1:48 SH-3 Sea King MIRRORS airfix/hasegawa

Quickboost 1:48 SH-3 Sea King, rear-view mirrors (resin)

This is a detail accessory from the Quickboost brand, which is made by Aires. It is not a model or a kit of the helicopter; the package holds only a set of resin external rear-view mirrors meant to complete a model of the Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King helicopter in 1:48 scale. The accessory is designed for the Airfix and Hasegawa kits in that scale. The mirrors on the cabin of the Sea King are among the features that injection-molded plastic can manage only with very thick walls; a resin casting allows a thin frame and a sharp edge to be kept, so once completed the model looks markedly more faithful.

Use

• Remove the corresponding plastic parts from the kit (or simply do not use them) and replace them with the resin mirrors.
• First wash the parts in lukewarm soapy water, which removes the mold release residue from the surface, as otherwise neither paint nor glue will hold.
• Cut the casting blocks and supports off with a sharp cutter or a fine saw and sand the cut; sand resin with respiratory protection (a respirator, ideally sanding wet).
• Glue with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue), as ordinary plastic cement does not work on resin.
• Spray the frame in the color of the airframe and deal with the face of the mirror using a gloss silver paint or a piece of self-adhesive mirror film.

Who the accessory is for

For modelers who are building the Sea King in 1:48 and want to take the exterior detail beyond the basic kit. Working with resin and cyanoacrylate glue calls for a little experience and a steady hand, but fitting the mirrors themselves is quick and even a moderately advanced modeler can manage it.

The accessory is supplied unpainted, as resin castings. The base kit, paints and glue are not included in the package.