1/72 Airfix Westland Royal Navy Lynx Mk8
Hi all,
Am just getting back into the hobby so apologies now if the post/images aren't up to scratch!
With the holiday season over and putting our Christmas decorations back in the model storage vault, (sorry attic), I decided to look through the stash and pick something easy-ish to get started with this year; owing to career, moving countries and kids, it's probably been 5+ years since I last worked on a model.
Anway, have always had a soft spot for the Lynx so the following from Airfix was duly picked out...once I managed to find it among the stash...
I had made a very small start to it (when I bought it I think) but nothing major.
I was thinking of finishing it in standard Royal Navy colours but having watched a documentary on Discovery called "Ice Patrol" about HMS Endurance in Antartica, I knew I had to go for the Endurance Flight scheme with the hi-viz markings on the nose, doors and tail. Cool.
Have read lots of good reviews of the Hobbyboss Lynx and am looking forward to adding those to the stash also. Speaking of an easyish build, that gap in the Airfix engine deck is going to test my patience...
Will try to keep everyone updated with words and pictures of progress. Must admit I'm really looking forward to getting back into the hobby!
And next in the ambitious 2010 pipeline will be to try to strip down this Matchbox-era Dauphin (TERRIBLE attempt at a HH65 Dolphin conversion - forgive me, I was young!) and update/scratch convert it into an Irish Air Corps Dauphin as it was when the fleet were de-commissoned and sold by our Government. A very sad day given their heroic service but more of that tale again...
All the best, Dermot
Comments
Uploading pictures to post
...and if I've made any mistakes on posting the pictures here, apologies to Tim and all on the site - like I said, a first time for everything. Any suggestions on photos gratefully appreciated!
D
Excellent!
You did great posting the pictures! The next ones can however be a bit bigger, optimal width is 640px
Thanks
Appreciate the heads-up Tim.
Airfix Lynx Mk8 build - update
Hi everyone,
It's been a little while since first posting here but was waiting for my LHS to restock with paint...wanted to try Revell's Aqua Colour Acrylic range as clean up would be easy and I share my workspace with 2 small kids!
Anyhow, first job was to try and replicate the soundproofing found on this helicopter.
After many experiments, I settled on kitchen foil embossed with a grill salvaged from my wife's broken hairdryer. It seemed good at the time (the grill, not the hairdryer) but looking at it now, it seems waaaaay out of scale for 1/72.
Anyhow, continued and added base colour to it, followed by a not-so-great attempt at hightlighting. The result was that it really seemed to flatten out the "quilt" pattern.
The back wall and ceiling worked out better I think and when it's all buttoned up, it won't be that visible anyway. I next added the crew seat found on these helos, with the colours and pattern as per Lynx references I found online.
I know that with 1/72, the slightest error really shows up in close-ups.
To be honest, I was very reluctant about posting these photos, especially when you see the consistent high-standard of models on this site. But when I thought about it, I'm just getting back into the hobby and need to start at the deep end, make some really basic mistakes and learn techniques before I even get near those finished builds that inspire me here on Scale Rotors and other modelling sites.
Best wishes,
Dermot
If you don't post photo that
If you don't post photo that reflect your skill level, how do you expect those who's work you admire to be able to offer advise.
Your doing a great job even attempting to add extra detail to the interior. I built the same kit as you a few months ago and didn't even consider adding extra detail.
Becoming a "Heli-scaler" on the site has given me the confidence to try to improve on the "out of the box" builds that I usually do.
I have found some success at filling the gap in the engine deck/roof with small shavings(made with the blade of knife at 45* to 90* to the horizontal) of the kit sprue added to some cement already applied to the gap. Adding small amounts at a time, till the gap was filled.
I built the Royal Navy version HMA 8 from HMS Richmond, and intend to do the HMS Endurance version at some point.
Keep posting the photo's of the build, we love seeing photo's on here.
1/72 Airfix Lynx Mk8
Hey Steve,
Thanks for the words of encouragement & advice and you're spot on - I need to keep building, posting and improving!
Will try your tip on filling the gap in the engine deck which sounds like a great idea.
Hope to have a further update with photos this weekend.
Cheers,
Dermot
1/72 Airfix Lynx update
Hi everyone,
Not a huge update since the last time. Pretty much finished on the cabin now. Added belts to the seats from kitchen foil (learned a lesson with those!), some headrests on the front seats from stretched sprue (another lesson learned) and picked out the raised detail on the instrument panel with various colours.
Still need to tidy up some filled holes in the floor and add the cyclics and some scratchbuilt collectives, before closing up the cabin.
Biggest lesson I've learned to date is that an OOB build will be the way to go in future!
Best wishes,
D
1/72 Airfix Lynx update
Just a quick update on the RN Lynx build. Got the fuselage buttoned up. Used the strongest super glue I could find as well as wrapping it up tight to close the gap - remember the top of the engine cover
Happy with how it turned out.
And since it's Oscars night, had a little fun with the Lynx, Avatar style!
Best wishes,
Dermot
doing great..
Hello! I did this same kit several months ago, and I had problems with seams in same place. did not add details to interior, too. Yours is so much better. Keep it up. By the way in the kit I made the nose with the sonar and other sensors didn't fit as well as the original nose of the older version, it was much smaller and gave me much headache with filling the gaps.. Looking forward to seeing the colorful scheme..
Thanks Sam!
for the encouraging words. The new nose/sensor parts are made from a different plastic to the original nose which is one reason I went for the older version...still a little to fill on the left side but should be manageable with some gap filling glue.
1/72 Lynx update
Well, there's always something on a build that tests your patience and on the Lynx, it was the undercarriage sponsons...seemed I missed cutting out their mounting slots earlier in the build, BEFORE you join up the fuselage...DOH!!!
And with the fuselage already joined together, this was a real pain in the neck!
Luckily, the good people at Airfix had already thinned this plastic from the inside so using the tip of a new #11 blade, I managed to find them and clear them out. (sorry, no pictures of this as was so happy to find them!)
I'm still deciding what doors to leave open but will definitely leave one cabin door open - a photo I found online of the real aircraft shows emergency escape markings around the cabin window for the crew and thought it would be good to replicate this..it's a little larger than real life but I like the effect anyway. What do you think?
Next was adding the nose, some other sensors and the emergency flotation bags.
One reason I chose this version is the poor fit of the new style nose and sensors which are offered as an option on this kit.
Until the next time, happy helo modelling and thanks for all your comments - really keeps me motivated!
Best wishes,
Dermot
Its looking good Dermot,
Its looking good Dermot, keep up the good work. I'm currently building 4 kits at once(Mi-4,Wallis Autogyro"Little Nellie",Westland Scout and UH-1H Gunship). I reckon another Lynx will be started when those get finished. I got an AH-7,Counter terrorist,HAS 3 and several MK1 Lynx kits in the stash.
Thanks Steve and that's quite a build list!
The Westland Scout and Wallis Autogyro take me back! I would like to try another Lynx soon and maybe a Royal Navy or RAF Sea King. Good luck with those builds and look forward to seeing your progress.
progress
Your work is progressing quite nicely. Soon you'll be able to close it up and begin painting, if you haven't already
can't wait to see the paint scheme! it makes me want to build another.
timo
Thanks and hope to lay down paint this week!
Will also post some pics as soon as I can.
Dermot
Off to the paintshop...and a problem
Finally, the Lynx is off to the paint shop...
Unfortunately, my airbrush had given up the ghost. Nothing. Nada. Stripped it down and put it back together and no paint coming out. So, regrettably, it was back from the paint shop and off to the brush shop....
The finish was only so-so and will need to touch it up in a number of places. For some reason, I just couldn't get the Revell Acrylics to brush well and the finish was very streaky.
The instructions for them say they don't need thinning and I had washed and dryed the model first to get rid of any oils/grease. I even bought brushes suitable for acrylics (which seemed to make things worse). At a loss really to explain. Oh, and got some minor fogging of the canopy when trying to fit that...
So all in all, not a very positive update this time!
Enjoy your modelling.
Dermot
Paint finish....
Hi Dermot, looking good, sorry to hear of your airbrush problems. I had something similar, I found an article in FSM "Tune your Airbrush"! My Bager was working but I thougth hey a tune up could be good, so I spent all morning following the method. Tried to spray with it after all my work, NOTHING, after swapping four needles I managed to get it to work again! I think Murphy was watching.
I see you are using tissue to mask the opening, doors and windows. I have found a good altermatine, using foam rubber (10mm thick) cut slightly larger than the opening. Then stuffed into the opening it follows all the contours and can be positioned for maximum efffect. It sometimes sticks to the sides of the opening but clean up is minimal.
Regards Colin
Re: paint finish
Thanks Colin and will dig out that FSM article now that you mention it. And I think Murphy made an appearance with me too!
I will definitely try the foam rubber in future - i found the tissue left some marks on the paint (guess I left it too long when trying to fix the wonky airbrush!!)
Where's the best place to source that foam rubber?
Best wishes,
Dermot
Foam rubber suppliers....
Hi Durmot, For the foam bubber I have found that which comes in electronics packaging to be good. If you can't find any a good upholstry shop should have in stock, as I mentioned around 10mm thick and not too dense is OK. A pice 300x600 should last a long time.
Good luck with the FSM article. Colin
Thanks Colin and I will check the upholstery shop!
Best wishes,
Dermot
Almost there with the Lynx...
Just added the final assorted details like aerials, etc before off for a coat of Future (Johnsons Klear)
Am happy with how it turned out with the Future topcoat. Hope to start decaling tomorrow and then weather/wash over this weekend.
Thanks for looking.
Best wishes,
Dermot
good progress
hello! I haven't logged in for a while, so it's nice to see your progress on the Lynx. So sorry to hear about your trouble with your airbrush; hope you get it sorted out soon. Great job, almost done!
timo
Airfix Lynx Mk8...finished! (warning image heavy)
Finally got the time to finish off the Lynx and am very happy how it turned out, especially since it's my first kit in about 5 years.
A couple of goofs..the tailrotor is turning the "wrong" way (Doh) and the tail strobe wasn't painted when I took the pictures. One or two of the decals silvered and the fit of the windshield was a bear - I ended up marking it somehow (with glue I think).
I also didn't go too heavy on the weathering because (a) any refs didn't show them as being too beaten up and (b) I'm not that good at it just yet!
She won't win any awards for sure but when I look at the little Lynx now, I had a lot of fun building it and learned so much along the way. I'm also thankful for the encouragement and advice from all the good people here @ Scale Rotors and on Hyperscale's Airfix Group Build who took time to follow this.
I'm thinking of a Dutch Navy scheme for my next one. You mean, would I build another Airfix Lynx? Even with it's faults, you betcha!
Thanks again for looking and your support.
Happy modelling
On my bench now (all 1/72):
Airfix Westland Sea King
Italeri Commanche
Matchbox Dauphin