Going back a step to the main rotors, these have a couple of
decals on each side. I pinched the marking out sketch from the
Airfix Model World magazine build article. These lines are used to align the blade lifting sling at the centre of balance of the blades during removal and installation.
Once sealed with varnish I applied a Mig Ammo neutral wash and wiped off in the direction of airflow then glued them to the rotor head.
One of the blades (number3) has some additional soot weathering applied. This is unique to this blade. With the blades folded, the number one engine (LH) is started first in accessory drive so the exhaust from this engine deposits soot on the blade. In accessory drive the blades are spread before the number two engine is started, hence no soot on the number four blade from the other exhaust. Royal Air Force Sea Kings were unlikely to see this type of weathering as they rarely, if ever, were stowed with their blade folded.