1:48 Westland Sea King wipers

Quickboost 1:48 Westland Sea King, resin wipers

This item is a detail accessory, not a model. It is a set of resin windshield wipers for a model of the Westland Sea King helicopter in 1:48 scale from Quickboost, a brand made by the Czech company Aires. The accessory will not build an aircraft on its own: it is meant to replace the coarser or entirely missing parts on a Sea King kit in 1:48 scale that you already own.

What the accessory is for

Wipers are among the small things that decide the final impression a finished model makes. The plastic version tends to be needlessly thick because of the way injection molding works, on some kits it is missing altogether, and modelers then replace it with wire and photo-etched brass. Cast resin parts allow a far finer and crisper shape of both the arm and the blade, so once painted and set on the glass the cabin looks markedly more realistic. Given the dimensions, this is work with very small parts, and tweezers, a sharp scalpel and good lighting all pay off.

Recommended procedure with resin

• First wash the parts in lukewarm soapy water, which removes the mold release residue; otherwise the paint will not hold.
• Cut them off the casting block with a fine saw or a cutting disc, and never snap them off: resin is brittle.
• Clean up the cut and any flash with a file or abrasive paper with respiratory protection (a respirator, ideally wet sanding): resin dust is harmful to health.
• Bond with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue), because ordinary plastic cement does not work on resin.
• Apply primer before painting and fit the wipers only after the glazing is finished, so they do not break off during handling.

Who the accessory is for

For modelers who are building the Sea King in 1:48 scale and want to lift the level of cabin detail beyond the contents of the box. Given the size of the parts and the need to work with resin, this is an accessory rather for more advanced modelers who already have experience of bonding with cyanoacrylate.

The accessory is supplied unpainted and is intended for a kit that is not included in the package. Glue, paints and other accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise. Use respiratory protection when sanding resin.