1:72 Vought-Sikorsky VS-300

Vought-Sikorsky VS-300 1:72 (Brengun)

A resin kit in 1:72 scale from the Czech brand Brengun. Cast resin makes it possible to capture even very subtle elements that could not be produced in ordinary injection-molded plastic, which is fundamental with a machine of open truss construction. The extent is small, but the parts are thin and fragile, so the kit is suitable rather for experienced modelers with experience of resin.

The real subject

The VS-300 was an experimental helicopter built under the leadership of Igor Sikorsky at the turn of the 1930s and 1940s. Structurally it was a simple open frame with an exposed pilot's seat, one main rotor and a small tail rotor at the end of the tail boom. It was precisely this arrangement that proved viable and became the standard for the overwhelming majority of helicopters for decades. The machine was modified repeatedly during the test program; the number and placement of the auxiliary rotors changed, as did the form of the landing gear.

Building and painting tips

First wash all the parts with lukewarm water and detergent, so that the release agent from the mold is removed. Cut the casting blocks off with a fine-toothed saw, not with nippers, which break resin. When sanding, work wet and protect your airways, as resin dust should not be breathed in. It is glued solely with cyanoacrylate. It is advisable to assemble the thin booms and struts dry as a trial before gluing and to fix them only once the whole structure is aligned. Primer is necessary, otherwise paint will not hold on resin.

Who the model is for

• experienced modelers who have already worked with resin
• collectors of early helicopter hardware in 1:72 scale
• anyone interested in developmental and experimental machines
• builders who will appreciate subtle castings instead of coarser plastic parts

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted as a resin kit. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.