1:144 Westland DRAGONFLY Mk.1

The real subject

The Westland Dragonfly is a British helicopter that came about as the license-built version of the American Sikorsky S-51. It belonged to the first generation of machines that found a use in the postwar years with the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy, mainly in rescue and liaison service. The layout is classic: one main rotor, a tail rotor on a tail boom and a glazed cabin in the forward part of the fuselage. It is precisely the rotor and the glazing that give the finished model its character.

What the kit contains

This is a model kit in 1:144 scale. The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted, and the number of parts and the recommended assembly procedure are given in the instructions enclosed by the manufacturer. Choose the type of glue according to the material of the parts: parts that are not of polystyrene call for cyanoacrylate glue, not cement for plastic models.

Building and painting tips

The 1:144 scale means very small, thin parts, above all the rotor blades and the struts. Separate them with a sharp blade, not by snapping them off, and work over a tray, so a lost part can be found. Sand the mating surfaces and try the assembly dry first. Wash and degrease the whole thing before painting. The cabin glazing is prominent on this machine, so it pays to mask it and to paint only after the fuselage has been glued.

• 1:144 scale, a kit of the Westland Dragonfly Mk.1 helicopter
• the real subject is the British license-built version of the Sikorsky S-51 helicopter
• the model is supplied unassembled and unpainted
• the small parts call for tweezers, a sharp blade and a dry test fit
• the number of parts and the assembly procedure are given in the manufacturer's instructions

Terms of supply

The paints, the glue and thinners are not included in the delivery, unless stated otherwise. The scope of the parts supplied and of any decals is given in the manufacturer's description.