Pete's Sea King Mk41. Revell 1/72

[Allen Dewire]

Playing ketchup here Peter and it looks like you have had a few "struggles" with this whoop-whoop so far. Top work in bringing them back in order! I really like the blue tank tops the best though Sir.............

Prost
Allen

[Ian M]

I have been following along from the cheap seats as well.
Looks like you are eliminating the problems as they turn up.
Helicopter canopies are the worse! normally complex curves and often need masking both sides due to some detail or the other.

Glad to learn that I am not the only one that has had windows pop off into the body. Mine was the little "quarter lights" by the crews feet. One of them popped off as I was joining the hull halves. Luck for me I went for a dry fit so no real issue. A pain none the less.
As Rick pointed out with the ejector marks, It does not take much to screw things up. I found a sprue gate on the floor was my falling point.
A good tip by the way, sand a slight chamfer on floors/walls that have to fit in a channel in the wall. Sometimes the bottom of the channel to round in the corners and the part cant get all the way to the bottom!

[The Smythe Meister]

As someone else who watches many builds from the cheap seats, I'd also like to say.....
Cracking work there Peter, looks like you're overcoming the challenges!!
I concur completely with the issues that you've come across,keep up the good fight mind
Lovely looking cockpit that is for sure
Andy

[scottie3158]

Peter,
Your licking this in to shape nicely mate.

[stillp]

I really like the blue tank tops the best though Sir.............

Prost
Allen

The seats? They're a bit too blue aren't they! I'd intended to give the interior a dust wash before I closed up, but I forgot!

Helicopter canopies are the worse! normally complex curves and often need masking both sides due to some detail or the other.

I've just removed the second interior masking, put on to stop any overspray when painting the frames, and I've realised there are some parts for the engine intakes that fit on top of the canopy, so I'll have to unmask the top windows, fit those intake parts and remask. That'll be the 4th lot of masking on the canopy.

Lovely looking cockpit that is for sure
Andy

Thanks Andy, I'm not sure how much will be visible but "I'll know it's there".

Peter,
Your licking this in to shape nicely mate.

Thanks Paul.
Pete

[rickoshea52]

I've started the fill-a-thon.

Thankfully the Airfix version doesn’t have a seam running down the middle of the dog kennel, the curved cowling behind the rotor head but mine still needed a little filler at the edges.
Note that there should be a panel line along the centreline of the engine cowlings where you have filled. The cowlings open to provide access to the engines and act as a work platform.
I have one of these kits in the stash - it might stay there a bit longer.

[stillp]

Thanks Rick, I'd better un-fill that seam then!
Pete

[rickoshea52]

Thanks Rick, I'd better un-fill that seam then!
Pete

You get the idea from this photo.

[stillp]

Thanks again Rick. Does the deflector in front of the air intakes actually sit on the canopy?
Pete

[rickoshea52]

Thanks again Rick. Does the deflector in front of the air intakes actually sit on the canopy?
Pete

In reference photos I’ve seen it maybe overhangs. The FOD deflector was long gone by the time I worked on Sea Kings.
I searched for sea king engines in Google and got some great reference photos.

[stillp]

Yes, it looks as if the early Mk41s didn't have the deflector, and later they had a filter box in front of the intakes that stood up on spacers clear of the canopy, but this version seems to have the deflector actually on the canopy. This photo seems to show that Revell got it right:
but it doesn't look right! Maybe there's a spacer in there that I can't see. Some photos online seem to show the upper canopy windows shortened, which would make more sense, but would need some conversion of the Revell canopy.
Pete

[JR]

Not being a flutter wingey thingie type I can't offer any help, but the internals you have done look good .
Hope the rest is ok Pete .

[rickoshea52]

Yes, it looks as if the early Mk41s didn't have the deflector, and later they had a filter box in front of the intakes that stood up on spacers clear of the canopy, but this version seems to have the deflector actually on the canopy. This photo seems to show that Revell got it right:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1172164[/ATTACH] but it doesn't look right! Maybe there's a spacer in there that I can't see. Some photos online seem to show the upper canopy windows shortened, which would make more sense, but would need some conversion of the Revell canopy.
Pete

The early Sea Kings didn’t have any intake protection. The FOD deflector was introduced sometime during the 70/80’s, I think it was a fairly straightforward bolt on modification that sat on top of the cab roof with no change to the window layout - it just partially covered them. I agree it looks to sit “flush” with the cab roof.
When the later filter box was introduced (known as EAPS/SNIPS), I believe that it simply fitted in the same position using the existing fixing holes from the FOD deflector. The filter box sits higher above the cab roof because of its mounting feet.
I don’t see why the German mk41’s should be different to the RN/RAF versions as the mod was most likely done by Westlands.
If I could find my course notes I’d take a look for you.

[stillp]

Thanks again Rick. Sounds as if Revell got it right, so I think I'd better just follow the instructions!
Or I could just leave the deflector off. Decisions, decisions...
Pete

[stillp]

In case my rambling description didn't make sense to anyone less familiar with the Sea King than Rick, this is what was worrying me:

The 'splitter' in front of the intakes, and the deflector, part 29, block a big chunk of the canopy's upper windows. I assume that on the 1:1 there's a small clearance between these parts and the canopy - in fact there is on this kit as well. Sadly it's too small a clearance to remove any masking, so I've had to reduce the amount of masking.

I suppose I could have cut the masking I'd already applied round the deflector and splitter, but I was worried about scratching the canopy, so I know have to re-mask, which of course will involve a risk of scratching the canopy... I didn't think this through did I!
The new bits of tape in those pics are there to cover the wipers.

More tomorrow if I'm allowed - we're expecting a visit from the great-granddaughter so I might be too exhausted!

Pete