Platz

1/72 JMSDF MH-53E Sea Dragon Decals

Sheet Number: JD-36

Reviewed by  Mark A. Dice, IPMS# 31326

MSRP: ¥2400 ($26.65) Website: www.platz-hobby.com Platz's decal sheet allows you to build a more colorful version of the MH-53E Sea Dragon than the very dark drab scheme used by the US Navy. There are markings for two Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) aircraft, extensive stencils for the cabin exterior, blades, cockpit and cabin interior included on a single 5 1/2" X 8 ½" sheet. The decals have very little carrier film around the outside and look very clearly printed. The instructions are a two sided single sheet of the same dimensions as the decal sheet. One side is in color and the other side is black and white. As this is targeted towards the Japanese modeler, the instructions are written in Japanese with only a few items in English but there is enough info there to get the job done. I did not use any of the interior decals in the cabin or cockpit as I had already used the Platz Photoetch interior set to dress up the cockpit, but what you are given is very nicely done. The model exterior was coated in several airbrushed coats of Future. Once it was dry, I started with the walkway decals along the top of the aircraft. These are quite long but handled very well, lined up great, and held up to all the poking and prodding needed to get them in place. The black antiglare panel under the front windscreens needed to be trimmed on each side to prevent from lying over onto the large forward windows. Next, I started on one side and just worked from nose to tail, around and back up to the nose. In all cases, the decals handled just great!!! They came off the decal sheet easy, handled being moved around very well, and settled down nice. There are bunches of single item stencils and several groups of stencils on larger patches of film. I recommend cutting these down to eliminate that excess film (I didn't on several, and got some silvering as a result). In several cases the screen decals do not fit the kit molded screen recesses on the tail pylon and main rotor pylon too well and I attribute this to the kit being more inaccurate than the decals.

Once all the decals I was going to put on were on (I did not use all the stencils provided), I gave them a coat or two of Solvaset. They took it well and settled right into the various recesses and details underneath. Another coat of airbrushed Future and then a shot of Testors DullcoteTM and I was ready to complete assembly and remove masks. I am very happy with the way these decals handled and looked when finished!! My only recommendation is to cut the clear film out on those few decals that have large patches of clear film between markings. Otherwise, these are very nice decals that handle very well!!! Way better than the kit-provided decals!!! Good job Platz! Thank you to Platz for the sample sheet!!