EH101 Merlin 1/72

QUOTE: Originally posted by Cobrahistorian Speaking of the 101, does anyone know the name of the new VH-71?

Many Apologies for not adding any posts, but I have been unable to do any work on my model for far to many months. I hope to finish detailing the rotor head and start adding internal details such as modified "mission console", troop seats and adding the ADS sonar fit. Hopefully the photo links will stay intact ( I still don't know why they keep failing and it peeves me off no end that they keep failing).

As to what the American presidental aircraft should be called --------Hope one----------------   Hope one day it will fly and keep flying.

As I have said before yes the EH101 does look better( sorry paintchips) but sikorsky aircraft WORK( I bow my head to paintchips)( Sorry paintchips but yes you are right, but teething problem do go with a new design, and no I am not defending british design). There is far to many faults with the EH101 that need sorting for it to be a valid aircraft capable of doing the tasks required of it( Again paintchips you are the man).

Here is a view of the underside of the EH101 ideal for positioning the aerials and the sonar parts in the kit

Anyway  when I finish any work on the model I will post whatever I have done. If you all need or have any information please let me know.

All the best from the UK and keep modelling to the best of YOUR ability.

I have had a play with my Italeri EH101( the worst of the two kits) hacking the tail to bits to try to convert it to the concept AEW version, also I have started to add a little extra length to the cabin area. As you can see the work is very very rough at the moment.

Cheers Phoinix I wasn't aware that there was a PE set available for the EH101. Great pics of your EH 101. I have now ordered the set from Eduard (the shipping to the UK was almost as much as the set, but worth it I think). 

 If anyone is after a PE  for the RAF MK 3 version these are on sale at the site ( I bought one, will come in handy at some point in the future) for $6.95 so grab a bargain while you can.

Again thanks Phoinix, I would have waited years to find out about this set if it wasn't for the Finescale modeller web site. The tip, hints, help and encouragement that I have seen from everyone within the whole site keeps you going .

And yes I do still wait for the next issue of FSM to arrive on my doorstep.

Great build Macmac650!

I agree with you that the EH101 does look alot better than the S92. I still cannot believe that the S92 comes from the same factory that did the S76, imho one of the best looking helicopters ever. The Sea King and Black Hawk don't look too bad either.

Btw: just read a first users-report on the S92 by Cougar Helicopters in Vertical magazine. Cougar Helicopters is one of the first offshore companies that has the S92. Although they were generally pleased with the machine, it did have some teething problems, which ofcourse is not uncommon. What struck me more, was a rumour (also by Vertical Magazine) that stated that Sikorsky had plans to add a fifth main rotor blade to the S92 to counter ongoing vibration problems...?!!?  

regards, Gertjan

Many thanks GeejeeZ.

Vibration seems to be a major factor with both the EH101 and the S92, and as you have said teething problems are there for every aircraft. I am ever so slightly biased towards the EH101 Merlin as I have worked on the aircraft since it entered service in the Royal Navy (Fleet Air Arm), I had many happy years working on the Sea King (mk2 original, mk 5 & mk 6) I still think the Sea King is the most reliable rotary aircraft flying today.

Sikorsky are still the world leader in helicopter design and reliabilty, but they need to have a serious think about what is seen by the world as a design that will see the company in to the 21st century, and not use a design that has been around since the early 50's (Electronics excluded).

Another sorry note goes out to paintchips.

But---- on the US 101 I still haven't seen a name for the aircraft apart from VH71, VH71A.

A note to Phoinix-- the Eduard photo etch kit (Waiting for its arrival) is still with its errors (but still a vast step forward from the original kits from Italeri and Revell). For example behind the pilots the control rods on the Navy version (Shown on the RAF version by Eduard) are enclosed in a screen and not visible. Again the list goes on and on.  Major whinge-----Considering that Revell were meant to have had assistance from (according to the instruction sheets) I quote " Revell AG thank the following for their generous assistance during the preparation of this kit: the public relations staff and members of Nos. 814 and 824 Naval Air Squadrons, Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, UK and Augusta-Westland Helicopters at Yeovil" ---------What were Revell SHOWN ????? With this many errors were they shown a drawing of a concept aircraft or were they shown around actual aircraft? (Italeri make no such claim)

macmac650 wrote:

Sikorsky are still the world leader in helicopter design and reliabilty, but they need to have a serious think about what is seen by the world as a design that will see the company in to the 21st century, and not use a design that has been around since the early 50's (Electronics excluded).

Trigger

What I meant is that the Sikorsky S92 looks very much similar too every other "big" helicopter that they have designed (Ok, why change something if it is a proven design). I'm not having a dig at Sikorsky, if you look at the helicopter industry the builders use upgraded older designs.

I hope this makes sense?

To all

I won't be adding any detail to my EH101 for at least 2 months as I will be away (work commitments), once I return I hope to update my pictures.

I am not for or against the EH101, I am not for or against the S92. Both these aircraft have their faults, don't all new aircraft. I just want to build a model of the EH101 and I will happily chew the fat with anyone interested in these aircraft, but please, all I want to do is build a model to the best of my ability (Any help along the way will be much appreciated --please)

I hope you all have the same support that I have for pursuing my modelling interests whether it be aircraft (Fixed wing), aircraft (Rotary wing), cars of all types and motorbikes (My favourite from chopper to MotoGP{not just modelling}). My whole family will comment (good or bad or you’ve spent far to much time on that today or clean up that mess). Comments from other model builders are definitely welcome again good or bad (how else can you go forward), and I will give comment on other model builds as I personally see them( if asked), if I am wrong,  I hope the errors that  I have made will be pointed out to me.

Model building should be an enjoyable occasion( with the odd ***** what am I doing moments), fitting in with every day life where time allows. As my wife keeps pointing out “Is it going to be one of your hours or one of mine” (Male hour---as long as it takes. Female----60 minutes)

KEEP FILLING THE FINER DETAILS IN and do your best

Sorry that I Haven't posted anything for a long time. I have made head way with my model( I hope to post some of the photos).  I have bought the Eduard photoetch kit, this really does help make the kit come to life( check photo evidence before use some of items). I will say that even with the photoetch I still have alot of work. 

The work I have carried out so far is:

Made a three man seat ,a single man seat, Sonar system, sonabouy dispensor, adjusted the main cabin console, soundproofing panels within the cabin area, intercom leads.

I closed the fuselage sides and -------------all gone. I know they are there but ..... was it worth it, yes, for me it was.

I'm still looking forward to the Itateri 1:48 version if it ever appears.

mac

Last time i visited the AgustaWestland EH-101 assembly line in Yeovil, England the presidential helicopters were being put together, and to answer a question in  earlier post, no the presidential version will not have a rear ramp, it will have a much narrower rear door.

About the EH-101 vs S-92 discussion. I work in the royal danish airforce and we have alot of problems with our EH-101's, I asked some of my friends who work for CHC how their new S-92's were doing, and they had much the same problems, they said they would rather have the NH-90. I don't know. I like the EH-101 because it gives me alot of work and overtime so i have more money to buy models.