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Airfix SeaKing model helicopter kit
What's in the box of Airfix SeaKing kit number 03043.
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Other parts sprues and decal sheet, click to enlarge.
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The Westland SeaKing is the British licence built version of the Sikorsky S-61 helicopter which entered service near the end of the 1950s. This well known aircraft has been in British service for a good number of years now, serving various roles in the RAF and Royal Navy. Uses for the SeaKing and it's Sikorsky S-61 sister helicopters include search and rescue, anti submarine work and general transportation. The S-61 is also used commercially.
This Airfix kit of the helicopter is made to 1/72nd scale and moulded in the usual grey plastic common to these kits. Quality of the mouldings is generally pretty good though some flash is evident on various parts, this is easily removed with a scapel.
The surface detail on the model is again good, you get plenty of raised rivet detail which seams to work on this model (maybe could take a slight rub over) together with a multitude of recessed and other detail.
On dry fitting some of the major pieces of the kit together the fit of parts proved to be a mixed bag . The fuz halves come together quite accurately but there is room for improvement with the fuselage to front glazing fit. This clear plastic piece will require some consideration when building the front end of the helicopter, as will painting the frame of this moulding. The tail rotor support section is moulded in two halves which fit well, while the engine moulding which is fitted in front of the rotors is rather poorly fitting. Last of the parts dry fitted was the main floor moulding, this fits in the fuselage fairly accurately.
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The rotor blades are finely moulded and quite thin, these are moulded with an effective gravity induced droop effect. A choice of five blade or six blade tail rotor units are provided in the kit, the use of which depends on the choice of subject to be modeled.
The SeaKing's decal sheet looks to be in good shape for an Airfix model kit. Register of the colours looks good, and if they go on as well as they look the results should be well smart. Markings for two SeaKings are provided on the sheet, an RAF rescue helicopter and a Norwegian Air Force SeaKing.
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Colours listed in the instruction for this kit are from the Humbrol range, these are as follows;
- No.2 gloss emerald green
- No.19 gloss bright red
- No.22 gloss white
- No.26 matt khaki
- No.27 matt sea grey
- No.33 matt black
- No.34 matt white
- No.56 aluminium
- No.69 gloss yellow
- No.85 satin coal black
- No.165 satin medium sea grey
- No.209 gloss fire orange
Current from the range in 2006.
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