LOW-VIZ SEAHAWK FAMILY (2)
USN MH-60S, Seahawk/Knighthawk

AOA Decals, 1/35 scale

Reviewed by David Couche

This part two 1/35 decal sheet of low-viz options for the US Navy MH-60S Seahawk/Knighthawk family covers exclusively the MH-60S variant.

Although intended for the Kitty Hawk MH-60S kit, the vast majority of decals are not kit specific and should all work with the Academy kit.

Also included in this release is the full airframe data and markings sheet 35-002 that covers one aircraft (airframe data sheet is also available to purchase separately, see 35-002).

The decals are crisp, in register and well numbered. They are printed by well-known decal producer, Microscale of the USA.  I have used their decals a number of times previously, with them being reasonably easy to apply and with them settling down well with some decal set. The instructions on 5, basically, double sided glossy heavy paper sheets are printed in colour with helpful annotated notes where needed. Of those 5 pages, 2 are dedicated to the application of data stencils. There are many of them and there is a page for the port side, as well as the top view. The same views are there for the starboard side, and bottom view. There is only one set of data stencils for the early aircraft. There will be many hours of fun applying these decals, but at least they will be on a good size model.

The 2 pages of detailed notes list the physical details that are different for each of the schemes and using the Kitty Hawk kits, tell you what parts to use, or not use, dependant of the kit. And whilst all the notes are for the Kitty Hawk kits, I’ve done a quick sizing check on my Academy kits, and they appear to be spot on as well.

The helicopters covered in this set are:

MH-60S

• HSC-7 Dusty Dogs, AC-614, 167870, 2016

• HSC-9 Tridents, AJ-620, 168581, 2017

• HSC-11 Dragonslayers, AB-613, 168563, 2020

• HSC-12 Golden Falcons, NF-611, 167833, 2020

• HSC-14 Chargers, RH-13, 168557, 2014

• HSC-14 Chargers, RH-13, 168557, 2014 – fire fighting

• HSC-14 Chargers, NG-615, 167861, 2020/21

• HSC-14 Chargers, NG-614, 168553, 2021

• HSC-15 Red Lions, NA-611, 168531, 2014/15

• HSC-15 Red Lions, NA-617, 168539, 2015/16

• HSC-22 Sea Knights, AM-00, 167827, 2014

• HSC-28 Dragon Whales, BR-37, 167847, 2018

• HSC-28 Dragon Whales, BR-37, 167847, 2019

• HSC-28 Dragon Whales, BR-33, 167825, 2021

• 2515th Naval Air Ambulance Detachment (NAAD), WC-26, 166326, 2009

* One of the HSC-14 options provided can also be painted to represent its appearance when involved in the 2014 California wildfire firefighting efforts with temporary fluorescent pink paint.

The large rough hand painted fuselage number is not provided as a decal but a template is included in the decal instructions for the modeler to similarly hand paint them.

This is a very nice large set of decals from AOA Decals covering 15 different low-viz marked aircraft of varied versions over a 12-year period. There are a couple of camouflaged or high viz versions just to really give some varied schemes. I look forward to further releases from this company in future. With a couple of Academy Seahawks in the stash, one or more of these schemes will adorn my future builds. These AOA decals are highly recommended.

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Thanks to AOA Decals for the review sample

AOA Decals are available online via their website

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2023 by David Couche
Page Created 25 July, 2023
Last Updated 25 July, 2023

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