I may be getting old but I consider anything tooled after the 80s a new kit 😊

It just shows how having 30yrs of tooling and engineering has come along

Interesting comparison between the two kits Nigel but the only thing it really shows is the progress in tooling over the past 30 odd years.  I'll throw in the debate between raised or recessed rivets and the ability to accurately engineer them so they look reasonably realistic just because I've got my stirring stick to hand 🤣

From what I’ve read, the HAS.1 and the SH-3A are very, very similar externally. The main difference is the lump on the port side of the engine cover that appears on the Westland aircraft. You would also want to check references as to differences in antennas and other external features.

They are both really nice, considering the difference of age. The thing I love from both of them is that the rotor blades can be folded. I have 1 spot to display an helicopter of this diameter and it's taken by a Mil mi-24.

Nice one mate!.. the Sea King came to NZ when it was on HMS Eagle in the early 70's and I been interested ever since I think it is basically a license built SH-3D and also Hasegawa put out the 1/48  HSS-2A which is a Japanese version of a Sea King.. cheers from down under 👍🇳🇿

Nice kit and great video

great video, and im watching yiur build in parallel. i bought the  hasegowa a couple of months ago, was delighted to find it.  it was a long search so buying for the stash was a no brainer.  I really like the look and reviews of the airfix version and will likely pick one up, after the gannet is launched.  I have been researching various models in prep but i think it has to be built as old 66.  thats the iconic sea king and my favourite toy as a kid was the Dinky version with the motorised propellers.  I would be very interested in your views of the decals, Im thinking of buying a set.  Thanks. Will

Great video, Nigel.  Thank you for sharing. The Airfix kit looks outstanding, maybe I might get one in the future, if the price is right. At this time, I have 3 of the Hasegawa in storage, maybe I should dig out one of them. Hope you and your loved ones have a great week. Cheers, Tony

Also, the different main rotor blades - one set are late production composite blades

The USN never used the 6 bladed tail rotor.  Also, the extended sponsons are a late production feature - they have flares on one side, MAD on the other side

Nigel, you can see some of the differences between the Sikorsky and the Westland versions, right off the bat. Window placements on the fuselages is different, different mission equipment. I can’t recall if the Americans always retained the 5 blade tail rotor. The British services upgraded to the 6th. The Airfix kit is much nicer than the Hasegawa but, both represent their subjects pretty well. The Hasegawa kit just needs some modernization.

I believe with the references I have found, the sonar station is forward of the dipping sonar on the US Navy aircraft. Please correct me if I’m incorrect

I don't think it would take much to turn the early version Westland into a US Navy bird.  The Westland has a prominent bulge on the port side of the fuselage.  It is just below the rotor head, and it may be slightly forward or aft of the rotor head opening.  The Sikorsky birds don't have that bulge.  The exhausts look a bit different, but I'm not sure if that's due to differences in the helicopters or just improvements in design and molding of kits.  The intakes are worth a look too.  Neither "Old 66" or the early version of the VX666 had intake covers or filters.

Westlands is in Yeovil

My understanding is the main difference is engines. Apparently no Sikorsky option from airfix due to the large cost of a licence
I've built the 1/72 and that was feature rich too

The Hasegawa kit I have is kit number 09863 SeaKing AEW Mk2A. This has big radar dustbin hanging off it.

The Airfix version has a different engine lumps, bumps, assembly and airframe assembly because of the different engines used.

Westlands are my local factory

Could you make Helo 66 (Old 66) out of the new airfix seaking without major modifications?