1:72 MH-53E

MH-53E decal set in 1:72 scale

The item is not a kit but an add-on decal set for a model of the heavy MH-53E helicopter in 1:72 scale. It belongs to a line of 3D decals that are applied to the surfaces of a kit and replace flat, merely suggested details with colored graphics. The name is brief and does not specify the extent of the set — check the actual contents on the box.

The real subject

The MH-53E Sea Dragon is the naval variant of the heavy helicopter derived from the CH-53E Super Stallion. It serves above all for towing mine countermeasures equipment and for heavy transport. You can tell it from the land-based version by its markedly enlarged side sponson tanks, which give the machine a characteristically bulky silhouette. It is one of the largest helicopters of Western manufacture, so even in 1:72 scale it makes a sizeable model.

Use

• Paint the area where the decal is to go and overcoat it with gloss varnish — a matte base causes silvering.
• Cut the decal out close to the edge and soak it only briefly in lukewarm water.
• Slide it into place, adjust it with a damp brush and blot up the excess water with a cloth.
• On recesses and edges press the decal down with a soft cotton swab and let it dry undisturbed; whether a decal softener can be used with it should be checked in the manufacturer's instructions.
• At the end unify the surface with matte or semi-matte varnish.

Who the set is for

For modelers who want to get detail in 1:72 scale that could not be brush-painted. Decals of this type are used mainly where picking the detail out by hand would be too fine. Working with them is undemanding but calls for a clean gloss base and a steady hand.

The set does not contain a model of the helicopter or any paints; it is an accessory for a kit sold separately.