1:48 Folded tail for CH-53E Super Stallion, MH-53E Sea dragon for Academy kit

Folded tail section for the CH-53E / MH-53E, 1:48 (Reskit)

This is not a helicopter kit but a resin conversion accessory. It replaces the tail section of the model in the folded-back position, the way the helicopter looks parked on deck or in a hangar. Ordinary kits do not offer this option, and converting it from plastic is laborious, because it means cutting into a load-bearing part of the fuselage. The set is intended for the kit from Academy.

The real subject

The CH-53E Super Stallion is a heavy transport helicopter with three engines and a seven-blade main rotor; the MH-53E Sea Dragon is its derived version intended for searching out and clearing mines at sea. Both types are operated from the decks of ships, where space is scarce — which is why they have a folding tail section and folding rotor blades. That folded position is what makes a model read as a shipboard machine at first glance, and it is a popular diorama subject.

Fitting tips

First wash the resin parts in warm water with detergent — residues of mold release agent would otherwise keep the paint from adhering. Cut the casting blocks off with a saw or a cutting disc, do not snap them. They are glued with cyanoacrylate; ordinary cement for plastic does not work on resin. Because this means cutting into the fuselage, measure the cut and mark it with a pencil, cut with an allowance and sand to fit dry according to the actual seating. A primer that evens the resin out with the plastic comes before painting.

Who the accessory is for

• For advanced modelers who do not mind cutting into a finished kit.
• For builders of shipboard and hangar dioramas.
• For collections where the helicopter is meant to be in the folded transport state.

The accessory is not a model in itself. The kit, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise. Before buying, check that the set matches the kit you are building.