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Posted: 21 Apr 2007, 15:49
by Trev Clark
Not quite Dave and Leif, I have been doing some research on this old lady for an article I have written, look at the extra window bars as well as the raised bit. This is a later model, and there were many of mods and adjustments made on these aircraft, almost no two look exactly alike! Alpha has made a very, very early model at the time of production. It should have an HF aerial lead and a small VHF antenna, more fittings inside and a step. Apart from that, it is almost authentic!

This is an early one, but the windscreen is different again...
Image

And this the model would have been fun!
Image

Sorry it is so small, but look very CLOSELY!!!!

Posted: 21 Apr 2007, 15:55
by Garry Russell
The BEA were very early Westland versions so perhaps the Westland started equivalent to a developed Sikorsky.

But of course this is irrelevant at them moment as I have used the closest model that is there.

Garry

Posted: 21 Apr 2007, 16:19
by Michael davies
The nose grill air dam, wasnt fitted to all S-55s, H-19s...blah blah blah, its a variant change that by picking just one variant you leave yourself wide open to question.

If...it had been added there would have been an equal amount of comments that some models dont have it fitted, your just never going to win :(.

Dave, l think VA just looks at the cfg for landing lights, so a compromise would be to simply add that line in the cfg, dont think its clever enough to see if theres a modeled light beam, not sure though as l dont VA but l'd guess it was simply looking at the cfg for the landing light line of code.

Garry, super paint jobs :)

Trev, yes, thats a later model with the added quarter light windows and no windscreen re-inforcing bars and different tail boom. The Alpha one is missing the early re-inforcing bars for the wide windscreen, wont argue that point at all.

Best

Michael

Posted: 21 Apr 2007, 16:21
by Trev Clark
The BEA were very early Westland versions so perhaps the Westland started equivalent to a developed Sikorsky.
That is my big gripe Garry, discussed elsewhere, the Westland aircraft were quite different in several areas. I still think that this one is better than what we had before.....nothing :wink:

WHY IS THIS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG NOW :worried:
Oh, Leif, I am pleased I had a quick look at that still from the Beatles film, I was introduced to my mother-in-laws tennis partner last month, she said he was retired from "the film business", his name? Richard Lester! Director of ALL the real world Beatles films, amongst others! I nearly fell over on the spot, nice guy who also has a house up the road from me here in Spain.

Posted: 21 Apr 2007, 16:33
by Garry Russell
It's a minefield

Just taking the BEA..it seems that the aircraft were modified throught out and the livery application kept changing

No too pics are alike even in the same basic livery.

The pinstripe also appeared with no band on the fuse only the boom with the titles on the silver and the red nose up to the cockpit. I have six pics of pinstripe Whirlwinds showing five variations of the basic livery.

There are differences in detail but not like a longer fuse or a completely different canopy....or say using an S-58T as a Wessex with a completly different nose.

But as I say the BEA themselves changed...this aircraft was involved in the early development of helicopters in general into serious machines so mods will have been made constantly.

I mentioned early on to people about the differences but there was a keenness to see this livery done

So since then my main concern was the great deal of time I spent getting all those stripes to line up properly.

Garry

Posted: 21 Apr 2007, 17:02
by DaveB
Westland weren't part of De Havilland were they :lol: :lol: Variations and yet more variations. Interestingly, almost (if not) all the RN versions do not show the scoop on the front though these are later marques I guess. OK.. who's up for painting a real one in Navy Blue then :lol:

MD.. rgr on the landing light thing too though as I mentioned a while back.. I can't see why there isn't one on the model. I thought all aircraft had a landing light of some description :think: I think that shot Leif posted of the Beatles Whirlwind shows one popped down in between the two front gear struts.. in that general area anyway.

ATB

DaveB :tab:

Posted: 21 Apr 2007, 17:30
by Michael davies
Dave,

Well contrary to what some may believe we did actually research the landing light location ( before your timely comments, and again after actually ) and we couldnt find one shot that showed the location, we were fairly sure there should be one but couldnt find it so left it off. If we had added one in the wrong location l dont think the firing squad would have waited till dawn to carry out there chores !, but by leaving it off we survied until at least the sun was over the yard arm LOL.

As you can see from all the S-55 threads, no matter what you leave on or off your going to get covered in buck shot :).

Best

Michael

Posted: 21 Apr 2007, 17:59
by DaveB
:lol: :lol: :lol:

Yes indeed mate :lol:

When the dust has settled, I think that those who have it will like it and that's what it's all about. With any luck, UKMIL will snap up a copy and do the 'working' RN paint and that.. along with Garry's lovely BEA rendition is enough to keep me happy. :wink:

It would be nice to have it for VA ops but we have a rule that any aircraft we use must be available freeware or it wouldn't be fair on those against payware. If both payware and freeware exist, then the choice is down to the pilot :wink:

Panel differences and other bits aside.. hat's off to Alpha for giving it a go in the first place :dance:

ATB

DaveB :tab:

Posted: 21 Apr 2007, 18:38
by ianhind
Garry

The all red G-ANFH looks a bit too red too me. My memory may be wrong, but I thought there was bit more orange in there :dunno:

Another still from AHDN

http://www.beatlelinks.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3413

while faded, reminds me more of the colour.

Perhaps the colour of the red square BEA.

What Leif's memories of the ex BEA Bell 47 that went to Autair. He mentioned in an old post that it was PO box red, so maybe my memory is wrong. It was a l-o-n-g time ago.

Ian

Posted: 21 Apr 2007, 18:41
by Garry Russell
The BEA paint is up at Classic British Files

So if you want it.

It will be sent to Avsim, Simviation and Flightsim.com tomorrow.

Garry