Westland Wessex. Bits, Various, for the use of. Transmission Deck & Cockpit set now added for 2024

[hendie]

Right. I've 99.999% finished the 1/48 first set.

 

Set A (1/48) will consist of the following:

 

• Gnome engines X2
• Lower bay firewall
• Upper bay firewall
• Battery tray
• Blue electrical box X2
• Reservoir (at least that's what I think it is)
• Exhaust X2

 

That is, all that you see here...

 

... plus the nose door bulkhead

The exhausts are modeled but I just realized that the way I have them configured, they need to be fitted prior to fitting all the stuff in the engine bay.  That won't do, so I need to determine a method where they can be added as a last step i.e. when everything else is painted up.  That shouldn't take long but I just need to find the time.

Instructions are going to be needed so those will be the next item on the list after the exhaust cans are dealt with.

I also need to source some boxes for packaging.  USPS have some strange rule on their website where they state a minimum length of 6 inches for small packages - I need to follow up on that as I know I've sent smaller packages than that before.

 

I'm hoping most of it will scale down to 1/72 without too much issue but so far have no way of testing that theory.

 

Set B consists of (so far)

• Beetleback
• Cabin Bulkhead
• Cabin sliding door stop
• Loadmasters rail
• Rescue hoist & hook
• Nitesun, control box, & junction box
• SACRU

there may be more to come. I'll need to dwell on that first.

 

 

[perdu]

I have only just realised you were running this tremendous thread Alan, can I first emphasise to your audience that the test pieces I have been sent are just damned marvellous.

 

If anyone needs to know I am test running them on a Wessex hybrid build and even using them on my Matchbox version has allowed me a version of reality I have never approached before.

 

Here is a twin Gnome setup straight from Alan's printer with a trip to the Vallejo paint shop.

 

 

Nice.

 

How about the vents at the back of the beetle back?

 

 

This don't forget is in 1/72 scale.

 

The inner panel for the nose went in with only minor readjustment to allow for the new shape Lesney modelled.*

 

I will be adding more info as my build progresses but as Alan knows that might take a while.

 

 

 

* this is wrong the nose I am using is an Italeri one so its inconsistencies might be due to the irregular wall sizes mentioned by Alan earlier.

 

Sorry if I have muddied the water, these parts are still brilliant.

[bootneck]

On 04/07/2023 at 09:52, RAF4EVER said:

On the Front Bulkhead, no stowage for the Crewmans SLR?

I have found this photo on the web, it shows one personal weapon clamp.  Same as those fitted to Land Rovers

 

A close up shows the clamp and the central securing strap.

 

Cheers,

Mike

[Pete in Lincs]

Ah yes. We had 'Lightweight' or 'Para' Land rovers at Odiham and I remember seeing the clamps in them.

But not in the Wessex. Probably concentrating too much on servicing them!

[heloman1]

Alan the renders and printed parts are exquisite, you are definitely the Detail Master! I have three Wessex to finish to make up the Family. AAA HAR Mk2, and two HU 5's.

 

I'll message you re an order. Trouble is postage to SA, the Post Office is all but dead in the water! Another piece of wonderful management by the ruling party!

I have full details of the SAR fit for the HAR Mk2, the 5's I can finish but would like to add the engines.

Have you considered printing the weapons platforms?

 

Thanks Colin

[hendie]

2 hours ago, heloman1 said:

Have you considered printing the weapons platforms?

 up until this point Colin, no I hadn't. My main focus at the moment is to get both 1/48 sets wrapped up and finished.  Then the 1/72 scale stuff.  It's far too easy to keep spotting miniscule detail or additional parts and just keep adding to the build but at some point I have to call it complete.

I'm trying to focus on the parts that Italeri either completely missed or stuffed up in a big way.  The cabin interior bulkhead is a perfect example of stuffing up, and just yesterday I started working on the strengthening plate that the undercarriage swing arm mounts through - something italeri completely missed, but to me is an important detail that adds character.

 

I'll have a look into the weapons platforms at the same time I look into the sonar gear and determine if it's feasible and if I have enough time.

 

*edit*  Latest additions for Set B:   The swing arm panel I mentioned above, along with a set of chocks

 

 

[heloman1]

Posh chocks, we hade the chunky wooden ones. I remember having to sit with my feet on them in front of a Gannet main wheel, whilst the second engine was wind-milled in!!! Scary on an icey ramp.

 

The weapons platform is not a problem, I have made them they are very thin ali plate so may be difficult to print. Trunnion blocks...

 

Colin

[hendie]

Colin, I think I only ever saw chocks being used on about 2, maybe 3 occasions. Chocking the a/c was certainly not a common or standard practice.   I found the weapons platform details in the back of the 4+ book so I may have a go at them later.

 

The good news is that I have finished the Set A & Set B designs.      (I think).   As I laid them out to photograph the thought struck me that it doesn't really appear like much though I'd hate to count up the hours I've spent on this in total. It's a good job I wasn't keeping count.

 

With apologies for the less than stellar photos. It seems that whatever I tried there was always at least one item out of focus and this is the best I could get.  If anyone wants to see more detailed photos of any items let me know

 

Set A:  Engine Bay

Consists of:

• Gnome engine X2
• Exhausts X2
• Electrical boxes X2
• Reservoir
• Battery tray
• Lower bay firewall
• Upper bay bulkhead

 

 

Set B: Fuselage

Consists of:

• Beetleback
• Cabin bulkhead (with crash axe and fire extinguisher)
• Loadmasters monkey rail
• SACRU
• Rescue Hoist & hook
• Cabin sliding door stop
• Nitesun, 
• Nitesun control box, and junction box
• Fuel filler cap X2
• U/C Swingarm reinforcement bracket X2
• Chocks X4 (shown on bottom right)

 

Particularly difficult to see in the above shot are the fuel filler cap and the Swingarm reinforcement bracket so here's a gory close up.  For reference, in 1/48 the fuel filler cap is a gnats' wotsit over 4mm in diameter, the bracket is 5.5mm wide.

 

 

A few shots of the engine bay components dry fitted 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've still to source packaging, and more importantly figure out a way to confirm the 1/72 versions fit as intended, but as of now, the 1/48 sets are complete and almost ready to go.  These sets/parts can also be scaled up to 1/32 though there is no way I am buying another Fly kit to test fitment of anything.

 

I guess I should get working on the instructions eh?

 

 

 

 

 

[bootneck]

WAFU's used the wooden chocks all the time, helicopters and fixed wing; land or sea.  Even on land, some runways were on a slope.

 

source: not known

 

^{source: my photo}

 

cheers,
Mike

 

 

[TeeELL]

My word, there is some absolutely marvellous CAD work gone on there!

[Terry1954]

It's all looking rather splendid Alan.

 

Do you need a 1/72 Italeri Wessex to test fit stuff? It could be arranged 😉

 

Terry

[perdu]

All that gorgeous front-endery is acting to make me look at my plan to get another HC2 back in the pits early Alan.

 

It's marvellous 

[coneheadff]

Fantastic work!!!

[perdu]

20 hours ago, hendie said:

I've still to source packaging, and more importantly figure out a way to confirm the 1/72 versions fit as intended

Since I have been using these pieces for my hybrid build which has been quite simple to do I suspect that if you have a twin Gnome model from Italeri you will be able to test against that's nose sections.

 

And as I am using the Italeri nose for mine the fact that it all fits so nicely is a tribute to your design skills.

 

I will be using the hoist, door stop and such even though I had to make my own monkey rail.

 

If the HU5s used Nitesun this one of mine will have it, if not it can be fitted to BK of 18sqn RAF on the next Wessex, my HC2

 

The door stops definitely get the gig

[perdu]

I do have a query about the actual moulding process though Alan.

 

I suppose any of you actual printers can help me here

 

Does the smaller scale print really need all these supports?

 

Already cut away lots of them but more to go

 

The way they support the intake tunnels means there are still more to cut away from this delicate casting before I can say that this time the intake ducts are intact, last one I broke off the pipes inside the front panel.

 

Luckily in the context of this build with the dust filter to be fitted outside the intake hole the lack of ducting is un-noticeable.

This one has a chipped intake duct, taken out by freeing the items from the duct     

   

 

I am mathematically challenged enough to refrain from counting the supports on here

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

 

Just wondering whether they could be thinned or reduced in number           

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

[hendie]

1 hour ago, perdu said:

Does the smaller scale print really need all these supports?

 

Good question Bill, and the answer is an emphatic NO.

I was being incredibly lazy and just scaled the 1/48 prints down to 1/72 as a quick and dirty test. In reality they need far less supports.

I've taken care of that in the latest sets 

 

 

[perdu]

Well that is good because the actual parts are exquisite. Thinner supports and less fear when removing them from the 'build puddle'(?) makes them magical.

 

The over-ripe supports is ALL I can see to make it difficult to use.

[modelling minion]

Excellent work on these parts, the Gnomes in particular look very good, just as I remember them.

 

🇺🇦

[Head in the clouds.]

On 7/6/2023 at 4:37 PM, bootneck said:

That's my excuse but what's yours Gary, for only one Wessex? 

Simple Mike, last time I went off looking to build a helicopter I ended up building 3 at once, trying to keep my feet on the ground but not holding out much hope. Sorry for the late reply.

 

Gary.

[hendie]

I haven't been in the mood for printing these last few days. Instead, I've been piddling around with the Sonar equipment and come up with this based on the photos in the BM walkround section.  there's still a bit of work remaining but the bulk of it is completed.

 

 

I still have to measure up the kit and make sure this would actually fit, but tweaking dimensions only takes a few minutes. The question is: how well will this reproduce in print?  Those vertical cabinets at top are only 1.5mm wide, and the U shaped handles are about 0.25mm in diameter.  It could well be that some of these details are just too fine to produce accurately and repeatedly.

The equipment aft of this is a lot more challenging as there isn't a great number of good shots showing the arrangement, and there's plenty of bits missing.  I am not familiar with the Sonar arrangement at all so I can only go on what I can see in those photos.  For example in the shot above I am certain that something sits on top of the flat surface located at bottom left (with the shaft running through it), but I have no idea what that item could possibly be.

 

I still have to do some work on the Sets A&B on the 1/72 side of things - I'm guilty of having a sloppy filing system and in a couple of instances I've mixed up model versions.  It should take long to rectify - I just have to get the mojo stoked up to go and actually do it.

 

 

[Pete in Lincs]

See, your mojo needs more supports. Simples!

[perdu]

Alan I based  this on the imagery in  the walkarounds, I reckon you will waltz it mate

Your attention to detail and draughting skills will sweep the board

[Pete in Lincs]

Odiham in the early 80's the chocks on Wessex and Puma was a piece of wood 12 to 14 inches long with an angled block of wood at each end. IRR green naturally.        The Loadie was in charge of fitting and removing it. Nuffin to do with me, Guv. 

[rodenlee]

You work is amazing Hendie...I'm looking forward to getting some set "B"s in due course!
Cheers
Shaun

[Grizzly]

If you send me your email address, I have some good photos of the Wessex HAS3 interior. Regards Len