Westland Gazelle by Airfix

[RangerNeil]

Been doing armour recently and felt the need to diversify and return to my main love - helicopters. The impending house move imposes a size limitation so instead of the Mi-6 I initially reached for I went with the diminutive Gazelle from Airfix.

In the box:








Markings are provided for 670 Sqdn AAC and No. 2 FTS RAF Shawbury. Odd thing is there are no colour references - just numbers on the painting & markings guide which I am going to assume are Humbrol specific (if so - they are calling for US colours for the Grey and Green of the AAC version!)
First impressions were its not a bad little kit. Closer examination however revealed a HELL of a lot of flash around minor and major parts that needed a couple of hours of very delicate cleaning off to get to an acceptable form. Worst offender was the rotor head! Still - once cleaned it started going together very well - no issues at all so far.
I have the cockpit assembled and primed, likewise the main rotor and tail ducted fan assemblies as well as the interiors of the fuselage halves.









Odd thing - I went to use the airbrush - motor ran and cut off but the pressure gauge never moved and the brush, obviously, wasn't working. So I used a normal brush to use what was in the pot, cleaned the air brush off and then investigated. I found that if I pulled the cylinder drain the tank was indeed full of air so the compressor was obviously working. Turned my attention to the regulator - visually it looked OK but on the off-chance I unlocked it and cranked the setting down as low as it would go then turned the compressor on, waited a minute or so and started increasing the regulator setting - and voila!! The pressure gauge started to register and the brush worked. I can only assume the regulator had stuck somehow.

[Casper]

Great choice of kit Neil, tin foil interior
when I've finished using my compressor I always release all the air and drain the moisture tank.
casp

[BigWall]

Nice model. It won't interfere with the move at all. We'll verify that with the Mrs. if needs be.

[RangerNeil]

Great choice of kit Neil, tin foil interior
when I've finished using my compressor I always release all the air and drain the moisture tank.
casp

So do I - too long spent driving HGV's with the Army, end of every run the air tanks got drained down - that's what had me puzzled!! Oh well - Its working OK now..

Not sure about the tin foil though - found this image on the web:
Westland Gazelle, Cockpit by Photos by Nathan Lawrence, on Flickr

[digger303]

Not uncommon to have that type of regulator problem when they start to bugger up. It will happen again. It might pay to buy a spare now and have it at the ready. Upgrading your pressure gauge to a lower psi oil filled type is worth it too. They aren't that expensive, I got mine for about 10 pound. Plenty of regulators on Ebay, the gauges might need a adapter fitting if you decide to go that way.
Lovely chopper pic, but I'm sorry I cringed when I saw the Airfix box with the thought "Neil what have you done "

[Casper]

Hi Neil
sorry Neil it was something I saw a while ago but it was a Puma not a Westland where the builder used tin foil to create padding for the interior, it looked very realistic but doesn't apply here

[RangerNeil]

Not uncommon to have that type of regulator problem when they start to bugger up. It will happen again. It might pay to buy a spare now and have it at the ready. Upgrading your pressure gauge to a lower psi oil filled type is worth it too. They aren't that expensive, I got mine for about 10 pound. Plenty of regulators on Ebay, the gauges might need a adapter fitting if you decide to go that way.
Lovely chopper pic, but I'm sorry I cringed when I saw the Airfix box with the thought "Neil what have you done "

Cheers Digger - I'll take your advice on that and do some shopping tomorrow. I need some quick release couplings too so 2 birds - 1 stone

You'd have a heart attack looking at the stash them mate - theres the Airfix Bristol Belvedere and Fairey Rotodyne in there and - I think - a Sea King plus a Viggen my daughter bought me a while ago.
Mind you - if Airfix worry you - never go near an early AModel kit...

Hi Neil
sorry Neil it was something I saw a while ago but it was a Puma not a Westland where the builder used tin foil to create padding for the interior, it looked very realistic but doesn't apply here

Ah - OK _ that makes sense I remember flying in one of the early RAF Puma's out in BAOR and the boss asking the load master why the padding on the sides of the cabin. On being told it was for sound reducing the reply was unrepeatable here!!

[digger303]

Not uncommon to have that type of regulator problem when they start to bugger up. It will happen again. It might pay to buy a spare now and have it at the ready. Upgrading your pressure gauge to a lower psi oil filled type is worth it too. They aren't that expensive, I got mine for about 10 pound. Plenty of regulators on Ebay, the gauges might need a adapter fitting if you decide to go that way.
Lovely chopper pic, but I'm sorry I cringed when I saw the Airfix box with the thought "Neil what have you done "

Cheers Digger - I'll take your advice on that and do some shopping tomorrow. I need some quick release couplings too so 2 birds - 1 stone

You'd have a heart attack looking at the stash them mate - theres the Airfix Bristol Belvedere and Fairey Rotodyne in there and - I think - a Sea King plus a Viggen my daughter bought me a while ago.
Mind you - if Airfix worry you - never go near an early AModel kit...

Hi Neil
sorry Neil it was something I saw a while ago but it was a Puma not a Westland where the builder used tin foil to create padding for the interior, it looked very realistic but doesn't apply here

Ah - OK _ that makes sense I remember flying in one of the early RAF Puma's out in BAOR and the boss asking the load master why the padding on the sides of the cabin. On being told it was for sound reducing the reply was unrepeatable here!!

Heard so much negativity about the older Airfix and then there was Scott's bomber build and his comments and that has just put up a sign in my head....Beware Airfix. Having said that though I would love a Airfix Walrus it is reportedly a beautiful kit up to the current standards.

[RangerNeil]

Got a bit more done today before I moved onto the BTR again.. The cockpit looked a bit spartan so I tried my hand at adding some seatbelts made from paper strips - I think I cut them too wide but I was running out of ability to cut any thinner. I also added the twin joysticks made from bent wire as I rarely if ever use pilot figures.



Fuselage and main rotors are now assembled and the fuselage is awaiting filling and sanding ready for priming. I have to say for all the horror stories about old Airfix kits the only real issue on this one has been the degree of flash on the VERY small parts. Compared to that Mil Mi-1 its gone together very well indeed.....

[digger303]

Nice smooth glossy finish on the fuselage, not much to go now to get it buttoned up.

[RangerNeil]

Nice smooth glossy finish on the fuselage, not much to go now to get it buttoned up.

Yeah - I am glad I chose this instead of the Mi-6. As much as I like armour my first love is ever helicopters (I was on the way to getting my fixed then rotary wing pilots licenses before the Army left me with epilepsy) and the speed of this has rebuilt the Mojo.

[digger303]

Nice smooth glossy finish on the fuselage, not much to go now to get it buttoned up.

Yeah - I am glad I chose this instead of the Mi-6. As much as I like armour my first love is ever helicopters (I was on the way to getting my fixed then rotary wing pilots licenses before the Army left me with epilepsy) and the speed of this has rebuilt the Mojo.

[RangerNeil]

May have spoken too soon - although the issue might have been me. When installing the cockpit there is a location rib moulded into the fuselage sides that the rear bulkhead butts up against. Normally it would go behind the bulkhead so as to be hidden from view and that is how I installed my cockpit. Only to find the glass nose won't fit - it hit the nose of the cockpit and stood about 1mm proud. Roughly the thickness of that rib. So I suspect Airfix meant for the locating rib to sit in front of the rear bulkhead (although that would have had interference issues with the rear seats). Anyhows - I have had to sand the nose back the requisite amount for it to fit. Luckily it should not be too obvious once the cockpit nose is painted and on.

[RangerNeil]

Been a bit quiet on this mainly because the Tamiya red that looked to match the box image actually dried waaay too dark. The call-out was for Humbrol #132 Red Satin - which seems to be mixed with purest Unobtainium. So I've had to bite the bullet and order direct from the Humbrol web site - £7.50 for 14ml of paint!!

[RangerNeil]

Progress at last on the Gazelle. Fuselage and glazing are painted - not so happy with the bleed on one side of the white - and then given a coat of glass coat. Decals are applied - the Airfix RAF ones are a little out of register unfortunately. At least they had the foresight to print the roundel in two part with the red centre a separate decal so the register issue is not as noticeable as it could have been, I think I should have gone with the army scheme as there are fewer decals and the register is better. From a distance its not too bad.....
Next job is the final gloss top coat to protect the decals and fitting the glazing.

[digger303]

Love the paint job very striking with a nice gloss.

[RangerNeil]

Love the paint job very striking with a nice gloss.

Thanks Digger. I must admit - it could be better though - still learning with the airbrush and in particular the masking up.

Its one step forwards, 2 back here though. I used masking tape to cover the clear areas of the canopy whilst painting and varnishing and when I peeled the tape off this was the result. I am NOT a happy bunny over this:



I guess I need to invest in some polishing compound(s) to cure this. Anyone got any recommendations please??

[digger303]

Yes that would have me hitting the rum I find that I have to go around the edges with a tooth pick to make sure the edges are well stuck before paint. Also to go with thin layers of paint so they dry quick and don't get a chance to run or wick under. Not that I'm a expert at all, but that's what I try to do and I've do doubt more to learn and repeat with each build to get a better technique.


Ps...I was building a Stuka which is now a prominent shelf queen and as I was removing the tape for the camo big pieces of paint came off with it...I was not a happy chappy. Now I clean all the plastic before paint with alcohol and haven't had another issue. So I guess it's all about learning something that works for you.

[BigWall]

Bummer but as Digger said, it's a learning process. I wish I had some advise for you but it's not something I've tried doing yet. It is a very cool helicopter.