Waspie
SMF Supporter
Starting a blog on this one although it ain't going to be a fast build.
Not doing a sprue show as Rick has covered that one and one kit is the same as the next!!
My end product hopefully will be a facsimile of one of my old squadron cabs. 819 Naval Air Squadron based at Prestwick Airport, Ayrshire, Scotland and the site was named HMS Gannet. They started with Mk1 SK's but that was before I joined, prior to that they were based at Ballykelly, Northern Ireland with the Wessex Mk3. . By the time I arrived in 1981they had moved to Scotland and had been upgraded to Mk2 SK's and then later on upgraded again to the Mk5's and a lot later the Mk6. However 819 wasn't what I would call a main stream SK squadron. 819 had many roles and our operational area was 'different' too. The unit was primarily an ASW asset for the protection of the submarine fleet at Faslane. However, we also conducted SAR duties covering the whole of the West coast of Scotland, Irish Sea. So we did a mix of mountain rescues and sea jobs.
Operating as we did from a land based platform we became adept at shallow water ASW, (as we were the only front line squadron with no warship to deploy to), very different to deep water submarine detection. We were also predominantly active sonar operators, hence my build, albeit the Mk5 variant will not have the LAPADS, (passive sonics), table fitted in the back. It will also have the rescue hoist fitted. I mention it as the plans dictate the hoist NOT fitted to the Mk5 ASW version!! Which I find totally strange!! The paint scheme will be slightly different from those supplied as our SK's were of the RAF blue grey colour.
That was the background, to date all I have done is wash the sprue's and draft a rough plan and scribble notes of what I will try and build. The plans have been copied.
I'm already in the process of acquiring some additional bits. Eduard instrument panel and back seat console upgrades as well as harnesses. (Although trying to get seat harness for the front seats are proving difficult as they appear to have been snapped up. Guess I'll have to wait until they come in stock!!)
The correct transfers are proving to be a PITA too. So I may have to resort to a modified scheme. A Mk5 with white numerals and lettering rather than the late 1982 on wards black tactical lettering that was adopted.
Hopefully I'll be ready to start the actual build in a day or two - until then!! Happy new year folks!
Not doing a sprue show as Rick has covered that one and one kit is the same as the next!!
My end product hopefully will be a facsimile of one of my old squadron cabs. 819 Naval Air Squadron based at Prestwick Airport, Ayrshire, Scotland and the site was named HMS Gannet. They started with Mk1 SK's but that was before I joined, prior to that they were based at Ballykelly, Northern Ireland with the Wessex Mk3. . By the time I arrived in 1981they had moved to Scotland and had been upgraded to Mk2 SK's and then later on upgraded again to the Mk5's and a lot later the Mk6. However 819 wasn't what I would call a main stream SK squadron. 819 had many roles and our operational area was 'different' too. The unit was primarily an ASW asset for the protection of the submarine fleet at Faslane. However, we also conducted SAR duties covering the whole of the West coast of Scotland, Irish Sea. So we did a mix of mountain rescues and sea jobs.
Operating as we did from a land based platform we became adept at shallow water ASW, (as we were the only front line squadron with no warship to deploy to), very different to deep water submarine detection. We were also predominantly active sonar operators, hence my build, albeit the Mk5 variant will not have the LAPADS, (passive sonics), table fitted in the back. It will also have the rescue hoist fitted. I mention it as the plans dictate the hoist NOT fitted to the Mk5 ASW version!! Which I find totally strange!! The paint scheme will be slightly different from those supplied as our SK's were of the RAF blue grey colour.
That was the background, to date all I have done is wash the sprue's and draft a rough plan and scribble notes of what I will try and build. The plans have been copied.
I'm already in the process of acquiring some additional bits. Eduard instrument panel and back seat console upgrades as well as harnesses. (Although trying to get seat harness for the front seats are proving difficult as they appear to have been snapped up. Guess I'll have to wait until they come in stock!!)
The correct transfers are proving to be a PITA too. So I may have to resort to a modified scheme. A Mk5 with white numerals and lettering rather than the late 1982 on wards black tactical lettering that was adopted.
Hopefully I'll be ready to start the actual build in a day or two - until then!! Happy new year folks!
Luckily it's only a matter of printing off the first few pages again.
You can't be angry for too long, in my case nano seconds. Tike!!!
