FUJIMI 1/72
CH-53D SIKORSKY SEA STALLION
HISTORY
The
“D” version from the Sea Stallion is adapted for mine sweeping
operations in
shallow and coastal waters. They were equipped with more powerful
turbine engines
to be able to perform safely while towing the sweeping system through
the
water. Mines are weapons to (temporarily) deny the enemy access to its
own
vital waterways and harbours. Normally, mines are being swept by
special
equipped small naval vessels. These
vessels are working mainly in small groups together. They
are progressing slow, but very accurate.
To avoid the long process of sweeping
a waterway, the US Navy created the SPU-1 system. It is a kind of
platform,
floating on water skis. Through a long
cable, the platform is connected to the helicopter. After connecting
the system,
the helicopter will slowly tighten the cable and then put the turbines
into
full gear. When speed is picking up, the SPU-1 system will lift out of
the
water and finally rest on it’s water skis. The system can handle
acoustic,
contact and magnetic. If working correctly during the mine sweeping,
the mines
will surface and will be destroyed by machine gun fire. The system
described dates
from the Vietnam and Desert Storm era. It gave the Navy a
rapid and
safe access in those waterways. Another
advantage was that it could be repeated quite easily. The 53D is no
longer in
the active US-Navy inventory. It is
replaced by the MH-53 Super Stallion
THE KIT
The
kit was constructed straight from the box and was a great pleasure,
with no
problems what so ever. It is a shame that
Fujimi kits are so difficult to acquire in Europe.
They are indeed high quality models. Folding
the rotor blades and settling them
into their racks needs careful study. The cockpit is updated with an
overhead panel
and the punch and die set from Waldron made sure all the buttons and
switches
are in place, including the large levers to control the three engines.
The main
windows in the cockpit doors are omitted. This gives a nice bird’s eye
view of
the panels during display at model conventions.
Xtracolor
engine gray was used for the overall fuselage.
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Diorama
The
RH-53D has been brought from the hangar deck to the flight deck of a US
Navy
carrier. Technical personnel are
preparing the “Mighty Beast” for another operational task. The rotor
blades and
tail rotor are still folded. The mule (tow tractor) that towed the
helicopter
to its spot on the deck is still waiting for further orders. Notice the
extended mirrors that gave the flight crew a good rear view of the
towing system.
There is also a extended in-flight refueling probe to extend
operations. Decals,
Superscale 72-444, Flight deck is from Verlinden, “Mule” tractor is
from Fujimi.
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