Kitty Hawk Models 1/35 MH-60R Seahawk Kit First Look
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | February 2021 | Manufacturer | Kitty Hawk Models |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | MH-60R Seahawk | Scale | 1/35 |
| Kit Number | 50008 | Primary Media | Styrene, Photo-Etch |
| Pros | Best Seahawk kit in any scale (to date) | Cons | See text |
| Skill Level | Experienced | MSRP (USD) | $139.95 |
First Look
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As Sikorsky's H-60 airframe continued to prove its capabilities and versatility, a new multirole variant was developed to provide a combination of SH-60B and SH-60F capabilities along with improved avionics. This new variant is the MH-60R which remains in service today and in addition to the new avionics, the aircraft is also armed with the new Mk.54 torpedo and the AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, and more recently received a new MAD (magnetic anomoly detector) suite.
Kitty Hawk Models has released two more Seahawk variants: the MH-60R (this kit) and the HH-60H. The kit is molded in the usual light gray styrene and presented on 13 parts trees plus two trees of clear parts, and one fret of photo-etched parts. Among the features and options in this kit:
- Nicely detailed flight deck
- Great main cabin details
- Nice T700 engines w/detailed IR suppressor exhaust shrouds=
- Positionable engine access doors
- Nicely detailed rotor head and swash plate
- Main rotor blades are positionable - flight or folded
- Tail boom is positionable - flight or folded
- Optional racks included for folded main rotor blades
- Rescue winch
- Accurate horizontal stabilator with handholds and folding points
- Positionable flight deck doors
- Positionable main cabin door
- Positionable side window(s)
- ASW operator's console in main cabin
- Sonobuoy rack in main cabin
- Avionics bay in nose with positionable cover
- Nose-mounted FLIR turret
The kit provides the following external stores (see notes):
- 1 x door-mounted gun
- 1 x window-mounted gun
- 2 x external fuel tanks
- 2 x torpedoes
- 4 x AGM-114 Hellfire
Markings are included for six options:
- MH-60R, 168121, HSM-78, -/700
- MH-60R, 167007, HSM-73, -/700
- MH-60R, 168128, HSM-73, -/700
- MH-60R, 166524, HSM-41. TS/425
- MH-60R, 167050, HSM-35, -/35
- MH-60R, 168101, HSM-49, -/100
The only thing that should be noted is that some of the colorful graphic art seems to be printed too dark compared to the full-scale artwork by Shayne Meder.
This is another outstanding release from Kitty Hawk and is easily the best MH-60R kit available in any scale (less than 1:1).
My sincere thanks to Kitty Hawk Models for this review sample!