1/72 Italeri HH-60J Jayhawk

Gallery Article by Jason Wolfe on Oct 20 2009

 

I created this model from the Italeri 1/72 HH-60H kit with the Fireball Modelworks HH-60J resin conversion set, plus some details from the Eduard SH-60B photoetch set. This was definitely the most detailed build I have done yet! The resin parts and decals from Fireball Modelworks were of great quality and fun to work with. This is my second attempt at this model; I originally used the Hasegawa SH-60B as a base, but it required a lot of chopping and cutting (I sliced my thumb with an Xacto knife!) and I botched the paint job. That version ended up in the trash. I bought another conversion set and decals, and tried again. The version based on the Italeri HH-60 was much easier to apply the conversion set to, and I was happy with the results. Having two sets of decals also came in handy.

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To simulate the rotor droop, I placed the rotor blades in boiling water for five seconds and gently pulled them to them to the desired shape. The orange paint color is a mix of International Orange and Insignia Red. Details from the Eduard photoetch set included various antennas, rear-view mirrors, tail rotor detail, and winch. 

The decals depict Jayhawk #6035 based in San Diego.

Jason Wolfe

Photos and text © by Jason Wolfe