Grundlæggende oplysninger
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The Wessex HU.5 was withdrawn from RN service in March 1988.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
Westland Wessex var en britisk multi-rolle helmetal helikopter med en fast, tre-støttet undervogn i et klassisk layout med en hovedrotor og en halerotor på bjælken. Drevet blev leveret af to Bristol Siddeley Gnome Mk.110 / 111 turbo-akselmotorer med en kapacitet på hver 1369 HK. Flyvningen af den første prototype fandt sted i 1958, og serieproduktionen fortsatte i 1958-1970. Omkring 360 kopier af denne succesfulde helikopter blev skabt.
Westland Wessex blev produceret under den amerikanske licens af Sikorsky H-34 helikopteren, men den undergik mange ændringer: Først og fremmest blev der brugt forskellige motorer, forskellig kraftoverførsel og i senere versioner også mere og mere perfekt flyelektronik. Som et resultat var Westland Wessex en meget anderledes maskine end Sikorski H-34, på trods af den ydre lighed. Adskillige udviklingsversioner blev skabt i løbet af serieproduktionen. Den første af dem, udpeget som HAS.1, fungerede oprindeligt som en anti-ubådshelikopter (ZOP), og senere som en eftersøgnings- og redningshelikopter. En anden version (HAS.3) var beregnet til ZOP-operationer og havde en meget mere omfattende flyelektronik end HAS.1-versionen. Helikoptre af denne type blev eksporteret til flere lande, herunder Australien, Oman og Irak.
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