Westland Wasp

Nathan Dempsey
The next project has been selected. This one is chosen due to the local club's monthly theme of "Back to the Future" - select any kit originally molded before 1970. If I can do this in one month 😂.

Florian H.
I take a seat

Nathan Dempsey
Welcome Florian! Added a pic showing the test fit of all the new cockpit parts.

Florian H.
Saw it, looks great 👍

Nathan Dempsey
Added a new instrument panel. The next step is to prime and paint the interior…

Michael Kohl
An old heli with lots of detailing. My kinda stuff.

Nathan Dempsey
Welcome Michael!

Spent today finishing up the cockpit and all the clear parts before closing up the fuselage. I also drilled a hole in the roof for the AS.12 sighting system. In retrospect I shouldd do have done this first because if I break the clear part the rest of build will be halted.

Jennifer Franklin
This looks like a fun build, following 👀

Gareth Windsor
👀

Nathan Dempsey
Welcome Jennifer & Gareth 🙂

Well it is bound to happen when doing such an extensive rebuild/update. I have slammed into a brick wall. The new tail boom is nowhere near the correct diameter to attach to the existing tail boom. I only realized this after cutting off the old boom. Hopefully I can at least salvage the original boom and find use of some of the 3D parts..

David Taylor
Watching Nathan.
Whats the 3D engine like,is it a better representation or is it as well to dress up the kit engine.I have done this one and it might pay you to use the weapons launcher but make your own pylons.

David Taylor
Modelart decal systems 48/012 have eight schemes all of which are featured in the Warpaint Scout/Wasp book.

Nathan Dempsey
Welcome David 🙂

I like the engine. You can see the drive shaft and I like the representation of the gear box and exhausts. The tail does still have some useful parts like the lights and their mounts. I may be able to use the whole upper part but it will require a Dremel tool to make it match the dimensions of the kit part. This kind of thing is expected but I see now that this update costs $123 on Shapeways. Completely unacceptable fit for that kind of price. This same update comes with new landing gear but they look a bit beefy so I doubt I'll use them. The kit parts are nice and spindly like the real thing.

I'm using the Aztec 48-048 which has markings for 2 different craft used in the attack on the Santa Fe.

David Taylor
Got most of my extras on shapeways (not cheap).I have added PJ Lynx crew to all of my Wasp builds and they fit nicely.I did'nt fit the the flotation gear to this specific Wasp as it was removed to save weight and gain loiter time.Wasp XT794 is interesting as it has the observer seat facing backwards so the medic could see to the patient.Page 29 in the book shows you this as well as XS527 without flotation gear.Next one for me is XT778 "Sleazebag".

Nathan Dempsey
I bought all those sets from Shapeways as well when they first appeared. I wasn't sure what I'd need. I'm really glad I bought the Warpaint book as it has cleared up many of my questions regarding this build. The Aztec decal set does have a good picture but call incorrect colors for the camo as well as showing XS539 & XT429 as the attacking craft. I do realize most of this would be lost on most people having a look at the local model show here in the USA but I do try to get it as close as possible when I can. Too bad those Model Art decals are on back order at Hannants.

David Taylor
Soon as I seen them Bam.XS527 was camoed with what was at hand so I used ships hull grey.

David Taylor
Where did the seats come from.

Nathan Dempsey
Those seats are Quickboost 48-715 Seaking Seats. The rear bench pads are all made with Aves Apoxie Sculpt.

David Taylor
Thought they looked familiar.LOL

Michael Kohl
Coming on really nicely.

Nathan Dempsey
Thanks Michael 🙂

Today's work was brief. I added the little mount for the I-Band radio transponder and the flat mount for the 2 UHF antennas on the upper nose section.

Clifford Keesler
Looking good, nice project.

Nathan Dempsey
Thank very much Clifford. Nothing has been easy on this one. I'm definitely building something a bit easier on the next couple of builds.

Nathan Dempsey
Spent most of an evening reshaping and cutting down the AS.12 sight. The part was too tall and would have interfered with the main rotor. The rest of the evening was preparing the main canopy to mount to the fuselage.

I have to admit I've been letting these fit issues get to me, but I took yesterday off and have reminded myself to just continue on and do the best I can.

Ludvík Kružík
I like to build models from old kits, including modifying them for a better look. I'll be very interested to see how you get on with building this interesting helicopter. Your work so far looks very nice. 👍
I wish you continued success.

Jos Jansen
Watching this one...👍🏻

Clifford Keesler
Looking good Nathan.

David Taylor
Looks great Nathan,remember the bracing struts under the rear wheel sponsons.

Nathan Dempsey
Thanks Ludvík, Clifford & David!

Welcome Jos 🙂

Thanks for the reminder David. I had these pre-cut but they had been set aside and nearly forgotten.