Dragon Models

1/144 SH-60B Seahawk

Kit Number: 4600

Reviewed by  Jim Pearsall IPMS# 2209

MSRP: $13.95 Thanks to Dragon Models USA: (http://www.dragonmodelsusa.com) The Aircraft The SH-60 is a twin turboshaft LAMPS (Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System) Mk III helicopter. The LAMPS Mk1 was the Kaman SH-2 Seasprite. SH-60s are generally based on US Navy frigates, destroyers or cruisers. Their main missions are antisubmarine warfare, surface warfare and light cargo hauling. The SH-60 is also expected to be able to act as a rescue helicopter, and can be used as a communications relay for over-the-horizon communications between units. The usual ASW stuff like sonobuoys and a towed MAD (Magnetic Anomaly Detector) are backed up with torpedoes (Mks 48, 50, or 54) or hellfire missiles. The newer MH-60S can carry cannons, or Penguin antiship missiles. An angry Seahawk is a force to be reckoned with. Crew is normally a pilot, ATO/copilot, (Airborne Tactical Officer) and one enlisted sensor operator. The sensor is also required to be qualified as a rescue swimmer. One of the "gee whiz" statistics is that the SH-60 can climb at 1800 feet/minute at sea level. With one engine, it can still climb at 480 feet/minute. Comforting if there's an engine failure.

The Kit You get two sets of everything, and more, in this kit. Note the large number of "grayed out" parts in the parts layout. Dragon has used the main sprue from the H-60 Blackhawk, so if you’re missing a part for a 1/144 Blackhawk, a replacement is probably available here. One of the great things about getting an early run kit is that the molds are very fresh and clean. There is no flash anywhere on any part in either kit. There are 2 complete SH-60Bs in the box, with markings for HSL-43 "Battlecats" and HSM-41 "Seahawks". Decals are by Cartograf.

Building the Kit You start, as with most kits, with an interior. Actually, this still amazes me. An interior with multiple parts. In a 1/144 kit! You assemble the sensor's position, with the sonar and radar panel; add the 2 seats in back. The sensor's seat is 3 parts(!); a level of detail you couldn't expect a couple of years ago in 1/144. Next you put in the rear bulkhead. The pilot and ATO seats are added, and the instrument panel. What you have is a pretty complete interior. Then you put on the other fuselage half, and most of it disappears, never to be seen again. If you forget to install the sensor's window on the left fuselage half, forget it and use Micro Krystal Kleer ®, because you'll never get that window through the right door without destroying the seat or sensor array. Because there's a large number of windows at the front of this helo, the designer decided to make the entire front of the helicopter a clear part. This is really OK, although there are some "masking issues" later. The right door is also provided as a clear part. Assembly is pretty straightforward. The fuselage halves and front "glass" fit together nicely. I needed no putty on the fuselage halves, and only a tiny bit of white glue to fill a small gap on the left side of the glass. It's also gratifying that the entire interior fit inside all 3 fuselage parts without trimming, filing, sanding or bad words. Next you add all those lumps, bumps, protrusions, sensors, sponsons, aerials, and the landing gear. I did have a small problem with the instructions at this point. They show the landing gear and wheels as one part, which it is on the Blackhawk. The Seahawk has separate wheels and gear legs. Since this is a small kit, it's no big deal, as the wheels are easily found on the sprues. I also had to go to the Internet to find a picture of an SH-60 to get a good idea of where the torpedoes mount. The weapons pylons are not directly across from each other, to allow access to the door, but this isn't clearly shown. I held off putting on the rotor, tail rotor, wheels, IR sensor, and torpedoes until I finished painting and decals.

Paint and Decals Except for the detail painting on the rotor, the Navy's SH-60 is dead easy. Mask a couple of clear areas and spray it all Dark Ghost Gray, FS36320. I've had some questions about Dragon's color callouts, but this one looks right. The color might be FS36440, gull gray. Or not. It looks right. The markings also required that the tail rotor area be painted black, and the engine exhaust areas are also black. Not difficult, just fine and finicky.

Decals Early on I decided to do the HSM-41 "Seahawks" markings. Nothing against the "Battlecats", I just liked the blue. All of the decals went on fine. I had an alignment problem with the large tail decals, as there are small antennas on the bottom of the helicopter, and I had to cut away some of the decal to get a good fit. On the other hand, I had already painted the bottom black, and with Micro Sol® softening the decal, it snuggled right in. I did have one problem with the instructions here. The instructions tell you to use decal #10 on this helo. This is the black US star/bar. The drawing then shows the red/white/blue star/bar. I put on #10. May have been a mistake.

Final Assembly After I let the decals set overnight, it was time to put on the finishing touches. The tail rotor and main rotor fit SO very nicely. Dragon suggests you don't have to glue the main rotor on. This works, as this allows disassembly to transport it to a Chapter meeting. The main wheels, tail wheels (Seahawks have 2, Blackhawks have 1), IR sensor all went on fine. I did manage to knock off a tail wheel while installing a torpedo, but it turned up immediately. I also had to go to the internet for a photo of the towed MAD, as the pylon covers most of the part, and I had trouble figuring out what the colors were. I was surprised to find that http://www.airliners.net has the SH-60 in their search list, and a number of great photos which are invaluable for markings and painting info. Overall Assessment Recommended. A great plastic model. Fit is great, the clear parts fit nicely, the outline and size are right on the money, at least as nearly as I could measure. There was never a moment when I thought that what I was doing was difficult, except for the one decal and figuring out what the instructions really meant to say. No one is going to come out with an interior upgrade set for this kit, it's pretty complete as is. And who's going to see it if they did? Thanks to Dragon USA for the kit and IPMS/USA for the chance to build it.

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