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Robert Royes
250 articles

Kaman Seasprite HH-2, Airfix 1/72

July 19, 2017 · in Aviation · · 12 · 2.8K

This is the SH-2 backdated to a SAR version used from large deck destroyers off the coast of Vietnam to rescue downed aircrew . Besides leaving off all the ASW gear I added a left main cabin door and window, and enlarged two right cabin windows. Aside from the surgery that I did I think it's a neat little kit with a lot of detail for it's time, except for all the rivets... but wait the real thing has all those rivets. Some of these birds were actually armed and armored, some even with a mini chin gun like the Cobra. I included a couple of photos I took during my brief association with the last ASW version the Navy Reserves - SH-2G. I like helos, but I don't like building them{I didn't like working on the real ones either] to me their almost as daunting as a resin or vacuform kit. Remember, if the prop stops, you drop!

Reader reactions:
9  Awesome

13 additional images. Click to enlarge.


12 responses

  1. Nice little build, Robert...the outdoor pics look pretty sharp. Good job.

  2. Neat work on this, Robert, nice photographs, too.

  3. Nice work Robert - you don't see too many Seasprites - great photos.
    Was thinking of maybe having a go at the Kittyhawk one !

  4. Hello Robert,
    Job well done. This old workhorses (in a new coat) is soldiering on.
    Regards, Dirk / The Netherlands.

  5. Nice little chopper model

  6. Nice clean build, and nice photos. Good work!

  7. Profile Photo
    said on July 20, 2017

    Nice job Robert. Built all the old airfix choppers apart from this one when I was a kid.

  8. Robert, nice looking model. I can't recall ever seeing one these, but now I have. Good work !

  9. Great job Robert! Nice to see the older Kaman Seasprite build. I still have a 1:48 scale Matchbox kit in my stash, another classic.

  10. Ah, HC-7. I was a member of two helo squadrons that trace directly back the them and HAL-3 so I always enjoy seeing models of the lesser known but important Navy helo units. Have to get another SH-2 but I'm not sure of getting another Airfix kit, it was too fiddly in the fuselage and not very detailed in the cockpit for me.

    It was also nice to see pics of birds with tail code NW as I was part of HELWINGRES for a good part of my Navy career.

    IYAOYAS!

  11. Nicely done Robert, looks good, I have one to do in RAN colors at some stage !

  12. Nice build, just 1 thing next time take your picture all outside with white background. All comes out better.

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