Hi All,
Been absent from posting for too long. After an unexpected trip to Doncaster Aeroventure, my interest has been rekindled.
Made a start on this model. I intend to make it more or less from box, with a few detail additions as I go along.
Might need some advice from Chris (our helicopter Guru) if I get stuck or pitfalls to watch out for. Also, need to make as good as a job of it as Jon, our resident ex-RAF Helicopter Pilot will easily spot any 'Blobs' in the build. No pressure then..........
Some pictures to follow tomorrow.
Got back to it at last.
It just needs some spark and off you go again - that is what I have found when I stop making models.
Good to see you back Kevin.
Awaiting the pictures.
Hi All,
Just a picture of where I am now after just a couple of hours at the desk. I have applied filler to the sink marks on the interior, and got the floor and bulkhead fitted. The floor has a number of inspection panels which differ in colour to floor in general. So, I played around with my circle cutter to make some internal and external masks for this later on.
Hope to get more bits stuck together and prepped for painting over next few days.
Yup, that one features in my logbooks! (Mind you, so do all of the other 18 Sea King HAR.3s...) I'll see what I can dig out for references, though my original photos are all stashed away goodness-knows-where. If I see any 'blobs' I promise not to mention them! If you are interested, Kev, I'll bring my early logbooks on Wednesday and see if I can find some flights in that airframe (and maybe a pic) for you.
Hi Jon,
Well its nice to know that I can say I know the pilot that flew that one!
'Blobs', well no doubt the kit will be wrong in places and some things wrong place/omitted but I'll try to do a reasonable job.
As to log books, I'm definitely interested but I won't be at the May meeting as I'm on holiday in Somerset, so I'm hoping to visit either FAA Museum at Yeovil, or The Helicopter Museum at Weston Super Mare or both.........
So, could I ask for a raincheck on the log books and any pictures until June meeting?
"So, could I ask for a raincheck on the log books and any pictures until June meeting?"
Unfortunately I will be on SAR shift at Caernarfon on the evening of the June meeting so will have to declare myself AWOL. I'll bring them to the July meeting. I checked last night and both kit options - XZ585 and XZ596, I think - feature frequently, especially 596, with some interesting rescues that I had almost forgotten about!
Hi Jon,
That's absolutely fine with me, thanks.
Also, it will be nice to hear first hand of some of those 'interesting moments' you've had in them.
Looking forward to catching up in July.
Kevin
inspiration for a diorama, with Jonno in full control?
Now there's a thought..........
Wonder if Jon will pose for me, hahaha.
Sorry not posted for a while, been away on holiday and catching up on things in the garden.
So, at playday I began to assemble some of the fuselage interior parts that I had already painted. Things have moved on a little more since then so this is an update as to where we are now.
Fuselage has been painted in various greys, seats given an orange seat pads, cabin seats in a medium blue.
The floor has been masked up ready for the rubber black sections to be picked out.
Some pictures follow, thanks for looking.
I see you also have shares in Tamiya Tape!
Quote from: zak on May 31, 2025, 07:51:34 AMI see you also have shares in Tamiya Tape!
Yes. Chris said he needed a partner to corner the market........Hahaha
Looking good Kevin. You do more on the interiors than I do.
Thanks Chris,
Yes, it's probably what slows me down in the builds, but at least I know it's there.
Might be able to see some of it with this one if I have the doors open.
Hi All,
Just sprayed the floor sections after masking. This is what was revealed after the masking removed, quite happy with the result.
Doing the seats will be next job.
Thanks for looking.
Very neat.
Neat and tidy - just as Norbot says hohoho
Quote from: MSea on June 01, 2025, 03:50:37 PMNeat and tidy - just as Norbot says hohoho
You watch too many animations!
Never can be 2 much hohohoho
Hi All,
I don't like this heat. I find it very difficult to model whilst it is so hot and humid.
Anyway, I've managed to do a little bit more on the Sea King interior.
Crew seats are now installed and painted complete with seat belt/harnesses from Wine bottle foil painted and folded to give them a bit of life. Small splashes of silver and black shading does the rest.
On the cabin seats I did the same thing, but used a different colour to the crew seats (I used mid grey). Again it takes a little time to attach all the straps and try to make them all slightly different.
Finally I have painted the liferaft which goes adjacent to the door opening.
Some pictures of the above:-
Thanks for looking.
You obviously drink posh wine, mine all have screw caps!!!
You have posted a helicopter photo on Martin thread as well.
Lovely detail work.
Quote from: zak on June 17, 2025, 07:52:08 AMYou obviously drink posh wine, mine all have screw caps!!!
You have posted a helicopter photo on Martin thread as well.
Lovely detail work.
Obviously the extra glass of Chardonnay has had some effect. How that happened I don't know but I'll rectify it, sorry Martin.
No problem - it must have improved my model string hoho
That's looking great Kevin.
Bob c
Thanks for the comments chaps.
A little bit more done on the inside. A fine pin wash of black oil paint to define the floor panels, seat pads, etc. I then did a quick dry brush in the centre of the floor panels to represent wear, and also along the piping on the cockpit bulkhead to help it be more visible. I have also painted the stretcher/casualty aid which will go on the Sea King interior roof, it still needs a little tidying up of the orange and then a pin wash to define the metal cage around the stretcher.
Thanks for looking.
Impressive work Kev, as always from your workbench. I like your treatment of the interior a lot.
I fully agree, well done.
Hi All,
Moving on. The under fuselage part has two spaces for aerials one is not required so as per instructions I cut it off and duly filled. The other is required, but it is a really poor fit, so I have cut the aerial blade off, and applied filler to the gaps evident.
The Stretcher/Casualty Aid has had a coat of Kleer and then once dry a pin wash of black oil paint to highlight the frames on it. This was then stuck in place on the roof of the helicopter interior. No fitting pins on the item, but a couple of holes in the fuselage?? So I have stuck it where I think it is meant to go.
Some pictures follow, thanks for looking.
Hi All,
Now getting somewhere. Fuselage together, and the main glazing test fitted.
Some small amounts of filler will be needed here and there, but nothing major.
Its a pity all your hard wok will be difficult to see.
Another case of "I know it's in there", we all do it to one extent or another. Great work Kev, perhaps you could have fitted some internal lighting then it would have really shown it off? Only a small step for a modeller of your calibre.
Hi Chris,
thanks for the suggestion, though I think I might need a few lessons in circuitry from the likes of Dave, Andy, Chris W before I venture that far. You can see some of the work through the open doors, so for this, it'll have to suffice.
Coming along very nicely. Is it going to be a yellow one or one from the Falklands in a dark sea grey.
Bob c
Thanks for your comments chaps.
It's going to be a 'Yellow Peril', using the kit markings Bob.
I've seen a few flying around here, and on the cliff tops at Bridlington so I thought it would be me my interpretation.
Not quite ready for Yellow yet, but won't be long.
Good luck with the yellow, we know how difficult a good finish can be with that.
Hi chris,
I'm going to give it a splash of light pink to help with the yellow tone.
A little more progress done. The cockpit uppers have received a green tint, using Tamiya Clear Green and some Tamiya Thinners. It is a little difficult to gauge the intensity of the Green, and needed several light coats until I was happy with the shade. It looks okay to me.
I test fitted the side cockpit panels and was most impressed with the fit, so hopefully when I've added the upper instrument panel inside the roof glazing and glued the parts in place all will be good. Fingers crossed.
The undercarriage sponsons are up next, I noticed that the join between the two halves inside the wheel well isn't very good, so I've made some shaped plasticard inserts to hide the join line somewhat. The undercarriage legs got a bit of attention. The oleo scissors were just a triangle in shape, so I drilled a hole and then shaped the triangle until it looked like a top and bottom of the scissor. In addition, the kit parts have two holes in the struts where in fact there are a total of eight, so with fine drills and a reaming tool made a further six. They look more like the real thing now.
Some pictures follow, thanks for looking:-
Proper modelling!
Hi All,
Slight update on sponsons. Now assembled, and plasticard inserts to hide worst of gaps. Sponson 'wings' also attached.
Also picture of test fit of glazing.
Proper modeling.
Thanks Zak,
Getting somewhere at last.
Great work, keep it up.
It will be finished sooooooooooon
Maybeeeeeeeeee........
Okkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
Better speed up then!
So, it was back to school and angles for the main rotor assembly. Thank goodness I never got rid of my protractor!
After a couple of Mark 1 eyeball attempts, I made a template of 72 degrees from paper, which I used to align the rotor blades accurately. I used a cutting mat to tape these down in place whilst the glue set.
More than one use for a cutting mat as we've seen lately. Nice idea with the protractor and template.
Really good progress Kevin. The interior is excellent.
Hi All,
Well some more progress made. The glazing has all been glued in place, and then the glazed panels masked using an Eduard mask set. For the large fuselage door, I have lined the edges with some Tamiya tape and then used some old packing foam cut to about the size of the opening then pushed in place.
As I near painting, I decided to temporary assemble the sponsons by using some 'Maskol' ('Ala' Haddock) to attach them to the fuselage and the supports then glued into the sponsons whilst the fuselage point is held in place with tape. Some Blu-Tack helps whilst the Maskol dries. Once the sponson assembly is set it can be removed from the fuselage, the Maskol peeled off and made ready for painting.
Nice and careful Kevin.
Thanks Chris,
Well this is how it turned out. Two sponsons and their respective supports when removed from the fuselage, note the little bit of Maskol still on one, but now removed.
Also drilled hole for the VOR/ILS Aerials on the rear fuselage that Airfix omitted to include. Note the 'Blob' in drilling out the port fuselage holes at the rear. Measure twice, drill once. Guess who didn't get it right first time.... Doh!
Wrong hole filled with section of stretched sprue and glue applied.
Paint on at last.
I have given the cockpit areas a coat of Dark Grey Paint for the internal colour of the framing. Also have masked up the wheel wells in readiness for a pink undercoat.
Some nice skills and techniques on show here Kev.
Well 'Pretty in Pink' I suppose.
I mixed a Pink using Tamiya White and Red, and did three light coats to get where I am now. I spent a little more attention to the cockpit area where it was dark grey. Next job will be to give the paint a gentle rub to give a nice smooth surface for the Yellow.
Looking about ready for the yellow?
I'll have to try a pink undercoat next time I want a yellow finish. I've previously just used white.
Hi Chris,
Yes, give it a go. I found it works nicely. Here you can see where I have sprayed the Yellow. I have used Tamiya Flat yellow for the first two coats, a final coat of Gloss Yellow will be up next.
In one of the pictures you can see where two coats have been applied to the fuselage but only one to the tail boom area.
I shall also be giving the yellow a quick rub down for a smooth surface before the gloss, and I shall also use some Self Levelling thinner to help with the finish.
Just watched Warbirds Restored on U & Yesterday TV, Series 2 Episode 3, and it was the Sea King restoration. Enjoyed it and even got some good idea of certain aspects of the Sea King up close. Worth a watch, if you haven't seen it before. Have managed a coat of gloss on the port side, so tomorrow will attempt to do the starboard and undersides, then post result.
Looking very yellow Kevin. Excellent.
Initially I thought you'd used matt yellow to give a 'key' for the gloss paint but then you say you rubbed the matt down, so was there a specific reason for using matt first.
Hi Chris,
You are right I have used a Matt yellow first. It is because I thought it would be easier to see any areas where the paint hadn't covered as I would like. I thought straight into the gloss might would be harder to see.
The Matt Yellow does give it a good key and more 'depth' to the colour.
Photos of where I am now. Just needing a very thin coat of Yellow with a higher ratio of Self Levelling thinner to improve the gloss effect.
Note I have painted in pink the one rotor blade which is yellow, which I forgot to do when the pink was last out.
More soon hopefully.
Shades of Donovan here, lol!!!
This is the pink primer I use as an undercoat for Yellow. Work very well for gloss finishes.
Hi Francis,
Thanks for that. Not seen a pink Mr. Surfacer before. Maybe if I do some more Yellow subjects I might invest, but for now I'm happy with my Tamiya option.
Where did you get it from by the way?
I'll have to look out for the pink primer.
Nice deep yellow Kevin.
Sorry it's taken a while to get back on this Kev. Jadlam stock the pink primer.
Thanks for the update Francis, I'll have a look next time I'm on their website.
A little more progress.
All the yellow painting now done, and I've made a start on the Rubber 'boots' on the sponsons, but think I'll need something a little darker than German Grey looking at photo's.
The Single Yellow blade done, ready for masking.
For painting I placed the front door assembly in place to act as a mask, but have decided I'm going to pose it open. The kit offering is a single piece with 3 steps, but not very detailed. So using a good picture as a guide I have drilled holes and added some plasticard boxes/fillets to make it a bit more representative. It needs two 'arms' adding and some wire railings but I'll do that on the finishing stage.
Looking good Kevin.
More proper modelling, well done.
Hi All,
Masking done for all the Black sections of airframe, nose anti-glare panel, radome, winch, tail rotor, etc. Most of the other 'Black' sections come as decals. Painting will be tomorrow.
One of the omissions on the decal sheet, and in the mouldings is the six grills/vents at front of main rotor housing. I tried to make some grills in decal form but wasn't successful, so I had some fine brass mesh from Little-Cars. I cut some shapes to match as close as possible those vents, I attached them with Kristal Kleer, and overpainted them with Kleer Floor Polish to seal them. I think they give a reasonable representation of this feature on the Sea King.
The crew entry step has been primed in pink, and then given a few coats of Yellow to match airframe. I have now added the supports to the steps, the railings will be added later after painted has been attached to the fuselage.
Thanks for looking, back soon
Excellent Kevin.
Excellent coverage with the yellow Kev. Seems there is more than one way to get a result with Yellow.
That looks great, Kevin. I've traipsed up and down those stairs several (hundred) times! The 'railings' were cables that straightened under tension as the steps were lowered. The support struts were hinged at the bottom so that they could rotate upwards to support the cables when the steps were lowered and fold flush with the door section when it was closed. The 'steps' side was the same grey as the cabin interior but the steps had non-slip strips on them, usually a scuffed black but I'm sure I remember some that were green too.
Jon
Thanks Jon,
Coming from you is a nice comment, as you know the subject all too well.
Thanks for the info on the 'stairs'. I thought they would be the same as the interior, but the added info on step colouring is most appreciated.
Have been away a few days so painting has been 'on hold' but looking at forecast tomorrow, I might get it done.
Hi All,
Well the weather did me a favour and got some modelling done this morning. I have managed to get the whole airframe decalled today, the tail rotor painted black, then the red,white,red decals added to the previously painted white sections.
The tail rotor decals do not fully conform and the colours will need touching in when dry in the appropriate colours. All the other fuselage decals behaved impeccably, except the Port Side exhaust panel. Airfix have not allowed for the 'Westland Bump'. As a result I have had to cut the decal in a couple of places to get it to sit right. This inevitably left a small section of yellow where it didn't reach/conform. However after a couple of rounds of Microset/Sol it bedded down quite well, and I just need to a couple of scrap black decal sections from my spares to cover the yellow spots.
Some pictures of todays work:-
The 'Westland Bump'! I've not heard it referred to as that before! I'm sure you know, but it was there to accommodate the third generator that powered the sonar kit on the naval variants. This genny wasn't present on the RAF SAR variants, so it was just a bump over an empty space.
The only time I ever saw a completely clean RAF Sea King was when I was the Valley Flight Commander and the engineers had spent a whole weekend fettling one of the cabs for a visit by the Prince of Wales. It was immaculate and looked...completely wrong. They got sooty (more so on the starboard side than the port side), grubby (especially the one that looked like someone had tried to Scotchbrite the tail section) and generally grotty (hydraulic runs were commonplace), and often the only way to get them properly clean was to use solvent. The OCU aircraft were usually the worst: when we got one from St Mawgan they always needed some serious work to look presentable. Having said that, I think the aircraft you're modelling was 'by Royal appointment' so some light sootiness from the starboard exhaust in particular would be appropriate. For an in-service aircraft, a perfect finish would be completely inaccurate!
Thanks for the info Jon. I remember our chat at the club, and had forgotten which side fared worse with engine exhaust, so your post was perfectly timed.
I won't be doing a pristine Sea King, but a slightly used one in my eyes, so some exhaust staining, some panel washes, and some streaks here and there, and wear around the tail meshing.
I hope it looks 'used' but not a flogged to death machine, though from your descriptions it probably should be to be totally accurate.
Looking very nice Kevin. It would be a shame to 'dirty-up' your absolutely clean fuselage.
Thanks Chris. I can now declare this one as finished. It will make it's first appearance at tonight's meeting. I will then post pictures of the completed Sea King here. I think it has turned out alright.
It has definitely turned out alright Kev. A stunning result.
It was great to see your model on the club night.
Thanks for your comments chaps.
Beaten into to 2nd place in the comp by Dave's fantastic ships, so no quibbles there.
I'll post some pictures of my own soon, just got back from seeing the Shuttleworth Collection in flight and I'm inspired to build something appropriate.
Thanks for all your appreciated comments. Here is a a few pictures of the completed model.
Absolutely superb model Kevin. I'm really impressed.