Doug's Westland Wasp by LF, the build!

[Waspie]

Made a start today and I have to say - it's awful!! My hands are going to be full with this one! Flash, missing spigots or detents to locate parts in the correct place!! Three arms and I still struggled. A day filing, cutting and swearing!!

However - 'We're Off'.
Started with the obligatory wash and dry.
Then identified the parts that weren't needed for the Wasp, so the Scout bits were cut out and stored.

Pic 1
Box art and sprues post wash. Note, my version won't have doors fitted. Not unusual for the Wasp. Two reasons.
1, doors weight!
2, easy egress in the event of a water ditching.


Pic 2
Front seat assembly. The left hand seat side supports also included the collective lever. However, when the missile sight was fitted when in 'strike' role, the left hand flying controls were removed.
Also, all four side supports locating holes had to be drilled out to allow them to sit flush.


Pic 3
Next was the clean up of all the flash on the cockpit, the nose window was the worst.


Pic 4.
Cockpit assembled. Not fitting the seats, (yet). Left/right side, floor, centre console and rear bulkhead! Very fiddly due to not having locating pins.


Pic 5
Front cockpit dry fitted to tail pylon, Pylon taped up to check fitment. I'm going to have a few seams to file and gaps to fill.
Sat next to a 1/72 Sea King to show size.


After looking forward to this for a while now I have to say the reality of kit is less than inspiring. I will complete it but I don't think enjoyment will part of the build.
A mojo testing kit of the first order!!!!

[peterairfix]

I am in as I have this kit so please don't try and scare me

[Waspie]

I am in as I have this kit so please don't try and scare me

This is kit numero 5 and I think I have been spoiled until now. With Tamiya, Ryefield, Airfix all being good quality this is anything but!!!
With your experience Peter it shouldn't scare you too much. Even the few parts that have had recesses for parts the corresponding part has been too big and required a good deal of filing to fit!!!

[Guest]

Kits from small manufacturers, especially if they’re short-run (not sure if this one is) are usually more challenging to build than those by the big names. You seem to be doing pretty well, though.

[Waspie]

Kits from small manufacturers, especially if they’re short-run (not sure if this one is) are usually more challenging to build than those by the big names. You seem to be doing pretty well, though.

Thank you Jakko, I think I may have to slow down with this and really concentrate on this one. I have no idea if this is a short run as I snatched at it when I was informed by Lee W it was available. LF seem to be the only folk manufacturing the Wasp currently. I was hoping Airfix were going to push it out after the Sea King announcement last year.

[Steve-the-Duck]

Talk about throwing yourself in at the deep end! What's the phrase? 'For experienced modellers only'!
I've got a couple of LF kits, because they're the only game in town. And one of them is a biplane! Although the Czech Republic is the centre of the Euro model world, not every manufacturer is an Eduard

'And you're telling me this NOW!?'
Well, I'm trying to be morale boosting!

[Waspie]

Little progress made today as I have decided to slow down due to its size.

The tail cone and fuselage were attached and glued into place as was the engine deck. All the tapes removed.

I did a lot of measuring and looking for suitable material for a brain phart I had. We rarely flew with front doors fitted, instead we replaced the front doors with wind deflectors. See pic below. So I reckon I can scavenge a clear plastic bit from the Sea King, add some plastic card and hopefully I'll be able to replicate them!!


Moving on! Whilst thunking and scavenging I managed to mask the Wasp's canopy.
Pic 2


Pic 3.
Then after taking a picture of the pilots and crewman's seat I noticed on the pic that some more work is needed to remove yet more plastic from the unneeded collective lever from the seats side struts!!


That was it for the day. I even managed to mow the lawn and do some hedge trimming!!
Thanks for looking in. C&C's always welcomed - good or bad.

Doug

PS, I felt I was warming to the kit today.:rolling:

[Steve-the-Duck]

If this turns out even half as good as your Sea King, it'll be a belter, I'm sure

So long as it doesn't end up in the 'frustration fling' bin! But, it sounds like it may just have got it's claws into you

[Waspie]

If this turns out even half as good as your Sea King, it'll be a belter, I'm sure

So long as it doesn't end up in the 'frustration fling' bin! But, it sounds like it may just have got it's claws into you

Thanks Chris. Idea's are starting to pop into the tiny brain cell. The parking brake, needs to be added. An easy addition. Building the missile boxes. No decals for instruments. Already sourced some dials and 'stuff' that I may be able to utilise!
I an NOT going to let my initial forebodings win. It will not be binned, I may not be happy with it but it won't be trashed.
Thanks again Chris, yes, if it turns out half as good as the 'King' I'll be pleased.

[A_J_Rimmer]

This is kit numero 5 and I think I have been spoiled until now. With Tamiya, Ryefield, Airfix all being good quality this is anything but!!!
With your experience Peter it shouldn't scare you too much. Even the few parts that have had recesses for parts the corresponding part has been too big and required a good deal of filing to fit!!!

I can guarantee you that as soon as you complete this, Airfix will release one!

A great start Doug!

[Waspie]

I can guarantee you that as soon as you complete this, Airfix will release one!

A great start Doug!

Thanks Arnold. And yup, I’m of the same mind. (If they do - I’ll have one!!)
Be nice if they brought it out in 1/48. That way I’d have a ‘dipper’ and a ‘pony’!!!!

[boatman]

WELL Doug your start on your wasp an it looks like how my tomcat start
ed doin dry fitting an gettin stressed an swearin as the air was pretty blue as jen heard me downstairs an said who are you swearin at ? lol only hope your smaller chopper goes to geather better than my model or you may be a canidate for the funny farm lol
chrisb

[Waspie]

WELL Doug your start on your wasp an it looks like how my tomcat start
ed doin dry fitting an gettin stressed an swearin as the air was pretty blue as jen heard me downstairs an said who are you swearin at ? lol only hope your smaller chopper goes to geather better than my model or you may be a canidate for the funny farm lol
chrisb

Thinking of pre booking a bed at the funny farm. Another day and lost some of the enthusiasm I gained yesterday. Filling in, filing and swearing today. Methinks this Wasp is on par with your big cat Chris!! And I'm not messing about with light and moveable hinges and the like.

Well today I addressed the problem with the crewman's seat. Did the best I could with the light and my eyesight. Thinking I really need a magnifying gizmo!

Filled in some of the gaps and anomalies on the body, tried to recreate the aimers controller but made a error so will scratch another tomorrow.

Pic 1
My attempt at the missile guidance arm. The arm rest I sat centrally when it should be offset to the right!!. (See Pic 2)

Pic 2


Pic 3
This was the underside after much filling, filing and sanding down! I yet have to prime to see how bad it really is!


Pic 4
Started on the engine, exhaust and flotation bags, (clamshells). It was probably about this stage I moved my hammers out of reach!!!


Oh well, I started so I'll finish but I'm back to being an unhappy bunny.

On a happier note, a mate popped by and he saw the Sea King. He was quite impressed and like me he flew in them. That made me feel better. Hopefully the Wasp will improve!! (Not holding my breath).:sad:

[boatman]

YOU can build it Doug just do like me when you get a bit stressed on a part an just sit there an clap your hands very good stress releiver well i think so anyway lolbut glad your mate like S/K as yes it was a fab model in my opinion
chrisb

[Waspie]

YOU can build it Doug just do like me when you get a bit stressed on a part an just sit there an clap your hands very good stress releiver well i think so anyway lolbut glad your mate like S/K as yes it was a fab model in my opinion
chrisb

I think it was the fact I managed to make it look 'dirty'. He said all that was missing was the distinctive oily/hydraulic smell. :tears-of-joy: :tears-of-joy: