MH-53E Sea Dragon

Italeri, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Glen Porter

Italeri's 1/72 scale MH-53 is available online from Squadron.com

Background

The three engined MH-53 E Sea Dragon is the U.S. Navy's Mine-Sweeping Helicopter built by Sikorsky and based on the two-engined HH-53 C Jolly Green Giant (Italeri kit No 1035) which saw service in the 1960s as a Marine Corp transport and a U.S. Air Force special rescue helicopter.

The Sea Dragon has the power to carry all the necessary heavy equipment and tow the mine-sweeping sled which is dropped into the sea to detect mines. It is also employed by the Japanese Self Defense Force.

The Model

This is not a new kit by Italeri but a re-release. The moulds are beginning to show their age with a bit more flash than we've become used to from this maker of excellent small scale helicopter kits. The interior is well detailed except it carries none of the mine-sweeping equipment mentioned above so maybe it is better to keep it all buttoned up if that is possible.

 

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

The “A” sprue has the interior floor, fuselage bottom, most of the cockpit interior parts, seven main rotors, tail rotor, under-carriage legs and wheels, rotor-head parts and many other small bits.

“B” carries the fuselage halves, tail boom bottom and winglet, external engines and cockpit seats.

Sprue “D” has the two three-piece under-carriage pods and a frame that goes under the tail boom and I think has something to do with the mine-sweeping equipment.

All of these parts in light grey plastic are beautifully moulded except for the above mentioned flash with mainly raised panel detail and lots of well detailed extremely small bits.

The clear sprue is marked “C” and comes with a completely glazed nose and ten windows, three of which are not for use in this kit.

There are decals for two aircraft, one U.S, Navy in Grey with low-vis markings and Black walk-ways on the top surfaces and a more colorful JSDF aircraft in White and Grey also with the Black walk-ways on top.

Oddly, the low-vis and walk-way markings are matt while the Japanese decals are quite glossy, not that it really matters as both are beautifully printed as we've come to expect from Zanchetti Buccinasco of Milan.



 

As I have stated in previous reviews, I believe Italeri is the best maker of 1/72 scale helicopters in the hobby. This kit is no exception, so if your into choppers and you don't have this one then you had better start saving those cents or new-pennies.

Don't miss out.

Recommended to all chopper enthusiasts.

Thanks to Italeri for the review sample