Sikorsky S-58ET: GRØNLANDSFLY OY-HBC
Revell + Cobra Models + JBot decals

Dutch
I purchased the Revell 1:48 Wess*x HAS.3 [No.4468] for ~$30 on eBay, hoping to make an accurate Wess*x HU.5 variant without too mch trouble. The kit box, instructions and decals were suffering from terrible mold damage and were quickly discarded. The bag with parts was sealed and complete. I removed and washed the plastic parts and placed them in a new zip-loc bag. I downloaded new instructions from Revell GMBH. I studied the parts and discovered that the fuselage has the larger port side windows of the Wess*x HAS.3/HU.5, but the Vee strut u/c of a later UH-34D (c/n 58-1177 & later). The kit lacked the H-34 nose parts, unlike its later release, Revell GMBH No. 04898, but did include the H-34/Wess*x HC.2 style smaller cabin window transparencies.

I resigned myself to the fact that the kit was "version inaccurate" SOOTB. What to do? At first I contemplated purchasing the Heritage Wess*x HC.2 update set, only to discover that it did not include a new Gnome nose. I then requested if any other Scalemates had a spare set of H-34 nose parts, only to be offered a spare H-34, which I felt was unnecessarily generous. So I searched the web and the S-58T version struck my eye as a possible alternative. I found the Cobra S-58T resin nose for only $12 and determined that it would be the least expensive and easiest conversion, only having to resize the port side window openings for the H-34 style transparencies. A plethora of marking options presented themselves and I contacted a custom decaler for a special run modifying some existing artwork. He readily agreed for a small fee and I was off to the races!

I enlarged a set of Wess*x plans from Aviation News Plans Service to 1:48 scale and sent them off to the decaler with suggested marking options. He sent back a test graphic within a week. The last week has been spent carefully measuring and suggesting sizing changes to the beautiful artwork inorder to better fit the actual plastic. Which brings up the topic of S-58/H-34/Wess*x model accuracy, or should I say Warpaint plan accuracy? When matching plastic to plans I discovered that the Revell fuselage is too short in height by 3/16", the tail is angled back by ~5deg and is too narrow in chord. Further, plastic window spacing is too low by ~1/8" and slightly back of the plan windows. Lastly, plastic fuselage panel lines are in different places. Either Revell got it horribly wrong or the Warpaint plans are not accurate. The Italeri 1:72 UH-34 and 1:72 Wess*x HU.5 suffer similar scale differences when compared to the original sized Warpaint plans. The 4+ Wess*x 1:72 plans are much more accurate. So I can only conclude that the Warpaint plans are NOT accurate.

So I will build the S-58ET and fix the port cabin windows and not worry too much about overall dimensions or tail angle. More to follow. R/ Dutch

Dutch
I sanded off the fake grilles and trimmed the nose mounting tabs from each fuselage side before test fitting the Cobra resin nose piece. I assembled the cabin fore & aft bulkheads and seats after stretching some sprue and making several new seat legs. I also assembled the basic cockpit console. This will be a civil passenger / cargo S-58ET, so the Revell provided seats were most appropriate. Began test fitting one UH-34 small cabin window into the larger Wess*x cabin window hole and made some marks. After some study, I decided against just gluing a plasticard plug to fill the space for each smaller window as this would leave the external frame mis-match in the center. Instead, I intend to scribe / cut between the center section where the fore/aft window frames meet and along the top and bottom of each and carefully remove the appropriate amount of upper/lower frame from each window, slinding the the two center pieces apart to fit the UH-34 windows and then place a single plasticard filler plug between the window frames. This should be more accurate. I discovered over Christmas that Revell USA had re-released the 1/48 UH-34D For a meager $15-$20. But I am committed to not spend any more money and to improve my modelling skills. Decals to arrive shortly. Total project time to date: 3.5 hours.

Dutch
Custom decals arrived on 27 June! Wahoo! I'm moving this kit to the front burner.

Dutch
Did a little work on cockpit & cabin this weekend before being called away to help a friend. Will post progress photos soon.

Dutch
I had a few minutes yesterday to work on this one. In the interval, I had dropped the box with the prepared pieces and so had some damage to repair. I added two collectives; repaired the broken plastic and cockpit; removed the broken seats from the cabin so as to represent a cargo interior and glued the cabin to the right fuselage half; lastly I cut the aft port window frame but misjudged the distance, and so wil have to make repairs later. Foward window frame is next. Total project time to date: 6 hours.

Wim van der Luijt
That is quite a project, did you include time spent researching in the project time? (And what's wrong with typing Wess*x? Why is it Wess*x instead?) 😉

Dutch
Beste Wim, IK type "Wess*x" en Scalemates wijzigingen aan "Wess*x". IK weet niet wat het probleem is.

Henrik Stæhr
It's the automatic p*rnfilter.

Henrik Stæhr
See... I didn't write that *

Dutch
I gave up on the Wessex this weekend after trying unsuccessfully to reduce the size of the window frames on the port fuselage side. (Can you say completely botched the job?) So I kept the cockpit from the Wessex and substituted everything else from the Revell UH-34D kit. I sprayed the interior grey (generic dept store spray can) and glued the cabin in place on the starboard side. More progress this weekend than in the last six months. I need to get this one done! ~2 hours

PS: So if anyone needs 1:48 Wessex HAS.3 parts (99% complete), let me know. I may be willing to trade for some A-4E/F parts (weapons & pylons and hump) I need.