WOW430 Sikorsky H-34

Description

The Sikorsky S-58 was developed as a lengthened and more powerful version of the Sikorsky Model S-55, or UH-19 Chickasaw, with a similar nose, but with a tail dragger rear fuselage and landing gear, rather than the high-tail, 4-post pattern. It retained the nose-mounted radial reciprocating engine with the drive shaft passing through the cockpit placed high above the cargo compartment.

The aircraft first flew on 8 March 1954. The first production aircraft was ready in September and entered in service for the US Navy initially designated HSS-1 Seabat (in its anti-submarine configuration) and HUS-1 Seahorse (in its utility transport configuration) under the U.S. Navy designation system for U.S. Navy, USMC and USCG aircraft. The U.S. Army and Marine Corps, respectively, ordered it in 1955 and 1957.

French evaluations on the reported ground fire vulnerabilities of the CH-34 during the Algerian war may have influenced the U.S. Army’s decision to deploy the CH-21 Shawnee to Vietnam instead of the CH-34, pending the introduction into widespread service of the Bell UH-1 Iroquois. U.S. Army H-34s did not participate in Vietnam or fly in the assault helicopter role.

However USMC H-34s were also among the first helicopter gunships trialed in the Vietnam theatre, being fitted with two M60C machine guns and two 19-shot rocket pods. The operations were met with mixed enthusiasm, and the armed H-34s, known as “Stingers” were quickly phased out. From then on H-34’s were used in the troop transportation role by the USMC until the US withdrawal from the Vietnam theatre.

Our 1/30 scale hand carved Mahogany H-34 is available in 2 variants: WOW429 with two eyes painted on front and serial number YP20 and then WOW430 with serial number YN19 and yellow paint on top of the fuselage.  Both aircraft served in Vietnam. We have two of each model available priced at $1400 each plus postage. The K&C figures and TG accessories are shown for scale comparison purposes only and are not included.