'Green Parrot', 781 NAS, HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent circa mud 1970's...

[heloman1]

Well, maybe I shouldn't dive in with a second build in the GB but, I just can't help myself. I reckon with a four month time span, I should be able to complete this build as well!

So, no sprue shots, you can find them elsewhere in the pages of BM.

As some of you may or may not know, I'm something of a Wessex anorak! I've been collecting reference since around 1974 but having worked on the type (not the Parrot). However,  I was based at Daedalus and used to see these cabs on an almost daily basis.

I'm going for a souped up OOB build, not a mega detail jobbie.

Somewhere in my vast collection of mag article, books and assorted decal sheets, I have the Revel Germany Green Parrot decals. From memory they were less than the best, so will only serve as a reference guide.

White over Emerald Green with a gold cheat line, can't be that difficult! So here we go...

 

These are but a few of the reference sources I have gathered over the years, these along with countless magazine articles.

 

The box art for those who may be unfamiliar with the Italeri Westland Wessex HU Mk5. Release over twenty years ago for the 20th anniversary of the Falklands War. From my point, Italeri had I think intended to produce an Italian Navy (plus others) H-34 but grabbed at the idea of the an anniversary kit. For that, I think the kit suffers somewhat.

I have built six Wessex/H-34's to date, so I'm no stranger to the kits.

 

 

The Parrot resplendent in it's green and white scheme and incidentally, the last of the Admirals Barge schemes.

 

The book, that has been my main reference since t was first published in 1998 and if anyone wants a one stop reference, then I believe this has to be it.

 

 

Next up, SAM magazine by Alan Hall, Wessex by Patick Allen and a Westland's company hand out.

 

 

Lastly, the Haynes Owners Manual, which charts the type across it's service and civilian history. Well put together and worth finding.

 

 

Right, I'm off to liberate parts from their respective sprue. I'll be a while...

 

Colin the Wessex grubber...

[LorenSharp]

Oh you know you want to, besides it's a WESSEX for crying out loud. it just screams.... build me!

[heloman1]

10 minutes ago, LorenSharp said:

Oh you know you want to, besides it's a WESSEX for crying out loud. it just screams.... build me!

Oh, I know I wanted to and had toyed with the idea of one of the kits I had started super detailing. Then realised it was probably over the 25% mark. This was, I get to build it quicker. Never turn down the opportunity to build another Wessex...

 

Thanks for looking in.

I'm now trying to find the VIP interior!

 

Colin

[LorenSharp]

Have you got pictures of what you have done so far on the kit you were super detailing to see if its above or below the cut off line?

[CliffB]

I hadn't seen that scheme before Colin.  A great choice 

[heloman1]

17 hours ago, LorenSharp said:

Have you got pictures of what you have done so far on the kit you were super detailing to see if its above or below the cut off line?

Hi Loren, I haven't but can take some. I also didn't want to restart the build s I want to do the best job I can on it. Alan aka Hendie s (ex RAF Walter mech) 3D printing some more accurate and better detail parts. So was thinking of getting those before I carry on.

Will take images later and post.

 

Walter was the name given to the Wessex by RAF maintainers, whilst in the Fleet Air Arm, they were just Wessies!

 

Colin

[heloman1]

Hi guys, above, Loren requested images of my work on another Hu Mk5 build I had underway. Here are the images of the exterior and cabin work so for.

As mentioned above, I thought it wouldn't meet the 25% rule, it may have but there are other parts I've worked on including the nose, where I've corrected and added missing detail.

 

I've filled the kit panel lines with Tip-ex and will move and re-scribe as required, I added the escape window surrounds  as they are laid over on the real a/c. The moulded in parts looked clunky! There is  still a long way to go.

 

Similarly the interior is has only scant detail, some of it quite inaccurate. We carry on...

 

Thanks for looking in.

 

Colin the Wessex grubber

[LorenSharp]

I would say you're right it's pretty close to the 25% line Colin.. But having said that. you've still got the interior to complete, the engine and gear box assemblies, stuffing all inside, then painting, weathering an so on. From seeing you're previous work and eye for detail from a real world user view and how far you would take it I would say you've still got 75% still to go. so if you want, and that's entirely up to you, enter it in  the GB. It would be an outstanding build when completed.

[heloman1]

Hi Loren, thanks but as I've said, I'm going to hold off on that build.

I have in the past few days made some progress. My birthday and MotoGP got in the way at the weekend.

I've added the laid-on window plates both sides of the fuselage, I've used .2mm plasticard, it's the thinnest I can find, anything thinner would suffer under the solvent.

Some of the engraved panel lines have been filled using Tip-ex. It's solvent based but doesn't bite into the styrene to much. A couple of applications is enough and it shaves off with a the touch of a new blade. I'm also using Tamiya tape for some of the scabbed on panel detail.

 

 

Here is the 'Dustbin' nose or to give it it's correct name, sand eductor nose. It had swirl chambers in the bottom which collected sand etc, particles and dumped them overboard and feeding the engines with clean air.

The exit ducts are poorly moulded, so they were replaced, hinges have also been added.

 

 

 

Until later

 

Colin

[heloman1]

Ok, guys, I thought it was time to look at progress and do a little mocking up. So, out came the Tamiya tape ad slapped the main parts together.

All the parts in white styrene are the panels etc, peculiar to the HU Mk5, as my guide, I'm using the trusty 4+ book, almost he Wessex modellers bible.

 

So, the starboard side, with new door window added, also the reinforcing plates around the re-fueling points.

 

 

The port side, strengthening plates to the u/c trunnion point and the exterior tank support...

 

 

And the underside...

 

 

That's all for now folks

 

Thanks for looking in.

 

Colin

[LorenSharp]

I'm in awe at how well you get the white styrene to look. I thought they were kit parts. And still would have had you not said anything. Looks Great

[heloman1]

9 hours ago, LorenSharp said:

I'm in awe at how well you get the white styrene to look. I thought they were kit parts. And still would have had you not said anything. Looks Great

Hi Loren, many thanks but having worked of the Wessex, I seem to know it's little nuances, plus the 4+ book with it's scale drawings are a great help. At present though, I'm half in the dark as I can't find my photo ref!

 

Colin

[Terry1954]

I've got to follow this one Colin given that I love the old Wessex, and the scheme you've chosen is a right charmer!

 

Terry

[heloman1]

Time to go indoors...

There is  dearth of info on the VIP interior, I have one image from the Haynes manual showing the front half of the cabin with the back of one high-back seat. I'm thinking it could have previously been the interior fit of a Heron or Dove. I'll investigate.

So, working with that image, I've started building the interior...

 

 

The box to the front of the post side is a cover for some radio gear, the second and smaller, I'm not sure. Aft of this is a low lever heating duct.

Inside the cabin door starboard side is another box which is where the crewman would sit.

Still lots to do...

 

Thanks for looking is.

 

Colin

 

 

[TheBaron]

Looks almighty fine inside and out Colin - a splendid sense of observation and precision coming through in spades. Lovely stuff.

[AliGauld]

Superb work Colin,

There certainly seems to be a lot needed for this build.

 

Cheers,

Alistair

[heloman1]

After a short weekend in a wet and windy Cape Town, visiting my old modelling friends at the Cape Peninsula Scale Modellers. Yesterday, I got get back to some work on the Parrot.

So from the photos that were posted on Westland Wessex Enthusiast FB page and some first hand info, I've been able to get to this stage.

Trippel rear seat, with arm rests, twin rear facing seats and table. Forward of this is the four place bench seat and inside the cabin door (starboard side) the crew mans seat.

Up next is the cabin roof which has a curve to it, so some fashioning of some plasticard to be done...

 

That's all folks,  Thanks for looking in

 

Colin

[heloman1]

On 9/11/2023 at 5:44 PM, AliGauld said:

Superb work Colin,

There certainly seems to be a lot needed for this build.

 

Cheers,

Alistair

Alistair, although the Wessex kit is good, Italeri missed a lot  of the nuances of the type. Detail, which you now with your build will have seen. There are also some dimensional inaccuracies!

 

Colin

[heloman1]

Hello again...

Some small progress on the cabin interior VIP fit. What I thought was going to be a fiddly drawn out process, tuned out to be a ten minute job! I've worked some thin plasticard to form the roof insulation. The port side piece has been fixed into place, the starboard side will be attached once everything is painted, which is the next task.

Progress was slowed from id last week, when my two Sea King kits arrived from the UK. What a beautiful kit, I couldn't hep but delve into the box chock full of plastic delicacy! My build is in the Aircraft WIP pages.

 

I've added an extra light the the cabin headliner, I'm sure their Lords would not have wanted to sit in the dark!

 

So, until later...

 

Colin

[heloman1]

Further to my work on the cabin interior, this week I got to paint it...

 

 

I need to get the cockpit squared off, then I can close up the fuselage halves.

 

Thanks for looking in. That's all folks...

 

Colin

 

 

[heloman1]

Well, where has the time gone to? Too much happening in the household at present!

Looking at my progress over the past couple of weeks, I don't think I'm going to make it to the line with this one! I would hate to rush it and then spoil all my good work. So, I'm going to set this build aside and concentrate on the Hellcat, which is close to the end.

I'll have to move this build into the Aircraft WIP section (how do I do that?)

 

Anyway, here is where I'm at as of today. External piping both sides of the fuselage and the main gearbox braces added. The latter are not 100% accurate but then I couldn't make them any better. Bottom image

 

Above. The cockpit is almost finished , seatbelts, rotor break and IP to add. The seats have been refined and the lambs skin cushion cover added.

 

 

That's about it for external details, once the internals are in place, I can close up...

For the paint, I think I'm going to go with Tamiya LP (lacquer) paints. I should get the desired gloss finish without the need for clear coating.

I finally found my Xtradecals sheet X48-111 for the markings which aren't covered on the kit decal sheet.

 

So, until later.

 

Thanks for looking in.

 

Colin the Wessex nut.

[bootneck]

Hi Colin,

 

no, don't rush it;  we can wait until you are ready to finish it and I'm sure it will all be worth the wait.

 

cheers,

Mike (who also has one of these kits and hasn't even opened the box!)

 

[heloman1]

12 hours ago, bootneck said:

Hi Colin,

 

no, don't rush it;  we can wait until you are ready to finish it and I'm sure it will all be worth the wait.

 

cheers,

Mike (who also has one of these kits and hasn't even opened the box!)

 

No opened the box! Not even out of curiosity? How could you, better spend some time this afternoon having a good look!!! Ha, ha, ha!

 

Colin the Wessex nut

[heloman1]

OK admins, I need some help here. As I am unable to finish this build ahead of the deadline, I would like to move it over to the Aircraft WIP section. Please tell me how I can do this? TIA

 

Colin the not so computer literate...

[Magpie22]

A pity it won't be finished here, Colin. I look forward to seeing it in WIP. I, for one, can understand the outside pressures that can interfere with modelling time. I think I might just get my model in, 99% finished, by the deadline.

 

I must admit I'm not a great fan of the Wessex. Got a few rides in them when we were doing work for the Navy - noisy, drafty, dusty beasts. However it beat the Scout, me sitting on the door sill, feet on the skid, relying on the safety harness, hanging onto the Hasselblad for dear life, and praying that I and/or the camera would not be taking a 100ft fall into the drink, as the pilot, without warning, executed a max rate turn to get back on deck before the Moresby sailed into a rain squall. Ah, the good life!!

 

Peter M