Westland S55 Whirlwind: Airfix 1/72

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vacant
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Westland S55 Whirlwind: Airfix 1/72

Post by vacant »

Airfix first released the Whirlwind S55 in 1956. Decals for a BEA aircraft were provided. The kit in various modified forms was subsequently released several times. The version I used for this model was from one of the releases in the 1970s, i.e. the one with the attractive green and white colour scheme. As I had already built one in that scheme, I decided that a retro-build to show the original might be a good idea.

I don’t know the differences between the S55 and the later HAR 22, other than the omission of the rescue crane, so I just built it pretty much as from the box. The rotor head area is extremely crude and one of the least convincing parts of the kit. It is also rivet heavy, but I did not bother to sand them down. I left it to the paint to disguise them.

BEA decals are available but of course, at a price. I opted to make my own at a rather lesser price. I’m not in any doubt that the aftermarket decals are better, but since the kit came in a job lot that worked out at about 75P per kit, I did not fancy spending more than ten times that amount just for the decals. There seems to have been quite a few variations in how the BEA livery was applied - the version I have done is different in a few respects from the one shown on the original 1956 artwork for the kit.

There are more recent and far better kits of the Whirlwind/Choctaw on the market, but I have a fondness for some of the old clunky kits that are fairly easy to build and fun to paint.

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iggie
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Re: Westland S55 Whirlwind: Airfix 1/72

Post by iggie »

Brilliant! A really retro look to it, both in terms of the scheme and the kit mouldings
Best wishes

Jim
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DavidWomby
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Re: Westland S55 Whirlwind: Airfix 1/72

Post by DavidWomby »

Lovely job

David
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Re: Westland S55 Whirlwind: Airfix 1/72

Post by ShaunW »

A great build of this oldie, Vacant, well up to your usual standards. Although I try to preserve raised panel lines on builds of classic kits I'm much less of a fan of old skool rivets I'm afraid.
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Old_Tonto
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Re: Westland S55 Whirlwind: Airfix 1/72

Post by Old_Tonto »

Top build Vacant.
2023 - A:0 B:0 C:0
Current Projects:
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PTB11
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Re: Westland S55 Whirlwind: Airfix 1/72

Post by PTB11 »

Fantastic work on this golden oldie. I remember building it as the green and white Admirals barge.
A real nostalgic build.
Regards, Paddy.

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jssel
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Re: Westland S55 Whirlwind: Airfix 1/72

Post by jssel »

Your skill hides the true age of this kit.
Besting 60 years of mediocre building of average kits in the stand off scale
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FAAMAN
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Re: Westland S55 Whirlwind: Airfix 1/72

Post by FAAMAN »

Superb!!!! :beer: :pilot:
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Model kits are meant to be assembled . . . . . . . . . . eventually.
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Eric Mc
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Re: Westland S55 Whirlwind: Airfix 1/72

Post by Eric Mc »

Great result. How did you manage to find the correct paint and decals for the BEA Peony Red?
vacant
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Re: Westland S55 Whirlwind: Airfix 1/72

Post by vacant »

I made the decals and printed them on my inkjet printer. For 'red' areas that I painted, e.g. on the nose, I mixed my own paint. I had made decals and mixed paint previously for a BEA Rapide. I can't guarantee that it is 'correct' as it was all home made and done by eyeball.
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Eric Mc
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Re: Westland S55 Whirlwind: Airfix 1/72

Post by Eric Mc »

It looks just right to me.
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jamesaw
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Re: Westland S55 Whirlwind: Airfix 1/72

Post by jamesaw »

A real blast from the past! Nice one, once again.
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Re: Westland S55 Whirlwind: Airfix 1/72

Post by gnomemeansgnome »

Very nice as always, Vacant.
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Re: Westland S55 Whirlwind: Airfix 1/72

Post by Lone Modeller »

I too remember making this in the original BEA markings (but not in 1956!) A real trip down memory lane - and my you do know how to give life tto old kits.
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Miss-Stang
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Re: Westland S55 Whirlwind: Airfix 1/72

Post by Miss-Stang »

A great build there, Vacant.

I don't really go for NMF, but the red decals really make it stand out. Keep up the good work :)
Regards,

Miss-Stang
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