Dennis_C Posted September 14, 2024 Posted September 14, 2024 (edited) Hi Fellow Modellers! Bristol Sycamore! This is a helicopter that has been intriguing me since I read about it 20 years back in a book about air wars. Plastic injection models of it were almost non-existent until Mel Bromley of S&M (I think in collaboration with Mikro-Mir sprue makers) released it in 2016. Sadly Mel passed away some time ago so I hope this model could be a tribute to him. Sycamore firmly keeps its place among those early helicopters that while underpowered and not easy in piloting and navigating were making job that was totally impossible just several years before. It stands out being the first successful helicopter of fully British origin and is very distinctive with its sporty aerodynamic appeal. Bristol Sycamore was not produced in any large quantities but managed to see operational use in several armed conflicts of which Malayan Emergency has been the first. This conflict brought British helicopters to the scene for the first time and has been totally experimental in application of rotary flying capabilities. "The First Helicopter Boys" book by David Taylor gives a great outline of the helicopters role in Malaya and more importantly of the lives of pilots, mechanics and everyone who were going through this challenge. The book also was very inspirational to me to build this model and obviously pushed the choice of prototype. My model represents Bristol Sycamore HR.14 XL822 as it has been operating in Malaya in 1958-1960. XL822 has been involved in an accident involving a forced landing where its airscrew sustained significant damage but the fuselage remained mostly intact so that helicopter was repaired and returned on strength of 194 Squadron. In 'The First Helicopter Boys' book there are multiple photoes of this very machine - so it was providing great guidance on modelling this helicopter. Couple words on kit and construction. The kit has been cleanly molded, parts fit is very good and well engineered. I think geometrically and dimensionally it finely represents the real helicopter. Cabin is provided as transparent plastic parts that removes the problem of gluing in small windows. One big addition that I used was photoetch set from AccsGB. That is a real must-have in my mind as all those minor hinges and handles outside as well as belts, pedals and straps inside the cabin are not provided in plastic. I also did some modifications myself to fix some errors and better represent prototype. This included: - added details to the rear side of instrument panel such as some wiring and instrument backs - this zone is hard to photograph but very well seen from outside so plain i/p rear side is not an option; - scratchbuilt antennae on the nose sides (not in the kit neither in AccsGB fret); - added pips with navigation lights on the undercarriage struts (missed in the kit); - drilled holes for landing lights on the bottom that I filled with Krystal Klear in the end (fuselage bottom is bare in the kit so I scribed some panel lines there and added lights); - cut through holes in the grill in front of the gear box on top fuselage (kit part represents the grill but depth is not visible so I thought to better cut it through); - used bent wire to replace fragile and poorly molded hinges of the rotorhead; - replaced oversized side wheels with ones from DH Puss Moth kit that had appropriate size and wheel hub very similar to real thing; - I bent the rotor blades to represent the noticeable droop but I think it did not turn out very realistic as the droop curvature turned very concentrated to mid section. I think I should do more helicopter models! Also in the process I broke one rotor blade and stabilizer so I reattached them using brass tube and wire to affix these bits more reliably. Some close up photoes below: Model is painted in Tamiya flat yellow, blades are aluminum on top and black on bottom. Decals are a mix of kit stencils (all worked very good and printed exactly as on real Sycamores!) and markings from Mark 1 decals set. Kit provides decals set for yellow painted machine with 'RESCUE' lettering - but S&M pictured a restored museum machine with font that is different from Malaya-time machines. Serial was made from an Xtradecal sheet with generic British letters and digits. Some photoes 'in flight' Hope you liked it 😉 Cheers! Dennis Edited September 15, 2024 by Dennis_C 50 2 3 2
ColinChipmunkfan Posted September 14, 2024 Posted September 14, 2024 What an excellent model, superbly finished. I am sure I read somewhere that the Sycamore had wooden rotor blades. Colin 1
Dennis_C Posted September 14, 2024 Author Posted September 14, 2024 Just now, ColinChipmunkfan said: What an excellent model, superbly finished. I am sure I read somewhere that the Sycamore had wooden rotor blades. Colin It did. Wooden rotor blades. And thank you for nice words
dolphin38 Posted September 14, 2024 Posted September 14, 2024 Beautiful looking helicopter, great work 1
AlxBNE Posted September 14, 2024 Posted September 14, 2024 Wow! That is a simply wonderful model. Even the evil eye of close up macro reveals no faults. Very impressive in any scale but beautiful in 1/72. Lovely work. 1 1
Dennis_C Posted September 15, 2024 Author Posted September 15, 2024 Hi mates! Thanks everyone for the nice comments! That's motivating! 8 hours ago, AlxBNE said: Even the evil eye of close up macro reveals no faults. I got surprised myself how nicely all turned out in the end. Those tiny photoetch bits cost me nerves and probably some lost eyesight but the end result is definitely superpleasing for me. 1
HOUSTON Posted September 15, 2024 Posted September 15, 2024 (edited) SUPERB Detailing and one gorgeous looking Model Helicopter. Beautiful build. Edited September 15, 2024 by HOUSTON Grammar 1
Pete in a shed Posted September 15, 2024 Posted September 15, 2024 Beautifuly made Sycamore. The fine etch detailing is as you say a must for such a tiny subject. Many years ago when I was in the Air Training Corps I had the choice of an air experience flight in either a Sycamore or a Pembroke. I chose poorly😞 Pete 1
Dennis_C Posted September 15, 2024 Author Posted September 15, 2024 21 minutes ago, Pete in a shed said: Many years ago when I was in the Air Training Corps I had the choice of an air experience flight in either a Sycamore or a Pembroke. Helicopter flying (any of them!) is no doubt a more memorable experience 😉 1
ForestFan Posted September 15, 2024 Posted September 15, 2024 That’s a very nicely built and finished model, and a fitting tribute to Mel. 1
TheyJammedKenny! Posted September 15, 2024 Posted September 15, 2024 That's gorgeous work! Keep it up, Dennis, and have fun in Japan--take extra money, too! The Malaysian Emergency provides endless fodder for interesting types. Oddly, neither the USSR nor the PRC cared much about it or did much to help the Communist insurgents. They felt differently about Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. 1
Dennis_C Posted September 15, 2024 Author Posted September 15, 2024 14 minutes ago, TheyJammedKenny! said: Oddly, neither the USSR nor the PRC cared much about it or did much to help the Communist insurgents. I think main reason was that Malayan communists were not receiving enough support even within Malaya itself. That was never a very numerous movement after all. Mind there was a second wave of insurgency from the late 60s that was stronger backed by Communist Vietnam. Again that also stayed fairly limited. 2
NorbertBu Posted September 16, 2024 Posted September 16, 2024 (edited) That is a nice tribute to Mel! You are right, the small details add a lot to this already nice model. I enjoyed reading all the details of the story of the original. I have met Mel Bromley in Telford the first year I attended the show, I think 2016, and bought two of these kits. They are still in the stash... Mel was that well dressed, always polite gentleman, that is how I remember him. Edited September 16, 2024 by NorbertBu 1 1
stevehnz Posted September 16, 2024 Posted September 16, 2024 A beautiful build Dennis in every sense of the word. It looks fantastic. Steve. 1
Patton gunner Posted September 16, 2024 Posted September 16, 2024 Nothing much to add to what's been already said , but SWEET !!! I just love these early whirlybirds !! Outstanding work ! 1
Dennis_C Posted September 16, 2024 Author Posted September 16, 2024 (edited) Thanks again for additional comments! I really appreciate you like this work. 8 hours ago, NorbertBu said: I have met Mel Bromley in Telford the first year I attended the show, I think 2016, and bought two of these kits. They are still in the stash... Get them to the work bench If built out of the box should be a nice result and fairly simple. The fit of parts is good so can be a quick project. 6 hours ago, Doc72 said: Great work on a tiny helicopter! Not too tiny in fact! I made a group photo of my helicopter collection: You see it's the size of Huye Cobra! And another photo with something from the same era: Not dwarfed at all by the Vampire. I think I saw a model of Sycamore in some museum (Kaunas Museum?) among other choppers. I was surprised how large it is. Edited September 16, 2024 by Dennis_C 2
MikeC Posted September 16, 2024 Posted September 16, 2024 (edited) Nice model, really good. Well done. Mel was probably the only man ever to attend model shows in a suit and tie, and was always happy to talk to you. RIP. Edited September 16, 2024 by MikeC 1 1
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