discussion Rick’s 1/72 Westland Wessex HC.2, No.2 Flying Training School, Royal Air Force Shawbury

[rickoshea52]

Just finished this great little kit. I finished it with the 2FTS scheme as I have a very loose connection. Many years ago I spent a week at RAF Shawbury on pre employment course before a posting to a helicopter squadron. The purpose of the course was to introduce ground crew to helicopters, theory of flight and marshalling as rotary wing aircraft weren’t part of the usual aircraft trades trading at Halton or Cosford.
A morning of the course was spent hover marshalling a Wessex with a bright red nose. That’s the connection.

I used tape for seat belts, Eduard masks and Inside the Armour jet pipes.

Irritatingly I only discovered the canopy blooming after masking removal.



I’ve been getting into the habit of keeping notes on each build - does anyone else?



I made a little decal position jig to try and keep the rotor blade sling markings consistent.

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

Another attractive Brit helo!

Very nice result

 

[Farmerboy]

It really is a nice kit and you have done it justice, great job!

 

[Neil]

An excellent job.

 

[boatman]

another great model would look great lit up but just my opinion an love the canopy framein paint work brilliant
chrisb

 

[HAWKERHUNTER]

Shame about the canopy Rick but it doesn't detract from a lovely finish Great looking heli.

 

[colin m]

A nice finish and an interesting connection. I think Shawbury still has a Wessex gate guardian.

 

[yak face]

Lovely build rick , i do like a wessex ,

 

[flyjoe180]

Hey Rick, very nice result indeed, and great that you have a connection to the Wessex. That canopy blooming is annoying, but we've all had it happen. I explain it away as the model is represented on a cold morning, so it's condensation.

I keep a basic build log like you do. Your hand writing is neat and tidy, mine is like a chicken wrote the notes.

 

[Geoffers]

That’s a cracking job Rick

Shawbury isn’t too far from where I live, I remember these beasts buzzing around along with Gazelles

They then went onto H125 Squirrels and CH-146 Griffins but they now have the rather less interesting (in my opinion) Airbus H135 and H145.

I believe they do still have a Wessex as a gate guardian as Colin says.

Anyway great job

Geoff.

 

[rickoshea52]

Thanks for all the comments

Another point I didn’t mention is the kit doesn’t have a pitot mast included. I used plastic rod and drilled a hole (see notes in my notebook). In hindsight I should have use wire because the plastic rod doesn’t quite have a right angle.