Airfix Westland Sea King HAR.3 1/72 'Starter Set'

[MSea]

Okkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

[Bigkev]

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.

[cph64]

More than one use for a cutting mat as we've seen lately. Nice idea with the protractor and template.

[chriswil42]

Really good progress Kevin.  The interior is excellent.

[Bigkev]

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. 

[chriswil42]

Nice and careful Kevin.

[Bigkev]

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.

[Bigkev]

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.

[kiwichappers]

Some nice skills and techniques on show here Kev.

[Bigkev]

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.

[zak]

Looking about ready for the yellow?

[chriswil42]

I'll have to try a pink undercoat next time I want a yellow finish. I've previously just used white.

[Bigkev]

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.

[Bigkev]

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.

[chriswil42]

Looking very yellow Kevin. Excellent.