Airfix 1/72 Wessex - new release

[RangerNeil]

The second TR is back on hold awaiting delivery of the body colour paint - I thought I had some British Racing Green - but it had dried up....

So I opened the new release Airfix Wessex. I've got an old Mastercraft one on the go which, quite frankly, is bl#@dy awful. Nothing really fits and most bits were warped, needing straightening. So I thought it might be good to compare the two!! So here goes:
Airfix - Instructions












Decals


Sprues






Compare this to the Mastercraft offering which, I believe, was originally a Frog offering:
Instructions




Sprues


Decals


There is NO painting guide save the box top art. The decals are so badly out of register they are unuseable so I got a set from Hannants. The two kits are not really comparable save that they will look like a Wessex when finished - the Airfix one considerably more so!!

[digger303]

Are the decals going to be ok ?

[RangerNeil]

Are the decals going to be ok ?

The Airfix ones - definitely.
The Mastercraft ones - absolutely not!!

So I've got a set of Xtradecals from Hannants.co.uk - covers all the aircraft used by 815 Sqdn FAA from Swordfish up go modern day Lynx which includes a Wessex. I'll try to remember to add a photo tomorrow.

[Stokesy44]

Are the decals going to be ok ?

Did you see the comedy eye roundels bottom right of the sheet? I think the answer to your question is an emphatic NO!

[Stokesy44]

It just shows this hobby takes all sorts.

I wouldn't touch that second kit with a 10 foot pole. Hats off to you mate.

[digger303]

Are the decals going to be ok ?

Did you see the comedy eye roundels bottom right of the sheet? I think the answer to your question is an emphatic NO!

Inspires the illusion " It’s alive"

[DRUMS01]

For 1/72 the Airfix kit had what appear to be some significant parts and detail, while the other one does not. The decal sheet from Airfix looks the part too. Always liked this whirlybird so this should be fun to watch.

Ben

[RangerNeil]

For 1/72 the Airfix kit had what appear to be some significant parts and detail, while the other one does not. The decal sheet from Airfix looks the part too. Always liked this whirlybird so this should be fun to watch.

Ben

That could be the understatement of the decade - if not the century!!
This is the results of the first 7 sections of the Airfix instruction book:




Whereas this is the result of the first 7 sections of the Mastercraft instruction photocopies:


Not a lot of difference is there??

[digger303]

[RangerNeil]

As of tonight the Airfix kit has got this far


The fuselage side facing the camera is only taped on to help align the fuselage floor. It comes off again tomorrow to have the cockpit and fuselage roof/rotor mast installed. In the foreground are the cockpit bulhead with crew seats in place and the fuselage roof/rotor mast assembly

And the Mastercraft kit has got this far.


Basically all thats left are the clear parts, wheels and tail rotor so next step is masking fluid on the side windows and then primer whilst waiting for the Rescue Yellow and RAF Blue-Grey to arrive.

[digger303]

The Airfix kit is definitely from a different era.

[RangerNeil]

The Airfix kit is definitely from a different era.

Truly!!! I have to say, so far, its an absolute dream to build. The only thing to be wary of is the sprue attachment points are very reminiscent of makers like Academy where there is a thick piece left on the part to be cleaned off. But that really is a very minor, petty thing given how it goes together once they are cleaned off.

Anyways - todays progress. The cabin windows on the Mastercrat kit have been coated with making fluid an then the assembly primed:


Weirdly the two slots in the tail are for clear parts!


The box art - which is the only guide I have doesn't seem to show the front part as clear but deffo the rear part. Looking on the web, though, there seems to be grilles in these positions so maybe I just to add them now and paint over them. Perhaps using a drill point to create a grille effect?

The Airfix kit has the cockpit added and the opposite fuselage side joined on.






Next job is the "Chin" assembly...

[digger303]

"Weirdly the two slots in the tail are for clear parts! "
Perhaps there are navigation lights on the part ?

[RangerNeil]

"Weirdly the two slots in the tail are for clear parts! "
Perhaps there are navigation lights on the part ?

All the photos I can find of the real thing show grilles in these to locations so possibly on of lifes great mysteries??

Back to the build- I've bit the bullet and opted to go for the rotors and tail folded alternative. This may come back to bite me in the proverbial but, to borrow a phrase from Julius - alea iacta est!

Today was spent building the tail up and adding various antenna etc to the underside. I'm sure they added parts to make the parts count up rather than moulding them as one piece - this is the base of an aerial- note the size!


I had trouble seeing it - let alone picking it up and placing it! Did make me wonder if Airfix plan on up-scaling the kit to 1/48 in the future though.
This is the tail rotor section with the folded open bulkheads:


And the front undercarriage leg in place - other side is done too but looks identical....


Moving to the Matercraft version - this is the decal set I got to replace the dodgy ones that came with the kit - its the Xtradecals set for
815 Sqdn FAA:


The kits upper works have had a few coats of "Rescue Yellow" - going to need a couple more I think:


And I tried using masking fluid to do individual canopy panes - suffice it to sY it didn't work as I planned it....


Lastly this is the combined progress thus far:

[Stokesy44]

Good work. Doing 2 kits of the same aircraft at the same time would confuse the hell out of me.

[RangerNeil]

Paint has gone on both kits now.
Dealing with the Airfix build first I used the "Night Black" from Hatakas WW2 RAF bomber set.


Whilst that was drying I had a look at the instrument panel - Airfix give two options: there is a flat panel that takes a decal and a very detailed moulding that someone with good eyesight can paint. If they upscale it to 1/48 the moulded panel could make a very nice result!


My eyesight is not that good so I opted for the decal one. This is secured on the inside of the cockpit canopy together with a pair of overhead consoles:


Then the Grey/Green topcoat was added. The Grey was applied via airbrush, the Green via hairy stick




Next job will be adding the Red nose and fuselage band then assembling the main and tail rotor assemblies undercarriage, winch etc.

Now the Mastercraft build.
The lower fuselage has been given a coat of RAF Blue-Grey.


The tailrotor has been repainted in line with the Xtradecal sheet




Theres some tidying up of the paint to do, a couple of minor bleeds happened when the RAF Blue-Grey was applied and then, like the Airfix, some minor assemblies.

[digger303]

[RangerNeil]

A bit more progress - Red going on the Airfix build and I forgot the Yellow on top the tail of the Mastercraft build.
Without canopies


With canopies (dry fit)


Masking tape removed from the Airfix build

[digger303]

Amazing how a little bit of paint even on a old kit like the Mastercraft lifts it so much.

[RangerNeil]

Well - its decal time! I got a new can of Vallejo gloss a few days ago and did both Wessex with it. For some odd reason the Mastercraft one remained tacky to the touch. However the decals went on today successfully.






Next step is a satin topcoat and then the glazing goes on.

Next up was the Airfix. As was to be expected this was going to take a LOT longer due to the sheer number of stencils involved. I got maybe halfway through when SWMBO decided dinner was ready. So I'll finish this one off tomorrow...

[digger303]

Strange one is tacky and the other not and I assume the brand of paints were used were the same.

[Stokesy44]

Looking good, great to see the double build has worked out and both are coming along in tandem with each other.

[RangerNeil]

Strange one is tacky and the other not and I assume the brand of paints were used were the same.

Yep - both painted with Hataka Blue Line. And coated with the Vallejo gloss at the same time. Weird or what?

[RangerNeil]

Airfix Wessex is now complete as regards decals on the fuselage and tail rotor:












Still got the main rotors to do - I have to put my hands up and admit to a big goof. I assumed the rotors on the sprue were all moulded in the same orientation and painted them accordingly, black underside, green uppers. Turns out the folded rotors aren't moulded that way - 2 are reversed!! Even worse - I assumed I had painted them all wrong and did 3 of them before realizing. So two blades needed to be re-painted both sides and then re-glossed, 1 just needed the green redone.

[Stokesy44]

Looking good and as for the gaff, you lucky boy. Easily fixed and a nod to the modelling Gods that we are all mortal.

[RangerNeil]

Looking good and as for the gaff, you lucky boy. Easily fixed and a nod to the modelling Gods that we are all mortal.

Indeed!
Now got a note on the bench reminding me to check the blade orientations BEFORE painting in future!!

Back to the builds - the Airfix one is now on its wheels, folded tail fitted and main rotors. Just need to make sure the main rotors & head don't need touching up then its a final coat of matt varnish and the masking fluid comes off the windows, main cockpit and side door go on and, finally the tail rotor.






When I added the winch frame over the sliding door the dreaded curse of Airfix struck again - part E34 was missing!!


So its a case of contacting Airfix customer support for a replacement. Fortunately its not a very visible piece so won't notice till I get the replacement.

The Mastercraft build is nearly finished. But when I went to fit the main canopy there was a gap between the front of the canopy and the nose. So I've had to cut a piece of plastic card to shape to pack it out.


Now its had a bit of paint on I'm not happy with the finish so I think I need to revisit that join with a little bit of filler.

Lastly the Wessex cockpit is so big with so few details I'm thinking a couple of crew figures might "hide" the void. Got some old 1/72 pilots but can't make my mind up whether to use the ones wearing oxygen masks would look right or not - opinions would be welcomed!!

[RangerNeil]

OK - calling these two done now (apart from the Airfix winch hook)..




The Airfix Build:










The Mastercraft Build (never, EVER, again!!)

[digger303]

Nice work and paint.

[Stokesy44]

Great finish. You can really see the difference in kit quality but its a credit to you that both have been finished to the same standard.