This injection-moulded kit contains 40 parts and 6 clear parts (the cockpit canopy and the fuselage windows). A comprehensive instruction leaflet and a decal sheet are included.
Description
The Westland Wessex was a general purpose duties all-metal helicopter produced by Westland Aircraft Ltd. and represented a British licence development of the Sikorsky S-58.
The Wessex HU.5, basically similar to the previous variant, the HC.2, represented the last version for the Royal Navy. It was powered by twin R-R Gnome turboshaft engines, which provided enough power and added safety for carrying troops into action. It had a strengthened airframe which allowed pilots to fly more efficient low-level sorties. Heavier loads of up to 3,200 lb (1,453 kg) could also be underslung and formidable weapons carried. A pre-production aircraft of the HU.5 flew in May 1963 and a total of 100 helicopters were deliverered in the period 1963 ‒ 1967.
At the beginning the older Wessex Mk.1/3 style air intake was retained, but later after frequent FOD problems were encountered, a new fairing with upper inlet was installed.
The Wessex HU.5 was used for carrying soldiers from a carrier or helicopter landing assault ships, in SAR, communications, fire support, air ambulance, paratrooping and ferrying roles. It also acted in the Commando role, similar to that of the Wessex Commando Mk.1, while a weapons platform could be mounted on both sides above the undercarriage. A weapons platform could be mounted above the undercarriage and the helicopter could be armed with A/T missiles, rocket projectiles and forward firing machine guns.
The Wessex HU.5 was withdrawn from RN service in March 1988.
Colour schemes included in the kit:
1) Westland Wessex HU.5, Black XS493/N, No.848 NAS, Royal Navy, HMS Albion, Borneo, the Far East, summer 1965
2) Westland Wessex HU.5, White XT458/Y-CU, No.707 NAS, Royal Navy, RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk), Cornwall, U.K., summer 1966
3) Westland Wessex HU.5, White XT461/D-CU, No.846 NAS, Royal Navy, RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk), Cornwall, U.K., spring 1970
4) Westland Wessex HU.5, White XT460/T-H, No.845 NAS, Royal Navy, HMS Hermes, ‘Operation Mercy’, Northern Cyprus, July 1974
The Westland Wessex was a British multi-role all-metal helicopter with a fixed, three-support undercarriage in a classic layout with a main rotor and a tail rotor on the beam. The drive was provided by two Bristol Siddeley Gnome Mk.110/111 turbo-shaft engines, 1369 hp each. The flight of the first prototype took place in 1958, and serial production continued in 1958-1970. About 360 copies of this successful helicopter were created.
Westland Wessex was produced under the US license of the Sikorsky H-34 helicopter, but it underwent many changes: first of all, different engines were used, different power transmission, and in later versions also more and more perfect avionics. As a result, despite keeping the external similarity, the Westland Wessex was a very different machine from the Sikorski H-34. Several development versions were created in the course of serial production. The first of them, designated as HAS.1, initially served as an anti-submarine helicopter (ZOP), and later as a search and rescue helicopter. Another version (HAS.3) was intended for ZOP operations and had a much more extensive avionics than the HAS.1 version. Helicopters of this type were exported to several countries, including Australia, Oman and Iraq.
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