I recently came into a deal on a very badly beaten up Hasegawa SH-3 in 1/48. The plastic was fine, the instructions are OK, but the Decals are a total loss.
I bought some Eduard PE and masks for this thing, and I am planning on opening some doors and building up a somewhat presentable interior.
I saw sprue brothers has a set of decals for Hi-vis markings… Does anyone know of a low-vis set for this kit?
I’ve always had one or two of two of these kits in the stash for the last 15 or so years, waiting for decent decal sheets for them, especially a lo-viz sheet, but as far as I know, there has never been an aftermarket 48th sheet with lo-viz markings. I’ve got the hi-viz sheet from Steel Beach, & I’ll build one of them with the Apollo recovery markings, but the scheme I really want to do is the lo-viz scheme from HS-11 from the Desert Storm time frame. I was able to photograph one of the helos during Fleet Week in NYC when the America was on its way bacl to Norfolk in 1992.
If everything is to believed that is posted on he various modeling forums, I remember a post about this kit, & one of the replies stated that this was one of the worst selling kits Hase had ever produced.
Ish
I ordered that same sheet and I will probably end up building the Apollo rescue helo as well.
the kit seems like it is pretty good, even with a lacking interior. It seems like any average model builder could saw open some doors and build something of interest on the inside and make it into a pretty awesome kit. Also, for being in use all over the world for so long I am kind of surprised there isn’t more demand for decal sheets for the SH-3… Which was my logic in buying one with screwed up decals.
Oh well, Someday I will get to it… Thanks for the info!
Here’s the one I did a few years back, the only decal that was usable was the one above the canopy.
Man, I want another one!!!
Right now, I am literally over 8,000 miles away from my stash, & I won’t be home till Thanksgiving time frame. Hit me up then.
Oh man!!! Hopefully I’ll remember!!!
Your build looks great.
I only paid like $15.00 for mine plus maybe $12 for the Apollo decals. Even without kit decals I thought that was a pretty fair price. Especially considering I didn’t even know there was one of these on the market.
$15 is dang good!!! I had no idea either, til I saw it on the vendor table. Didn’t think twice and nabbed it. I went looking for more, figuring they’d be $30ish…no joy. They re-popped it recently, with addition of some sonar or ??? with a $$$ tag aroung $160ish…guess they don’t want to sell very many!!!
Probably the best option for the SH-3 is the Revell Germany boxing, I bought two when it was last issued. It was kit no 04466 then. I haven’t looked lately but I’m pretty sure there are Lo Vis Desert Storm markings in the RG boxing. I also have a Hasegawa release. It’s a nice kit, but not an over $100.00 kit. Tower Hobbies has the Hasegawa kit listed at $49.99 right now, they recently became the Hasegawa distributor so maybe prices will settle some, they are a good outfit…
There are a few on eBay going for about $50 including shipping.
Meh… I now know in spite of the lacking decals I virtually stole that kit.
I am not so big of an SH-3 fan that I would pay $50 for the kit just to steal the decals.