REVELL 1:48 SH-2F SEASPRITE

Reviewer: Sheldon Rampersad  (rec.models.scale)

KIT NO:4823

AIRCRAFT : The Kaman SH-2F Seasprite was one of the most widely used ship based helicopters of the US Navy. Today it is still the most common helicopter on smaller vessels, which cannot accommodate the Seahawk. Numerous modernizations have resulted in the SH-2F as being the most widely used variant. As part of the Navy’s LAMPS program (light airborne multipurpose system), its primary duties include antisubmarine and surface vessel warfare, search and rescue, surveillance and transport. The comprehensive range of equipment meet these requirements in full: surveillance and search radar, towed body, antisubmarine torpedoes, passive submarine search sensors, underwater sonar buoys, as well as extensive navigation and communication avionics. The power plant comprises two 1350hp GE T 58-8F shaft turbines. Maximum speed is 265km/h, range of 679km. The prototype of the Seasprite flew in 1959. From 1967 all helicopters were modified to 2 engines. Production of this successful navy helicopter was relaunched in 1981. There is now a newer more sophisticated version the SH-2G SEASPRITE.

KIT PARTS: The parts of the kit are quite soft and break very easily. The kit is modeled in an extremely light color approaching that of white. The piece separated from the sprues very easily and there were a few ejector pin marks but these were easily gotten rid of with a knife or careful filing. There was not all that much detail but it was sufficient.

The kit has 9 clear parts and 3 crewmen. There is also a light torpedo sono-buoys, a drop tank and dipping sonar. The rotors and doors are moveable and with some careful and clever engineering so are the main gear mounts. One is presented with options. You could have the gear in the up position or not and you can have a bird from HSL-35 THE MAGICIANS based at NAS Fallon in 1988 or that of HC-7 NAS Rean Field California in 1971.

INSTRUCTIONS: The instructions are a typical Revell-Monogram fold out sheet with 20 steps. The instructions are clear but one has to know what they’re doing. The options are clearly outlined for you to make your choice.

CONSTRUCTION: The construction for me started with painting the entire aircraft - both inside and out. For this task I used testor’s range of grays. The outside was painted in gull gray and the inside in gray. This took two coats and then the yellow band on the tail was applied since I chose the HSL-35 MAGICIANS bird. As this was drying work began on painting the pilots, sonobuoy dispenser and other such things. When construction finally began it started in the flight engineer’s station. The consoles were laid down and the necessary decals applied. Then the same was done for the pilots. There could have been a cover for the flight engineer’s console since the open back is plainly visible by looking in the windshield. This is easily fixed by cutting a piece of plastic to the shape and sticking it on. After gluing the halves together the door rails were applied and the whole thing left to dry whilst the rotors and other parts were assembled.

Before applying the rotor assembly I put on the decals. This was no easy task…..there were approximately 100!! ...yes you read correctly 100 decals!!! This tremendous task took me about 2 days spending about 2-3 hours a day. The decals went on very well and were robust. When all decals were applied the finishing details were added like the rotors and pilot tubes etc.

OVERALL: This in my opinion is a good kit and was worth the money. The parts could be a bit harder and stronger and the detail increased a bit. The lack of detail was made up in the number of decals especially in the cockpit consoles. It was a lot of fun building this kit and I recommend it.

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