Italeri 1/48 Wessex HAS.3 'humphrey'

Hi kids,

Here's my latest completion. This is Italeri's 1/48 Wessex HAS.3, in the markings of 'Humphrey' used during the abortive SAS mission to retake South Georgia, and the subsequent rescue from Fortuna Glacier on 21st May 1982. As far as I can tell this is how the aircraft appeared over these few days, confirmed by a conversation with Chris Parry (radar operator on the said flights). (I would recommend reading Chris's book 'Down South' for an account of this operation. Quite how noone was injured, let alone killed, in the accidents that befell the heliopters I just don't know) Chris is hoping to get 'Humphrey' restored in time for the 40th anniversary in 2022 and has invited me to the FAA museum to participate. Hopefully I can get down there for a weekend.




















I assumed the 'Humphrey' motif on the nose had been obliterated in the repaint on the way South, but when I spoke to Chris he confirmed that it was present at the time of the Fortuna Glacier operations. So out with the decal sheet and some Klear and I managed to get it to 'take' on the flat coat.









Thanks for looking in,
Gareth






















Thanks for looking,

Gareth

It is always interesting to get some history with these models.

What is the purpose of the large main wheel hubs?

They house the emergency flotation bags. The white spheres are cold gas generators. If the aircraft is ditched in water above a certain sailinity level they inflate the bags to stop the aircraft sinking.

Reminds me of a rather dopey looking duck billed dinosaur my lad used to have as a kid I haven't done an Italeri kit yet, i've been avoiding them as the general consensus seems to be that they are sub par, any truth in that? I actually fail to see how they could be worse than some of the kits i've already done.

Good to see you Mate, lovely work as usual.

They are 'variable' Ajay. The newer Wessex series are very good (although the HAS.3 based on the HU.5 totally neglects the radar and sonar gear in the cabin.) As far as I know many of the newer kits are good. I think they do a lot of 'repops' so careful perusal of reviews is needed. (Their rebox of the ESCI MB.326 is cracking, and relevant to the Antipodes )

I will stand on my head until you retract that slur upon my people!

Then i will specifically search for a decently reviewed Italeri kit for my next build, and heap a mountain of blame upon blighty if it is worse than the Dora kit i just finished. I have actually been searching for a Cessna 414a Chancellor to do but it appears a lost cause as the prop civilian market is severly lacking in kits, especially in 1/48.