We're off. RAF Sea King HAR

[scottie3158]

Doug,
Sorry it's been a while since I have seen this blog so just had a good catch up. Coming on very nicely.

[Waspie]

Doug,
Sorry it's been a while since I have seen this blog so just had a good catch up. Coming on very nicely.

Thank you Paul. As I mentioned in an earlier post, A RPG in the cockpit would be my recommended cure for the aboration that is the cockpit!!!!
(I think I have found what the main problem was/is with the cockpit. When I was first building the main deck and associated fittings, I noticed the deck was slightly curved. I should have corrected it then but when I was dry fitting I was sure the warp would be contained by the fuselage. - Not so sadly)
But hey ho - I'll build another just for the heck of it after my next kit to ensure the lessons learned are put into good use!

[scottie3158]

Thank you Paul. As I mentioned in an earlier post, A RPG in the cockpit would be my recommended cure for the aboration that is the cockpit!!!! But hey ho - I'll build another just for the heck of it after my next kit to ensure the lessons learned are put into good use!

Doug,
This is what this hobby is all about, learning from our mistakes and learning from the great advice offered. I have had some sage advice on here and also made some big mistakes. But the number one rule is have fun in what you are doing.

[Waspie]

Doug,
This is what this hobby is all about, learning from our mistakes and learning from the great advice offered. I have had some sage advice on here and also made some big mistakes. But the number one rule is have fun in what you are doing.

Yeah agree, some really good advice come from you guys, I dare say if I hadn't joined this group I would have just built it and binned it weeks ago.
Today, SWIMBO came out to check on me as I'd been 'fiddling' for ages. 'I can't see what you've done', she says. So I point out the navigation lights, (coloured), the exhausts, and intakes, the dirtying of the undercarriage, painting the aerials etc. 'OH'- says she!! I was thoroughly engrossed and enjoying it.

[rickoshea52]

Don’t forget the RHWR antennae on the nose and tail boom. Step 50 & 51 in the instructions.

[Waspie]

Don’t forget the RHWR antennae on the nose and tail boom. Step 50 & 51 in the instructions.

Fitted those! Don't know if I should have or not! Do you know what exactly they are for!! Obviously not part of the ASW Kings! Although I did think the box on the tail was part of an ecm fit but realised there wasn't a corresponding box on the stbd. side!!

[rickoshea52]

Radar Homing Warning Receiver. They detect radar transmissions that may be targeting the aircraft so warn the crew. I think they might also fire flares or control a jammer. We had a similar system on Pumas and Chinooks in NI.
Only a couple of HAR SK’s had them fitted for use in FI.

[Waspie]

Radar Homing Warning Receiver. They detect radar transmissions that may be targeting the aircraft so warn the crew. I think they might also fire flares or control a jammer. We had a similar system on Pumas and Chinooks in NI.
Only a couple of HAR SK’s had them fitted for use in FI.

We had a system called 'Orange Crop' ECM. scanned all spectrums for radars, hostile and weapon targeting. Quite useful when those damn Rooskies were sniffing about. Gave us 360 degree coverage. Even used it when on SAR to ID specific vessels!!! Pilot stuff so knew very little about it.

[rickoshea52]

We just called it fairy $h*t…

[Guest]

We had a system called 'Orange Crop' ECM.

Orange Crop wasn’t ECM but ESM, which is to say, a system that passively listens to electronic emissions in order to gather intelligence about them. This fits with your mention of using it to ID ships, which wouldn’t be possible with ECM, as that is intended to disrupt enemy radar and other detection, target-marking or guidance systems.

[Waspie]

Orange Crop wasn’t ECM but ESM, which is to say, a system that passively listens to electronic emissions in order to gather intelligence about them. This fits with your mention of using it to ID ships, which wouldn’t be possible with ECM, as that is intended to disrupt enemy radar and other detection, target-marking or guidance systems.

It's been a long long time and it was pilot stuff. Always getting acronyms muddled these days. (Especially esm and ecm).
Anyway!!!! It was way better than the bit of kit we had in the Wasp. It was directional only in the fact it was hand held and the operator moved it to search for emissions! That and a stop watch to time the pulses!!! (PRF - another damn acronym!!) Real state of the art - no flashing lights just a very high pitched whine if you were locked onto a targeting radar!!

[Waspie]

This is where I am today.
Currently waiting for some varnish to arrive and stuck in a quandary regards decals on before varnishing - or varnish then fix decals and varnish again!! In a! Oh Me - Oh My mode right now.
Then once that is done. Fit main rotor and tail rotor blades!!!! And hide it in a dark place!!!!!
Ended up yesterday painting the TKS on the barn door by hand. (White lines on the engine intake cover).

[Allen Dewire]

Super late to the party Doug. Apologies for that Sir!!! I'm not too hip on the whirly thingy's, but you seem to have this one under control. Some very nice work and some good learning along the way too. Ya gotta love this hobby!!! Keep it coming and I'll try to keep up more...

Prost
Allen

[Waspie]

Super late to the party Doug. Apologies for that Sir!!! I'm not too hip on the whirly thingy's, but you seem to have this one under control. Some very nice work and some good learning along the way too. Ya gotta love this hobby!!! Keep it coming and I'll try to keep up more...

Prost
Allen

Hey no problem Allen. As a first kit for many many decades I'm sorta pleased, just wish I hadn't cocked up the cockpit clear stuff!! Little bit more to do. Varnish has just arrived so that will be fitted in over the next few days in between SWIMBO's chores!!!!

[Andy T]

Looking good Doug.

Many varnish before and after decals. It isn't strictly necessary to do it before if the paint is smooth enough but it can help them go down more easily and also protect the paint from some strong decal solutions.

By the way, will you be masking the windows before varnish? Most leave the masking on until afterwards to prevent it fogging the "glass"