Chickasaw helicopter model kit

The Sikorski Chickasaw helicopter was one of the first really capable helicopters produced. The Chickasaw was used by the USAF as a rescue helicopter, and also saw service during the 1950s Korean peninsula conflict. The machine was powered by a piston engine mounted within a rounded nose section, this transmitting it's power via a propshaft to a gearbox under the main rotor blades. The British Whirlwind helicopter was a gas-turbine engined development of this Sikorski design.

The decals and tranparent parts, all very well done. Click image for a closer view.

I will start off by simply stating that I have actually built one of these kits and they are excellent, as is usual for an Italeri manufactured model helicopter.

The kit has three sprues of components, all of which are moulded to a high standard (including the transparent one). The model features superb fine recessed paneling and a high defininition of general detail.

The fit of the parts is first rate in almost every respect. The only place where a slight gap is evident is where the floor piece meets the fuselage sides (not visible if you have the door mounted in the closed postion).

Due to the amount of glazing on most helicopters, including this one, a key point for a good chopper kit is the quality level of the transparent parts. You will be pleased to know that the Italeri Chickasaw has high quality parts on the clear sprue, and the fit is very good indeed.

This kit depicts a float equipped H-19 Chickasaw, but the parts are included to allow the builder to construct a convensional undercarriage on the helicopter as well. Another point worth mentioning is that this version is the straight-boomed variant (Italeri also make the version with a sloped down tail boom).
The rotor head on the model is terrific, great detail and finely moulded rotors. The decal sheet is also top notch, it's just a pity you only get markings for one helicopter.

The main area that could stand much improvement with this kit is the underside of the engine. The Chickasaw engine was exposed from underneath, and the lack of detail here is a pity. This could be a cue for the aftermarket chaps to step in, maybe with a full engine bay set. This would enable the helicopter to be modelled with it's engine bay doors open showing off the workings, which would be well cool.
There are also some awkwardly placed ejection marks on the seat backs, and the undercarriage parts are weedy (unavoidable while being moulded in soft polystyrene plastic). I have seen aftermarket metal ones advertised someplace. Other than these small nit-picks, this is one seriously good kit of an important and highly charismatic early helicopter which I would highly recommend building.

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