Model Airplane International - June 2018

Issue 155 - http://www.modelairplaneinternational.com 15

Assembly of the main rotor head was

next. I had pre-painted each of the blades,

which are all separate to the main rotor head

assembly. Construction of the rotor head

system is straightforward if you’re constructing

them in the standard deployed position. The

fi t is great and if using cyano fast setting

glue like I used, I had one entire set of the

main rotors assembled in only minutes. If

you’re assembling the rotor head and blades

positioned in the folded confi guration, then

I recommend you take more time. Three of

the rotor blades are positioned together in a

row running parallel to the main

fuselage and sit neatly over

the tail of the fuselage.

The last two outside

blades fold inwards and

droop down each side

of the fuselage in a

hanging confi guration.

However, it’s quickly

apparent that he

instructions are very

vague about the position

of these last two outer blades

and where they should be positioned

on each side of the fuselage. The instruction

guide simply suggests where to attach the

points but shows no illustration of what they

should look like once joined together.

Using trusty Google I soon sourced

some great reference material and with my

newfound research I was confi dent where and

how these last two blades should look when

they were attached.

I put both the main and tail rotor systems

aside for later as now I would start the painting

of the fuselage.

Painting And Weathering...

For the US Navy example I decided almost

instantly to paint this as BuNo 152711, the

famous example ‘Helo 66’ or ‘Old 66’ as it

is fondly remembered. This is the helicopter

more commonly seen in photos where the

NASA Astronauts are being recovered from

the Apollo capsules. In fact, this Sea King was

purposely involved in most of those recoveries

including 8, 10, 11, 12, and unlucky 13.

Despite many museum Sea kings wearing

‘Old 66’ markings today, the original 66 was

lost in a training exercise of the coast of San

Diego in 1975 after a common but fatal pilot

error was made whilst dunking sonar. Although

the crew was recovered, pilot Leo Rolek

suffered catastophic injuries and sadly died a

week later of his injuries.

Although the livery is slightly different for

each Apollo recovery mission over the years,

the kit offers the builder the opportunity to

build ‘Helo 66’ as she is seen onboard USS

Iwo Jima (LPH-2), April 17, 1970, just as she

was preparing to recover the infamous Apollo

13 crew. The attention to detail regarding the

markings and the research that must have

Assembly of the main rotor head was

next. I had pre-painted each of the blades,

which are all separate to the main rotor head

assembly. Construction of the rotor head

system is straightforward if you’re constructing

them in the standard deployed position. The

fi t is great and if using cyano fast setting

glue like I used, I had one entire set of the

main rotors assembled in only minutes. If

you’re assembling the rotor head and blades

positioned in the folded confi guration, then

I recommend you take more time. Three of

the rotor blades are positioned together in a

row running parallel to the main

fuselage and sit neatly over

blades fold inwards and

vague about the position

of these last two outer blades

and where they should be positioned

positioned in the folded confi guration, then

I recommend you take more time. Three of

US Navy SH-3D after a coat of White Primer.

Base colours of US Navy ‘Old 66’

pre-decal application.

Port side view of the US Navy

SH-3D after it has been given a

coat of Alcad II Aqua Gloss.

Starboard side view of ‘Helo 66’ after the decals

have been applied.

newfound research I was confi dent where and

aside for later as now I would start the painting

the Apollo capsules. In fact, this Sea King was the Apollo capsules. In fact, this Sea King was

purposely involved in most of those recoveries

US Navy SH-3D after getting its fi nal

coat of Alclad II Klear Kote Semi-Matte.

Note the clear green canopy panels on

the roof of the cockpit.

Port side view of ‘Help 66’. All this needs

now is to attach the rotor blades.

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