I spent the last three years of my RAF career posted to D flight, 202 sqn operating two Sea King HAR3 Search & Rescue helicopters and what a PITA they were to work on. To date I have built models of two other aircraft I worked on in the RAF - Puma HC1's and Nimrod MR2 - this new offering from Airfix opens up the opportunity to complete another in 1/72 (I have a pair in 1/144 on the go).
The instructions show an aerial fit for a HAR3a when the box and serial number are a HAR3, indeed in some of the drawings an aerial mast for the 3 is shown on the top of the port sponson as it should be but later steps detail aerial installation as per a 3a. (More detail on this is highlighted in the photos below)
There is the option for a FOD deflector or EAPS/SNIPS but no build steps for the FOD deflector and the filter rendition is basic with no moulded relief for the vortex panels, these are catered for with decals which are not even the right colour. I compared it with the filter from the old tool Airfix AEW Sea King, the old kit has a better version. This will still benefit with detailing for the compressor wash fittings above the crew door.
There is no MSS turret for the port sponson to replicate post 2004 equipped cabs or SACRU equipment for the underside although this was often not fitted. The cabin floor is not an accurate rendition of a wet fit floor for a SAR cab but the troop seats and stretcher are well rendered. I don't fancy adding lap straps for all those seats but the real thing was crammed with role equipment so there is still plenty of scope for the super detailer in you. A dinghy pack is also provided. Other interior details include the "Rad shack", broom cupboard, role rack, jump seat and a neat cockpit. The crew seats lack harnesses.
The cargo and crew doors are moulded in clear plastic, the latter can be cut to model the door open. The clear section of the lower personnel door should be discarded for this option and the alternative option with the steps used, but there are ejector pin holes on the crew door step risers.
The main wheels are weighted but the tail wheel has not had the same treatment despite this being even more apparent on the real thing and there is no paint call out for the tailwheel strut - I recall them being white.
Smaller details can be catered for with aftermaket products like mirrors, comp wash adaptors for the EAPS/SNIPS box, rotor head hydraulic lines and tail pylon steady for when folded. There is the option for folded or spread blades which is perfectly acceptable for fish head cabs, but the reality of day to day SAR readiness meant that RAF Sea Kings were rarely seen in this configuration. The tail pylon was often seen folded only for routine SOAP/CHIPs or DCC lubrication.
The panel lines are good where recessed lines should be but Sea Kings were built like brick out houses and do in fact have some raised seams and rivets which seem to be missing.
When I read that Airfix were using LIDAR scanning on an HC4 I said at the time that they must have taken the chance to scan a HAR3/3a and I was right. An unexpected inclusion in the sprues are the nose and tail fairings for the RHWR equipment that was fitted to the grey Falkland Island cabs operated by 78 Sqn down south but one cab also spent time on D Flt in this fit and scheme. Perhaps Airfix have some future plans for other variants of this aircraft for future releases as there are plenty of options on such a widely used aircraft.
I hoped the end product would be far superior to the ancient Airfix offering of this aircraft, and it is, but it comes up short in areas where it really shouldn't. This will build into a great model with the right corrections that even a novice modeller could achieve.
I wont even mention the option for fitting a motor as suggested by Airfix......
The old tool EAPS/SNIPS filter assembly,
The aerial layout discrepancy. The two masts shown under the rad shack window should not be fitted for a HAR3, the mast on the sponson is the forward anchor and is routed along the upper fuselage.
The instructions show an aerial fit for a HAR3a when the box and serial number are a HAR3, indeed in some of the drawings an aerial mast for the 3 is shown on the top of the port sponson as it should be but later steps detail aerial installation as per a 3a. (More detail on this is highlighted in the photos below)
There is the option for a FOD deflector or EAPS/SNIPS but no build steps for the FOD deflector and the filter rendition is basic with no moulded relief for the vortex panels, these are catered for with decals which are not even the right colour. I compared it with the filter from the old tool Airfix AEW Sea King, the old kit has a better version. This will still benefit with detailing for the compressor wash fittings above the crew door.
There is no MSS turret for the port sponson to replicate post 2004 equipped cabs or SACRU equipment for the underside although this was often not fitted. The cabin floor is not an accurate rendition of a wet fit floor for a SAR cab but the troop seats and stretcher are well rendered. I don't fancy adding lap straps for all those seats but the real thing was crammed with role equipment so there is still plenty of scope for the super detailer in you. A dinghy pack is also provided. Other interior details include the "Rad shack", broom cupboard, role rack, jump seat and a neat cockpit. The crew seats lack harnesses.
The cargo and crew doors are moulded in clear plastic, the latter can be cut to model the door open. The clear section of the lower personnel door should be discarded for this option and the alternative option with the steps used, but there are ejector pin holes on the crew door step risers.
The main wheels are weighted but the tail wheel has not had the same treatment despite this being even more apparent on the real thing and there is no paint call out for the tailwheel strut - I recall them being white.
Smaller details can be catered for with aftermaket products like mirrors, comp wash adaptors for the EAPS/SNIPS box, rotor head hydraulic lines and tail pylon steady for when folded. There is the option for folded or spread blades which is perfectly acceptable for fish head cabs, but the reality of day to day SAR readiness meant that RAF Sea Kings were rarely seen in this configuration. The tail pylon was often seen folded only for routine SOAP/CHIPs or DCC lubrication.
The panel lines are good where recessed lines should be but Sea Kings were built like brick out houses and do in fact have some raised seams and rivets which seem to be missing.
When I read that Airfix were using LIDAR scanning on an HC4 I said at the time that they must have taken the chance to scan a HAR3/3a and I was right. An unexpected inclusion in the sprues are the nose and tail fairings for the RHWR equipment that was fitted to the grey Falkland Island cabs operated by 78 Sqn down south but one cab also spent time on D Flt in this fit and scheme. Perhaps Airfix have some future plans for other variants of this aircraft for future releases as there are plenty of options on such a widely used aircraft.
I hoped the end product would be far superior to the ancient Airfix offering of this aircraft, and it is, but it comes up short in areas where it really shouldn't. This will build into a great model with the right corrections that even a novice modeller could achieve.
I wont even mention the option for fitting a motor as suggested by Airfix......
The old tool EAPS/SNIPS filter assembly,
The aerial layout discrepancy. The two masts shown under the rad shack window should not be fitted for a HAR3, the mast on the sponson is the forward anchor and is routed along the upper fuselage.
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