From 1954 until 1964
the Royal Netherlands Air Arm (MLD) operated three Sikorsky helicopters. Besides
there registration numbers also names were carried on one side of the clam door
(Jezebel-Salome-Cleopatra).; Assigned to either the naval Air Station "Valkenburg"
(search and rescue); or the aircraft carrier "Karel Doorman" for plane
guard duties during launch and recovery operations. Being single engined and
slightly under powered they were unreliable. Two helicopters crashed; the single
survivor made it into the aviation museum.; It was here that I saw the S-55 for
the first time. I decided to build one in scale. Second hand I found the
mentioned Revell kit. I completed the whole construction almost straight from
the box. I used the Waldron punch and die set; together with Evergreen to
slightly update the cockpit. For soundproofing the cabine and the area directly
behind the pilots I used thin foam. This you can find in the supermarket. When
you order sliced Dutch cheese it gets packed on this material. It has
(sometimes) already the punctured soundproof structure on it.; Airbrushed with
xtra colour medium grey and sky. Decals from the box were applied with the help
of set and sol. The whole model was finished off with a thin layer of Glitsa
parquet varnish. (70% spiritus/30% Glitsa.); The showcase is manufactured by
ERTL and the street is from Evergreen.
Dirk
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