Tiny SEA KING --FINISHED--

gregbale

Member since
March 2003
From: Towson MD

Tiny SEA KING --FINISHED--

Posted by gregbale on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 9:30 PM

Working on thinning out my stash of Sweet 1/144 Sea Kings. Next up will be a Belgian Mk. 48, as depicted in the kit instructions:

More recent online photos of the same aircraft, #RS01 (serial WA 831, now residing in retirement in the Royal Museum of Military History in Brussels), show that it later acquired the larger 'hat box' search radar dome; this is offered as an option in certain of the Sweet releases of the kit, and I had one left over in the spares box, so on it went. The kit also includes options for the six-blade tail rotor as used by most European Sea Kings, and the 'clean' sponsons (without the original sonobuoy pallet and MAD boom used by the early USN models).

The kit's pre-molded rescue hoist is a solid vinyl blob, so I cut it off to replace it with something a little more refined. All the 'greebles' which distinguish different models of Sea Kings - aerials and sensor fits, as well as details like pitots and mooring cables - will need to be added with bits of wire and styrene rod & strip.

Not completely finished, but here she is nearing the painting stage:

More as things develop. Thanks for looking in.

Greg

George Lewis:

"Every time you correct me on my grammar I love you a little fewer."

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keavdog

Member since
April 2003
From: USA

Posted by keavdog on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 10:00 PM

Wow, lets get small! Post a pic with a quarter for reference.

Thanks,

John

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gregbale

Member since
March 2003
From: Towson MD

Posted by gregbale on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 10:07 PM

keavdog

Wow, lets get small! Post a pic with a quarter for reference.

I'll try to remember next time I take some pics.

Here's the same kit, with different markings...(and obviously a penny rather than a quarter):

They are tiny...thus the post's title. But great fun, and a quick build!

Greg

George Lewis:

"Every time you correct me on my grammar I love you a little fewer."

Reply

keavdog

Member since
April 2003
From: USA

Posted by keavdog on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 10:18 PM

Amazing detail at that scale. I do recall that pic now. Canadian april fools iirc

Thanks,

John

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GlennH

Member since
April 2016
From: N. Burbs of ChiKawgo

Posted by GlennH on Wednesday, April 4, 2018 8:47 AM

gregbale

keavdog

Wow, lets get small! Post a pic with a quarter for reference.

I'll try to remember next time I take some pics.

Here's the same kit, with different markings...(and obviously a penny rather than a quarter):

They are tiny...thus the post's title. But great fun, and a quick build!

Really something! Admire the skills to work that small andd still add so much detail.

A number Army Viet Nam scans from hundreds yet to be done:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/southwestdreams/albums/72157621855914355

Have had the great fortune to be on every side of the howitzers.

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gregbale

Member since
March 2003
From: Towson MD

Posted by gregbale on Wednesday, April 4, 2018 9:15 AM

GlennH
Really something! Admire the skills to work that small andd still add so much detail.

Thanks, Glenn!

Since my 'usual' scale is 1/72, I confess it occasionally takes me a try or two to get things properly small. (In that size range, the tricky part isn't doing the work - it's simply being able to hold onto the part, while you work on it!)

As long as the Optivisor (knockoff) holds out, I'll be in good shape.

Greg

George Lewis:

"Every time you correct me on my grammar I love you a little fewer."

Reply

Tanker - Builder

Member since
June 2014
From: New Braunfels , Texas

Posted by Tanker - Builder on Wednesday, April 4, 2018 10:30 AM

OOh ! Dats Tiny ! !

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goldhammer

Member since
August 2014
From: Willamette Valley, Oregon

Posted by goldhammer on Wednesday, April 4, 2018 2:32 PM

Really admire anyone that can do these small scale birds. Can't even handle 1/72 unless it is a multi engine.

Don't take it wrong, but you must have a bent for pain and suffering that some of us missed out on in the gene pool. Big Smile

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Bucksco

Member since
February 2003
From: Bucks county, PA

Posted by Bucksco on Wednesday, April 4, 2018 6:22 PM

Are the "Hosers" markings legit? It's a beauty, eh? Take off You hoser....

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gregbale

Member since
March 2003
From: Towson MD

Posted by gregbale on Wednesday, April 4, 2018 7:34 PM

Bucksco

Are the "Hosers" markings legit? It's a beauty, eh? Take off You hoser....

Alas, no...it was part of a brilliant April Fools gag by Vintage Wings Canada some years ago, celebrating some slightly-less-conventional 'Icons of Canadian Culture.' Well worth checking out:

link

Greg

George Lewis:

"Every time you correct me on my grammar I love you a little fewer."

Reply

ridleusmc

Member since
July 2003
From: Cincinnati, Ohio

Posted by ridleusmc on Wednesday, April 4, 2018 8:14 PM

Very cool Sea King!

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gregbale

Member since
March 2003
From: Towson MD

Posted by gregbale on Thursday, April 5, 2018 7:19 PM

ridleusmc

Very cool Sea King!

Thank you sir!

Work is proceeding apace. The pictures:

Next up: dayglo accents.

Greg

George Lewis:

"Every time you correct me on my grammar I love you a little fewer."

Reply

ridleusmc

Member since
July 2003
From: Cincinnati, Ohio

Posted by ridleusmc on Thursday, April 5, 2018 8:01 PM

I like that camouflage. It's interesting and not typical for Sea Kings.

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gregbale

Member since
March 2003
From: Towson MD

Posted by gregbale on Thursday, April 5, 2018 8:35 PM

ridleusmc

I like that camouflage. It's interesting and not typical for Sea Kings.

Thanks.

I kept 'looking past' it as I tried to decide whether to use the German or the Australian markings; but it obviously sort of grew on me.

(Plus, I don't think I've ever done anything in Belgian markings before.)

Greg

George Lewis:

"Every time you correct me on my grammar I love you a little fewer."

Reply

gregbale

Member since
March 2003
From: Towson MD

Posted by gregbale on Monday, April 9, 2018 10:51 PM

Did some scratchbuilding work for the main rotor blades: the kit's are kind of clunky to start, thick and slightly warped, but mainly they're the original metal blade design, whereas the Belgian Mk. 48s had the slightly differently-shaped composite blades. I cut the arms from the kit blades, and made the blades themselves from thin plastic sheet stock.

And the final result, with all bits and bobs added, and 'clothesline' aerial added from invisible thread. Markings are those of the Belgian AF's 40th Squadron Heli, which operated these birds in the SAR role from Koksijde Air Base on the southern Channel coast. (That squadron exchanged its aged Sea Kings for NH90's starting in 2012.)

And finally, a 'family shot' of my growing squadron of tiny Sea Kings, including the recently-posted 'Bob and Doug' CH-124 and an earlier build as a conversion to a civil S-61L as once operated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department:

Hope you enjoy!

Greg

George Lewis:

"Every time you correct me on my grammar I love you a little fewer."

Reply

keavdog

Member since
April 2003
From: USA

Posted by keavdog on Monday, April 9, 2018 11:35 PM

Fantastic! Im speechless dude. Great looking build in gnat ball scale!

Thanks,

John

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ridleusmc

Member since
July 2003
From: Cincinnati, Ohio

Posted by ridleusmc on Tuesday, April 10, 2018 2:16 AM

I LOVE IT!!!

I would've thought they were in at least 1/72 if it weren't for the penny. Increadible work! I love the camo on the Belgian. I love the fun of the Canadian. I love the flashy paint of the LA County Sherriff's bird!