Airfix 1/72nd Westland Sea King HC.4

[Guest]

Little update. I will add these images, even though I'm quite embarrassed by the 2nd one.

First one shows my primed parts (Humbrol grey spray primer)
Second one shows my absymal paint job.

I sprayed the bottom part grey (paint is Vallejo Light Grey) but for some weird reason it looks green!!
I have added a grey wash to try and darken it and make it worn/dirty) I guess that's worked a little.

as for the horrendous seats, the manual says to paint them blue and shows a humbrol paint, however I don't
have that and the nearest thing I have to blue is turquoise and night blue, so I painted them the turquoise.
unfortunately it looks dreadful, I will try and make them look less horrible by adding a wash tomorrow.

My painting would shame an eight year old right now, I can only hope I get better with practice!

More images to come as I continue to work on this kit.

[Airborne01]

Don't be too hard on yourself mate ...
Steve

[rickoshea52]

Do you know, that shade of blue doesn’t look to far from the real thing. I recall seeing varying shades on the real thing. Once it’s all together inside the cabin not much can be seen if the doors are closed.
Stay positive, you’re gaining valuable experience with every build.

[Mark1]

Always worth painting a little test piece to see if your happy with the colour first but as rick says itll look fine when its all buttoned up,look at it as a lesson rather than a mistake.

[Waspie]

As Rick says the colour of the seats is arbitrary really. Add mud to them for the real authentic Bootie look. Of course you could always try and lighten the blue by adding white!! My first King I didn't have the correct shade so I used Prussian blue and then lightened it to get somewhere close. But again, as Rick said - with the doors closed you only get a glimpse of the seat backs through the side windows!!!

[Mark1]

Dosnt look to dissimilar

[Waspie]

Dosnt look to dissimilar [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1218745[/ATTACH]

Oh, that tool box brings back memories. Heavy things to cart around. Flotation cans on the seats I see. Only have a few hours logged in these so I'm not overly conversant with the Mk4!!

[Guest]

I just noticed on the 2nd pic I got some blue on the seat legs. oops! fixed that now.

Thanks everyone.

[Guest]

Dosnt look to dissimilar [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1218745[/ATTACH]

Woah! thats a cool image!

[stillp]

The colour looks OK to me, and your painting is fine.
Pete

[Waspie]

Sea King HC4's over Portland on the occasion of the 'Final Farewell' flypast around the UK.

Bit of a closer shot showing what you can/can't see through the side windows!!!

[Guest]

I'm getting close to the point of putting the sides together now and my mind has turned to the thoughts of painting this.
I've primed it in grey and I have to be honest, I'm looking at the image on the front of the box and that tiger stripe camo looks so so nice.

However, I've never painted any camo, let alone one like this. So i'm in two minds right now, part of me wants to just paint it green and have done with it and part of me thinks "Go for it!" but yeah.. I'm scared of ruining it with a botched paint job.

So the reason for me spamming you with this? I'd like your opinion. Do I go for it and try to make the camo or play it safe and stick to solid green?

[Waspie]

If it were me, (I'm new to this malarky too). I'd stick with solid green, then!! If your feeling brave add the white camo if your comfortable with it.
The vast majority of the Junglie cabs are green. I reckon the camo on the box are for Norway, 846 squadron frequently deploy to Bardafoss for artic training for aircrew and maintainers. Lots of snow holes and ice water dips!!!!!!!

Whichever route you decide on, good luck. Look forward to seeing it. Will do a Mk4 myself one day but I've done a 1/72 King and currently doing a 1/48 ASW version. I jungle 1/48 would be nice to add to my ever increasing group of helicopters.

[Mark1]

Personally i wouldnt go for camo just yet,i would get a few simple but decent paint jobs under my belt first before complicating things but it is your build, maybe find something to have a practice on and see how it goes before making a decision.

[Guest]

My suggestion would be to keep this one simple, in a single colour. You can always build a second kit later, when you’ve got a bit more experience under your belt, and paint it in camouflage.