Oh dear it's a 1/72 Bristol Beveldere

[stillp]

The Dachshund of the helicopter world :hungry:

Possibly the Marmite of the helicopter world...

Hope these will be useful:

Pete

[rtfoe]

Thank you Gentlemen for looking in,

Go on then, I’m in Richard……be good to see what you make of this.

Tim, today I'm beginning to think I might have bitten off more than I can chew.

You do like a challenge Richard. Looks an interesting build which I'm sure you'll make a great job of.

I'm having second thoughts Jim.

I'm in too, if you don't mind, Richard.

No problem Andrea.

Here's another ugly duckling , HUP 2 Retriever, apparently; it must be of a similar vintage.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1205815[/ATTACH]
Seen in Long Beach aboard USS Iowa 2 weeks ago

Yikes, another tadpole.

They really didn’t stop and think, “let’s make the machine look attractive, too” back then, no.

Go forth and make ugly. :tears-of-joy:

Definitely a case of function over form...

Yes definitely Andy.

Richard,
I'm in mate looking forward to the changes you have planned.

Even if I try to make it simple it's my itchy fingers that dictates the plan Scottie.

Glutton for punishment springs to mind but I have every confidence in you Richard!!

You said it right Andrew but an evenings build is becoming a monster.

Philistines! How can you not see the beauty of this one at Hendon?
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1205869[/ATTACH]
Pete

From that angle it just has that phallic look...eeeuuww.

Useful workhorse too: https://historicengland.org.uk/servi...coventry-12017

Interesting history, thanks.

The Dachshund of the helicopter world :hungry:

That's a nicer way to look at it Mick.

I love a helicopter so I'll be hovering about on ye Magic Carpet.
Also have a vague recollection of making one of these when I twas a boy. May have been the flying banana!! It was so long ago now!!

The flying banana is another weird bird but iconic.

Thanks again guys so here's what I've been up to this weekend...
From references I detailed the cargo bay front bulkhead. Didn't know there was a passage way to the cockpit so there must have been a reason for the left bulge to accommodate the walkway forward past the engine.

All I need now is to add the folded seat.
This is what I meant by having second thoughts...the interior framing mimics the exterior riveting and it has loads of rivets...

I'm still chugging along wit just a few more strip to go.
Heres a shot with the bulkhead dry fitted...

I have decided to redo the exhaust outlets and have a plan. That's all for now.

Cheers,
Wabble

[rtfoe]

Just missed your post Pete, thanks...anything helps.

Cheers,
Wabble

[Jim R]

Well done with the framing. All looks nicely fitted.

[adt70hk]

Wow!

[rtfoe]

Well done with the framing. All looks nicely fitted.

Wow!

Thanks Jim and Andrew. Just got some new references that show the cargo door with a large window and some pylons on the side.

Cheers,
Wabble

[JayCee]

I will follow if I may. I remember these flying out of RAF Khormaksar (Aden) when I was there in the '60s. Weird, ugly beasts.
John.

[papa 695]

Just pulled up my chair Richard, really liking what I’m seeing so far. Keep up the great work.

[Mickc1440]

That's great work on the interior so far Richard

[Guest]

You must have quite a stash of thin plastic strip

[Waspie]

Nice job on the longerons and stringers on the interior there Richard.

[rtfoe]

Thanks Fellas,

I will follow if I may. I remember these flying out of RAF Khormaksar (Aden) when I was there in the '60s. Weird, ugly beasts.
John.

Were you serving there John? Just saw a documentary on Mad Mike in Aden.

Just pulled up my chair Richard, really liking what I’m seeing so far. Keep up the great work.

Glad you like it so far Ian.

That's great work on the interior so far Richard

Thanks Mick. Finally added the flooring.

You must have quite a stash of thin plastic strip :smiling3:

Have been replenishing my stock recently Jakko.

Nice job on the longerons and stringers on the interior there Richard.

Doug, so that's what they called. :smiling2:

Today I've been removing and drilling the exhaust ports to receive the new ones that I'll be making...

From this...to this...and this...

The skin frame is drilled larger so the exhaust pipes don't touch as if coming from inside the engine bay.

Cheers,
Wabble

[Steve-the-Duck]

By most accounts the Belvedere was a horrible beast, prone to all manner of mechanical problems, not the least of which was a tendency to spontaneously catch fire. There was an article in Aeroplane a while back that said no crew had anything good to say about it, with how to get in and out of it being a serious problem

Still, I always think it looks like a design by Frank Hampson, of original Dan Dare fame. But he'd have made a better job of it...
Now, THAT's got me thinking

[Guest]

a tendency to spontaneously catch fire.

I’m sure that endeared it to its crews, yes.

[JayCee]

Hi Richard. I was in Aden 64 to 67, so basically the whole of the "Emergency". I was not in the forces though. I was in a branch of the Diplomatic Service.
John.