1:72 H-19/S-55

Eduard 1:72 — H-19 / S-55 masking set

An Eduard masking set for the H-19 / S-55 helicopter in 1:72 scale. This is a modeling accessory — it is not a kit and you will not find a model of the helicopter in the package. The templates are die-cut from kabuki tape, the fine Japanese masking tape that Eduard uses for its masks. The precisely cut shapes follow the glazing frames, so you do not have to cut the spray edge laboriously with a razor blade, and once the paint is dry the tape peels off without lifting the finish.

The real subject

The Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw (S-55 in civil designation) was one of the first genuinely usable transport helicopters. Anyone can spot it at a glance by its unusual layout: the piston engine sits in the nose, below the cockpit, which gave the machine its characteristic long-nosed front end, while the pilots sit high above it. That left the cargo compartment clear in the middle of the fuselage.

Use

• Lift the individual templates off the backing with tweezers and stick them straight onto the clear part — the sharp frame edge forms by itself, with no tape to shape by hand.
• On the H-19 this really pays off: the cockpit perched up top is glazed practically all the way around and its framing is extremely unpleasant to mask by hand. This is the part of the build where the set saves the most time.
• The sequence: degrease the clear part, apply the masks, spray the frame color, then the rest of the camouflage.
• Do not remove the masks until the paint is fully dry.

Who the set is for

For modelers building the H-19 / S-55 in 1:72 who care about clean, straight cockpit frames. The set is laid out for the widespread kits of this helicopter in that scale (Revell, Italeri) — so compare the set with your own kit before you buy.

This is not a model. The helicopter kit, paints and glue are not included in the package.