Airfix Wessex 1/72

[heloman1]

The Haynes Manual and the 4+ Publications book are essential to any serious (or not) Wessex builder.

 

Colin the Wessex nut...

[Farmerboy]

Now I know it’s too early to mention the “C” word, ( no not that one!!! ), but I have a Rudolf!!  First splash of paint, SMS acrylic laquers, so definitely moving in the right direction.

 

Another positive is that I have found some pre cut masks for the glazing on the tinta net, hopefully arriving early next week.

 

Plus, following on from the torque link debacle I’ve assembled the MRH and it covers the cock up beautifully!!

 

Got lawns to mow and some farming duties so going to be a bit quite now until those masks arrive, thanks for the input from everyone, it makes the heart soar to know there are so many like minded people out there.😀

 

 

 

[Wez]

Remember, RAF camouflage demarcations are generally hard edged.  There are exceptions but they're rare and usually done outside of a paint shop.

 

The red looks good 

[Farmerboy]

Been Maize harvesting for a couple of days which has me bouncing about in a tractor 🚜 which in turn bought on an attack of sciatica, buy the gods that’s painful!!!

Still it’s my excuse for not getting on with the Wessex until today, canopy masked and IP and overhead console fitted, then fitted to the fuselage, just a smidge of filler needed on the front edge.

 

 

 

 

[Keeff]

7 minutes ago, Farmerboy said:

an attack of sciatica,

I know how that feels, so you have my sympathies! 

 

The masks look very good ... as does the internals of the canopy.  This is really coming along now! 

 

Keith ☺️ 

[CedB]

Sorry to hear about the sciatica Peter - nasty. 
 

Those I/ps are looking great!

 

Can I ask where you got the masks please?

[Farmerboy]

6 minutes ago, CedB said:

 

 

 

Can I ask where you got the masks please?

Found them on eBay, from a company called 3dlinemodels.com , comprehensive set with masks for inside and out if you need them, plus some masks to replace decals for the black side step area etc.

They are a pretty good fit although a couple weren’t cut out properly.

I expect others to come up with mask sets in the near future.

[heloman1]

Cockpit is looking superb, if you want to go a little further, there are two motor cover boxes on the two vertical parts either side of the mid panel.

I feel for you with the sciatica, I use to suffer with it.

 

Colin

[Farmerboy]

Hi @heloman1, Airfix would have you add this box ( C13 ) to the cockpit roof, is that what you mean?

Decided not to use it as couldn’t see how to glue it without it spoiling the glazing as it appears to attach to the glass and has no external framing to support it!!

 

[hendie]

6 hours ago, heloman1 said:

there are two motor cover boxes on the two vertical parts either side of the mid panel.

 

1 hour ago, Farmerboy said:

is that what you mean?

 

I think Colin is referring to the windscreen wiper motor covers - you can see the starboard side motor cover mounted on the frame quite clearly in this shot

 

 

 

 

[Farmerboy]

Great photo @hendie, too late for me to add those boxes on this build, but this thread is building up some great info for my second go at the Wessex 

which will happen when all the aftermarket stuff is out there.

[Farmerboy]

Question I need an answer to, going for the folded option, Airfix publicity shots show the upper green painted side of the main rotor blades facing outwards on both sides, but looking at photos and using some common sense I believe the port side blades should have the black underside of the blade showing outwards…….or am I just being thick! ( quite possible )

[Pete in Lincs]

On 25/09/2025 at 12:46, Farmerboy said:

Airfix would have you add this box ( C13 ) to the cockpit roof,

The central part of the cockpit roof is not clear. The part you outlined is full of switches and radio bits.(IIRC) ribbed upper side is matt black.

The rotor brake attaches to that part too, on it's RH forward end. When applied it hangs down. Is there a rotor brake handle in the kit?

As for the folded blades, I think you're right. The leading edge faces down. I only did it twice about 48 years ago!

[Sabrejet]

39 minutes ago, Pete in Lincs said:

The central part of the cockpit roof is not clear. The part you outlined is full of switches and radio bits.(IIRC) ribbed upper side is matt black.

 

 

Anti-slip and dark grey IIRC: we did get up there, but not often!

[heloman1]

Re the folded rotor blades. The port side pair are rolled over before folding so the LE can sit in the blade pockets. I used to work on the folded side all the time!

Part C22 is the roof console as mentioned above , part C13 could have been the map case but that was attached to the rear bulkhead on the port side.

 

Colin ex Wessex grubber

[Farmerboy]

5 hours ago, heloman1 said:

Re the folded rotor blades. The port side pair are rolled over before folding so the LE can sit in the blade pockets. I used to work on the folded side all the time!

Part C22 is the roof console as mentioned above , part C13 could have been the map case but that was attached to the rear bulkhead on the port side.

 

Colin ex Wessex grubber

Thanks as always Colin for you input, but by rolling the port side pair does that mean the black underside is showing to the outside?

Logic tells me that it would, but as I said Airfix show the green topside showing on there publicly shots which is very confusing to an old worzel like me!

[Pete in Lincs]

Okay, an explanation. Imagine looking down on the Helicopter. Four blades looking like an X. They rotate anti clockwise. The two on the right will fold leading edge down into the cradle. The two on the left must also do that. So yes, the underside will show. Yet another Airfix booboo on this kit. Tsk!

. 

[AMB]

On 9/2/2025 at 12:52 AM, hendie said:

I'll follow along if you don't mind.  Airfix still haven't seen fit to release or even allow it to be pre-ordered on this side of the pond yet.

My first observation is that Airfix have got the Demi Pegasus of 28 Sqn wrong. 

The Demi Pegasus should be facing forward on both port and starboard sides. I can't really make out the decal sheet clearly so don't know if they've got anything else wrong there.

Modeldecal Sheet 95 have the 28 Sqn badges correctly facing forward on both sides, but I think Xtradecal X72358 have also got them wrong, facing left!

[Farmerboy]

2 hours ago, Pete in Lincs said:

Okay, an explanation. Imagine looking down on the Helicopter. Four blades looking like an X. They rotate anti clockwise. The two on the right will fold leading edge down into the cradle. The two on the left must also do that. So yes, the underside will show. Yet another Airfix booboo on this kit. Tsk!

. 

Thank you my friend, my mind is now clear and I shall proceed with the utmost speed!! 😜

[dolphin38]

This might help

 

IMGP9189 by Phillip Wilmshurst, on Flickr

 

 

[WxMan]

 

a few pics I have taken related to this conversation 

Blades folded https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/855824735481120380

Rotor brake https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/855824735481120290

Map box above pilot on Stbd side bulkhead https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/855824735481120289 

 

Edited September 28 by WxMan

[Farmerboy]

1 hour ago, WxMan said:

 

a few pics I have taken related to this conversation 

Blades folded https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/855824735481120380

Rotor brake https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/855824735481120290

Map box above pilot on Stbd side bulkhead https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/855824735481120289 

 

Absolutely brilliant reference, thank you, it will help a lot of people with this build , Airfix need to revisit there publicly shots or were they AI generated?

[Farmerboy]

Masked and messy, cockpit frames sprayed black, a mist coat of grey primer to give a constant base for the DSG and then Dark Green after blue tac and tape session. 
24 hours to cure (Xtracolor enamels) and we will see if it’s good or bad when the masks come off.

Black underside to follow.

 

 

[Pappy]

Lovely progress FB, I cannot wait to get my mits on one of these,

 

cheers,

 

Pappy

[AlxBNE]

Great progress and I can hear the drum roll and anticipation building before the blue tac is removed.

Looking forward to seeing what is underneath.