorenSharp]

Getting started,  Interior painted in it's lovely 2 tone Navy Gray and of course, Navy Gray

Since there's not a whole lot of detail I thought maybe Eduards P/E set might spruce things up some. Granted its for a Super Seasprite by another manufacturer but amazingly, they so far fit without a problem.

Not all the P/E will go where its supposed to, I used some to augment the Radar Operators station. Speaking of which the Operators panel had no back which is noticeable through the main windows. so a piece of plastic card did the trick in covering.

[LorenSharp]

The floor panel and the seat sides fit like a charm.

I still have some bits and bobs to add along with seat harnesses that I'll have to scratch build.

and the Instrument panel fit like it was made for it. 

Overall not a bad start. It's been a while since I've built a model that didn't fight me every step of the way.

[Rabbit Leader]

Hey, now that's looking really lovely and way better already than my meagre OOB efforts. That PE has certainly lifted a fairly sparse looking cockpit so this is well on its way to being a great enhanced Matchbox build. I've put mine down for a while to get a bit done on the Panther, however that's all very inspirational so far. Nice decal sheet too, lots of bright decals to lift that Dark Grey airframe. 

Cheers.. Dave 

[stevej60]

Great start Loren,one of a few builds from my youth I really did enjoy and make a decent job of finishing,the extra detailing and beautiful

decals are going to make this one really stand out.Oh don't go and make me want to build  another one!

[John]

I don't think I've ever seen one of these out of the box. 

Watching with great interest. 

John 

[LorenSharp]

On 1/29/2022 at 4:44 AM, stevej60 said:

Great start Loren,one of a few builds from my youth I really did enjoy and make a decent job of finishing,the extra detailing and beautiful

decals are going to make this one really stand out.Oh don't go and make me want to build  another one!

Thanks Steve, Go on you KNOW you want to build another one. It looks like myself and @Rabbit Leader are the only 2 heaty souls to build one. We could use the company.😎

 

On 1/29/2022 at 4:48 AM, John said:

I don't think I've ever seen one of these out of the box. 

Watching with great interest. 

John 

 Thanks John, Welcome aboard!

[LorenSharp]

Moving along now like the little engine that could...  I've gotten the Seats and their harnesses squared away and the foot pedals added to the instrument panel.

From there I took some spare thin card and made the housing for the over head controls in the cockpit.

then I cut out for the venting at the tail and upper engine housing. then used some brass screen to  give some extra detail.

then some square rod to make the dividers  as that was easier than trying cut and clean up 3 or more small squares.

[LorenSharp]

Filled in a lot of the gaps and then at the back I cut some thin strip to fill in the aft top that looked like it was a short shot. all the picture I have show this area as straight rather than angled.

It will still need some more sanding to smooth everything out, but its starting to look like a helicopter.

[LorenSharp]

A little bit of filler for the seams

The other spot that was small short shot was the instrument cluster shield. One side moulded correctly, the other didn't so more thin .010 card and presto new dash cover.

Then I added the main windscreen.

 

[LorenSharp]

Attached the top piece with the twin engines

Filling in the obligatory gaps, but for once they're not too bad.

and the back portion with the new strip. I'll let these dry and harden overnight before finishing up the sanding so the painting can begin.

After  drying and sanding then Ill mask off all the windows in prep for painting  a nice wonderful Dark Sea Gray. Stay tuned for more craziness from yours truly.

Until then stay safe,  stay healthy and keep on modelling!

[TonyW]

That interior detailing looks fantastic.

[Rabbit Leader]

Wow, looks the business with all that interior detailing and it's all coming together really well, not without a little filler here and there! I've still got lots to do before I button up my fuse up, I'll be a lot happier when I get to that stage. 

Cheers.. Dave 

[LorenSharp]

Not to worry Dave You'll get there in the end to catch the finish of the "Big Show" And since I 'm here a little bit of an update is warranted.

A little bit of trimming to the top of the engine housing. the top was a little off centre and needed a bit of a trim to even it out.

Followed this with the masking of all the windows and port holes.

Then a nice coat of Dark Sea Gray to spiffy it up some.

I'll let this dry for a day the mask off for the tail rotor warning area. and begin the adding of all the little bits. So stay tuned for more exciting adventures.

[Rabbit Leader]

Taking shape nicely Loren and it appears she’s absorbing quite a bit of filler along the way. Nice update. 
Cheers.. Dave 

[LorenSharp]

1 hour ago, Rabbit Leader said:

Taking shape nicely Loren and it appears she’s absorbing quite a bit of filler along the way. Nice update. 
Cheers.. Dave 

thanks Dave. There are a few spots where the moulding didn't quite make it but over all not too bad. Hopefully the worst is now past.

[LorenSharp]

Having let the gray coat dry for a day, it's time to start masking. For the warning labels.

I masked for both the tail rotor and the sonobouy dispenser.

[LorenSharp]

I applied a base coat of white before giving a coat of yellow.

Painted the radome and cargo hook.

Removed all the masking from the windows and whatnot.

The red striping I cut automotive pin striping, then pressed into place

Then added a little detail to the aft engine housing.

A little bit closer to completion. I let this dry overnight then tomorrow star adding the landing gear and rotors and see what I can do to spruce up the finer kit pieces. So stay tuned for more exciting adventures in plastic bashing.

[LorenSharp]

Now the task of adding the little bits. Starting off with the tail wheel, It's in the inflight extended position so sitting on the deck that won't do.

I cut off the scissors and shortened the cylinder about 2 mm. I should have cut all of it away but I did leave  about 1/12 mm and made new scissors out of thin rod.

That looks a little better. Now onto the main gear.

[LorenSharp]

Not a lot of detail here. Lets see if I can bump it up a notch.

The legs are kinda an I beam look so the top and the bottom of the leg I used some thin strip then very thin rod to do the brake lines on the front and the back

Gives it the right amount of "Busy-ness"

[LorenSharp]

 Then the tail rotor warning was masked off and painted on.

And I also took some thin rod to make a proper antenna

I painted the "MAD Bird" AQS Magnetic Anomaly Detector yellow and  red. I had to hand paint as I couldn't keep the masking tape stuck on to get the straight lines.

And I added some thin rod for hydraulic and electrical lines

[LorenSharp]

The poor little torpedo was sadly lacking as well. SO I  took some thing strip and painted them chrome and applied to the body

Then I drilled out rear of the torpedo and made a prop out of thin rod. Looks more like a golden cauliflower. But it passes.

Finally I finished the main and tail rotors and attached these.

I still have antenna and a few tiny bits left to add, but I'll do those tomorrow after beginning the decal placement. Not much left to go, This build has gone together rather easily.

But with any luck, God willin' and the creek don't rise, I should have this ready for the RFI gallery So sty tuned for the final installment of my little Hooky-took

[Rabbit Leader]

This is all coming along really nicely Loren and so good to see all the little but effective additional details going on with this build. I’ll probably just leave mine as OOB as possible, however that tail wheel adjustment is something I’ll probably have to look at. This landing gear in extended positions is starting to sound quite common on Matchbox kits, we have this Seasprite and the main gears on the Provost and Siskin suffering the same issues. 

Cheers.. Dave