Sikorsky S.55 BEA-Tles - Conversion of Revell 1/72nd Chickasaw + Arctic Decals set

 

Images from the Net

"A hard day's modeling night"

I remember a time when general affairs in the world looked not at all good. But then a glimmer of hope started to grow as the 60’s were on their way. At a musical level (and not just musical) the Beatles produced a sort of shaking of the general consciousness. The vibrant new energy that came from them illuminated popular culture and spilled over other areas of society. I can still feel that energy when I listen to them, and still hope rises anew, even when we seem to be besieged by the acts -and its consequences- of stupid, deranged, egomaniac presidents and their incompetent and corrupt lackeys, tearing down institutions and values, sinking us into expensive and inane conflicts, spending on megalomaniac and unnecessary projects while most suffer high prices and lack of health care.

Long ago I watched “A hard days’ night”, and, remembering the helicopter scene, had a look around on the Net and found some photos, plus a suitable kit, and rummaged in the spares bin for 1/72^nd figures that fitted the bill with some mods. And I was set.

Further looking around revealed that fellow modelers have produced this BEA (TLES) helicopter in the past to good result, which was encouraging.

The Revell H-19A Chickasaw (straight tailboom) kit was chosen, as the Italeri kit has the kinked one, and with some mods it can be converted into the iconic machine.

The necessary changes and additions are:

- a new civil interior with proper seats

- a sort of thin flange “upper lip” over the nose ventilation mesh

- a step platform to access the cabin through the sliding door

- a bubble window on the aft left side

- small details like a whip antenna, handles, etc.

Kit parts 11, 12, 13, 14, 40, 44 and 45 should not be used, and do not forget to add some nose weight as per instructions to avoid a tail sitter.

There are masks and photo-etched sets for this kit available as aftermarket items.

The impeccable decal set for mine came from Arctic Decals, as usual perfectly printed and thoroughly researched, featuring not only the most visible marks but many small placards, with great instructions as to their position.

First 1/72^nd figures were modified and painted. Then a suitable part for the needed “bubble” window was found, and finally seats were scrounged to render the civil cabin.

The fuselage bottom of the Revell kit needs a little bit of scratched additions, but nothing too onerous for the average modeler.

 Contents of the Revell kit. Bagged, but the fuselage sides and transparencies are loose inside with the very predictable scuffing consequences. It seems is unacceptably expensive for corporations to use one more little bag:

The Fab Four (+ one)

Got some seats from the spares bin (not glued yet):

The "bubble"window also from the spares bin, plus the metal tube exhaust to replace the kit's part:

A few parts are glued. The rotor support and associated parts are not a tight fit. The bulkheads have unwanted detail for a civil machine...

...so they are reversed, their plain side facing inwards to the cabin. Still, holes and such need plugging and covering:

 The front bulkhead is covered on thin styrene sheet. The back bulkhead holes are plugged with stretched sprue and sanded smooth:

The bulkheads are glued. Dry fit of seats and cockpit:

Testing the fit of components. A small part of the detail on the bulkheads (now facing outwards of the cabin) needs sanding/shaving to allow proper fit on the locating devices (ridges):

To be continued...