Sikorsky H-34/S-58/Westland Wessex Ideas and Inspiration

[Jeffry Fontaine]

A spot for the discussion of all things related to the Sikorsky S-58 (H-34 Seahorse, Seabat, Chocktaw, Blackfoot)




and Westland Wessex 



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Cobra Company offers these H-34 conversion and detail sets:

Cobra Company 48057 - 1/48th scale H-34 detail set (for the Revell kit)
Cobra Company 48029 - 1/48th Scale S-58T Conversion Set (for the Revell kit)

[GTX_Admin]

Hmmm...attack chopper version with Mi-8 style rocket pods on outriggers?

[Jeffry Fontaine]

How about using the main rotor and tail rotor from an H-60 Blackhawk/Seahawk?  A small improvement over the original parts as a subtle upgrade and it would look even better with the S-58T conversion applied to the nose :)

[Daryl J.]

Riptide flashbacks.

[kitnut617]

Hmmm...attack chopper version with Mi-8 style rocket pods on outriggers?

That brought back a memory ---

years ago I did a Wessex with four Harrier Sneb RP pods, I had them mounted two each on that double bomb/pod carrier gizmo that came with the Airfix Harrier GR.1 back then, fixed to some outriggers.

[dy031101]

If one mentions H-34, then I'll have to mention the PA-97 Helistat... 

... and wonder what it might be capable of other than being a flying crane.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

I do not know if this is Gallery Models or Trumpeter since I have read on other forums that Trumpeter is the actual source of the molds for the new Sikorsky H-34 kits.  Just to let you know, there are now two in-box reviews uploaded at CyberModeler of this model kit. 

Gallery Models 1/48 H-34 US Marines

Gallery Models 1/48 H-34 US Navy Rescue

To further add to the confusion both kits have the same stock number which could be an error made by the reviewer of these two kits. 

[elmayerle]

Hmmm...attack chopper version with Mi-8 style rocket pods on outriggers?

Adapt the approach of the ESSS on the Black Hawks and Naval Hawks with the main outrigger tied to a fitting where the upper MLG leg ties to the fuselage and a support strut that comes up from a fitting down with the lower MLG strut mounts.  Add in the S-58T conversion and other upgrades and you'd have a good assault/attack chopper.

[Daryl J.]

Salivates over the Gallery kit, draws a blank regarding what if's.   But I'm sure the Norwegians could use it somehow.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Salivates over the Gallery kit, draws a blank regarding what if's.   But I'm sure the Norwegians could use it somehow.

Kit bash with something that has podded engines like a CH-53 or AH-64.  Mount the engines above the troop compartment on either side of the transmission.  You then have a big empty space up front for a lot of machine guns, grenade launchers, and cannons. 

[elmayerle]

Perhaps use the engine nacelles from a 1/72 CH-53 kit?  They should be about the right size for the engines you'd fit in 1/48 (thinking roughly the same engine fit as the Sea King, at least in terms of engines used).

[Daryl J.]

That would make a Lutefiskwaggen.   

[jcf]

Heck if yer gona go for podded engines, go all the way and go S-56 style.


  

[kitnut617]

There's one of those outside the Evergreen Museum in McMinville Jon, could upgrade the engines to R-4360's and add propellers to the engine fronts ---

[GTX_Admin]

Heck if yer gona go for podded engines, go all the way and go S-56 style.

Amen!!!

[GTX_Admin]

could upgrade the engines to R-4360's and add propellers to the engine fronts ---

Why not go further and remove the rotor, push the engines out a little further, add bigger props (maybe even contra-rotating units) and make the pods themselves tiltable...

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Heck if yer gona go for podded engines, go all the way and go S-56 style.
<snip>
  

That would defeat the purpose of modifying the H-34 kit if you were going to start with the H-37 Mojave :) 

I remember seeing a few of the H-34 and H-37 in flight and on the ground near the Gatun Locks in what was the Panama Canal Zone during the Cuban Missile crisis. 

[GTX_Admin]

And to get those creative juices flowing, here's a little inspiration:

[Volkodav]

Wessex was apparently certified for AS12 but how about Sea Skua, Maverick, or even TOW.  20mm door guns?

[kitnut617]

Hope the pilot had some good ear protection -- 

[GTX_Admin]

Subtle whiff:  Australia used the Westland Wessex Mk31B in the Carrier-borne Anti-submarine/ Search and Rescue /Utility role.  What if they (and/or the RAAF/ARA) also used the platform in the troop transport/assault role?

[elmayerle]

S-58T or equivalent in various commuter airliner markings?  Once upon a time (roughly 54 years ago), my dad treated me to a "round robin" flight on a standard S-58 of Chicago Helicopter Airways from Midway to , the now departed, Meigs Field to O'Hare and back to Midway.

[Rickshaw]

Subtle whiff:  Australia used the Westland Wessex Mk31B in the Carrier-borne Anti-submarine/ Search and Rescue /Utility role.  What if they (and/or the RAAF/ARA) also used the platform in the troop transport/assault role?

If we had been more closely aligned to the UK still, I don't doubt we would have seen it.   Thing was, by the time we needed large numbers of troop transport helicopters, "our great and powerful friends" had been changed to Washington.  The UH-1 was cheaper and easier to operate and was rapidly becoming their standard troop helicopter so we followed suit.

[Volkodav]

Subtle whiff:  Australia used the Westland Wessex Mk31B in the Carrier-borne Anti-submarine/ Search and Rescue /Utility role.  What if they (and/or the RAAF/ARA) also used the platform in the troop transport/assault role?

Could well have happened, particularly if we followed, not just the RAF model, but the RN Commando Carrier and and USN LPH / USMC models of helicopter operations.  Conversion of HMAS Sydney into a Commando Carrier / LPH instead of a fast troop transport and the Wessex becomes a very sensible option, it was a contender for the RAAF instead of the Iroquois anyway.

[kitnut617]

Subtle whiff:  Australia used the Westland Wessex Mk31B in the Carrier-borne Anti-submarine/ Search and Rescue /Utility role.  What if they (and/or the RAAF/ARA) also used the platform in the troop transport/assault role?

If we had been more closely aligned to the UK still, I don't doubt we would have seen it.   Thing was, by the time we needed large numbers of troop transport helicopters, "our great and powerful friends" had been changed to Washington.  The UH-1 was cheaper and easier to operate and was rapidly becoming their standard troop helicopter so we followed suit.

Plus the fact your new 'great and powerful friends' had a war going on right off your north coast