Italeri 1/48 H-34A Pirate /UH-34D U.S. Marines Helicopter Scaled Plastic Model Kit

The Italeri 1/48 H-34A Pirate / UH-34D U.S. Marines is a detailed scale model kit of the rugged Sikorsky transport helicopter that served with the United States Marine Corps from the late 1950s. An intermediate-level kit, it suits modellers with some building experience who are ready for finer detail. A photo-etched fret adds crisp detail that standard plastic parts can't match, and a super decal sheet provides markings for five different versions. A full colour instruction sheet guides you through each stage, and the completed model measures 360mm.

The HUS-1 Seahorse was derived from the Sikorsky HSS-1 Seabat, an anti-submarine helicopter produced from the mid-1950s. Developed for tactical transport, it was used widely by the United States Marine Corps from 1957. Robust and reliable, it could carry 16 fully equipped soldiers or 1,300kg of supplies, and its Wright R-1820 Cyclone piston engine gave it a top speed of 200km/h. The U.S. Army deployed it as the H-34 in South East Asia in an armed close support role, fitted with 7.62mm M60 machine guns. During the Algerian War, the French Army developed a more heavily armed version carrying three 12.7mm Browning machine guns and a 20mm MG151 cannon. A true workhorse of the skies, now reporting for duty on your display shelf.