We're off. RAF Sea King HAR

[Waspie]

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"

Thanks Andy for the tips - appreciated. I'll mask the whole cockpit windows and maskoll the smaller clear areas. The cockpit area is a bomb site as far as aesthetics are concerned. Nor will I varnish the rotor blades.
Things have been happening in a bit of haphazard order but that's down to me learning as I'm progressing.

[Waspie]

Well - it's finished, (of sorts). Still have a bit of tidying up to do and experiment with some weathering and exhaust wash over the airframe.
Cockpit area is disaster - a decal or two didn't work out. One flew off when I was applying the final gloss coat. I notice on the images that a couple appear to have air trapped under them and the gloss.
However, I have learned a lot! Have got to grips with the airbrush. (Especially as it's not a particularly rated airbrush).
Next attempt I will be paying more attention to detail, seams etc. (I found taking pictures brings out things I can't see in the garage so I will be using that more before I move onto the next bit)

[Guest]

That’s a very respectable first effort — and as you say, you seem to have learned a lot for the next one. Come back to the subject and build the same kit a few years from now to see how much you’ll have progressed by then

[Richard48]

Turned out nicely indeed.I must dig out my 1.44th "Sweet kits",Now they are tiny cabs!!!!!.
Richard

[Geoffers]

Nice one Doug :thumb2:

Valiant effort for your first kit in such a long time, not really an easy one to go for either :surprised:

Looking forward to see what’s next up on your bench.

Geoff.

[boatman]

Doug some more pics please at diffent angles Sir if you please
chrisb

[Waspie]

Doug some more pics please at diffent angles Sir if you please
chrisb

Roger - Wilco!!

[The Smythe Meister]

Hi Doug,
That looks very respectable indeed mate
Choppers are very tricky things to build for sure so I think you should be rather pleased with yourself.
Nice one!

[Waspie]

Doug some more pics please at diffent angles Sir if you please
chrisb

Here ya go Chris. The final, (fingers crossed), product. Dirtied up a bit after a long hard mission!!!!!
And for the Puritans, I know the squadron badge is too big but it's all I could source!!

[Waspie]

Hi Doug,
That looks very respectable indeed mate :smiling3:
Choppers are very tricky things to build for sure so I think you should be rather pleased with yourself.
Nice one!

Thanks Andy, your kind words are much appreciated. At a distance I'm kinda pleased with it but when I look at it closer up and at the pics I get the urge to reach for a hammer!!!!

Nice one Doug :thumb2:

Valiant effort for your first kit in such a long time, not really an easy one to go for either :surprised:

Looking forward to see what’s next up on your bench.

Geoff.

Thank you Geoff. I envy you guys with the experience and knowledge.
The next project is on the bench in its box!! Awaiting the ceremonial opening!! (Challenger 2 TES). Will be spending a tad more time on that un as it's a tad more complicated a build as it has PE and I have only seen it on here so that's another learning curve to climb!

[Allen Dewire]

Doug, you Sir, need to stand up and take a bow!!!..For your first build after so long, you've nailed it!!! Hey, there will always be things that you are not happy with and could improve. We are our own worst critics. You can just apply them to your next build. i'm sure it will also be fantastic!!!...

Prost
Allen

[Andy T]

That's looking well Doug.

The first of many now you're back in the saddle I hope.

[Waspie]

That's looking well Doug.

The first of many now you're back in the saddle I hope.

Thank you Andy. What I'd ultimately like to do are two Mk 5's. (Pingers). in a scene like the pic below. After I gain a bit more experience!!
(I was in the left SK after we did an emergency landing after having a coming together with a small boat we were winching to. (We lost several inches to all the main rotor blades). The second, right hand Mk5 was our lift home! (It also carried the man who had a degree in CDF.) Who said we were lucky to land it where we did and not crash!! (I'm the short arse standing by the nose of C/S 04. (Bandy legs). ) For anyone wondering why the elongated wheel sponson on 04 - it was to house a MAD boom! (Magnetic Anomaly Detector).
Car park on a housing estate in Fairley, Ayrshire.

[JR]

That must have been quite a hairy moment Doug.
Hopefully you are going to post this in the completed section when finished because the Committee are gathering !

[Waspie]

That must have been quite a hairy moment Doug.
Hopefully you are going to post this in the completed section when finished because the Committee are gathering !

It was a tad hairy John!! We had to place one tall aerial from the vessel between the starboard wheel sponson and the airframe another aerial was very close to the rotor tips. My session with control of the aircraft went fine. No drama's. When the orficer!! Took control, he lost the plot and failed to keep his peepers on the end of the rotors - then Whack - Whack - Whack - Whack - Whack - Whack as we his. Composite blades - 0, Aerial -5.
We sustained a massive 1R vibration and subsequently had to put it down where we could. Unfortunately our emergency site was fouled so we threw it down where we did. Engineer officer reckoned if we had flown another 5 minutes we would have lost lift and crashed. As an aside, the chap in control of the winching at the time went on to be the commanding officer of the same squadron some years later!!! (Hope his winching had improved!!) :smiling2: :smiling2:

And yes, I'll Transfer the images to mission accomplished. :thumb2: