Sikorsky CH-54A Tarhe Helicopter Model Kit 1/35 - ICM 53054

The ICM 53054 Sikorsky CH-54A Tarhe model kit in 1/35 scale recreates one of the most recognizable heavy transport helicopters in American military aviation. Nicknamed Tarhe, this aircraft is distinguished by its flying-crane architecture: an advanced cockpit, a clear central structure, and a massive main rotor. With a length of 770 mm once assembled, this scale model is a particularly striking centerpiece for a collection focused on helicopters, the US Army, or the Vietnam War.

The Sikorsky CH-54 Tarhe is derived from the Sikorsky S-64, whose first flight took place on May 9, 1962. Developed as a heavy helicopter, it was based on a modular design intended to make maintenance and repair operations easier. Its high, three-point landing gear, with a nose wheel, left significant space beneath the aircraft structure. This arrangement was essential to its flying-crane role, as it allowed bulky loads to be carried under the fuselage.

In military service, the CH-54A was used for lifting and external transport missions. During the Vietnam War, it was notably used to evacuate damaged aircraft and helicopters, as well as to move heavy equipment such as artillery pieces, vehicles, tanks, or boats. Its winches enabled it to lift a load during hovering without needing to land. This out-of-gauge transport capability explains the Tarhe’s very distinctive look and makes a model of this helicopter especially interesting.

The CH-54 was also used to carry high-yield bombs intended to clear wooded areas in order to create airfields. The aircraft set ten world records in its category, including lifting a 15-ton load to an altitude of 3,307 meters. The concept’s legacy continued in the civilian sector with the Erickson S-64 Aircrane, used for specialized lifting operations.

This ICM plastic kit represents the CH-54A Tarhe in its heavy American helicopter configuration. It allows you to capture the aircraft’s unusual lines: the forward cockpit, the open central fuselage, the high-set landing gear, the lateral propulsion units, the six-blade main rotor, and the anti-torque rotor. The 1/35 scale highlights the open structure and exceptional proportions of this machine, which is very different from a conventional transport helicopter.

With its 573 parts, the kit offers detailed assembly for modelers who want to depict a major aircraft from the post-war era of American aviation. Its final format also allows for display on a base, either standalone or integrated into a diorama inspired by a maintenance area, a military airfield, or a recovery operation. The Tarhe is particularly well suited to scenes emphasizing its external transport and lifting mission.

The ICM 53054 reference is a static model kit to assemble and paint. It is an excellent subject for enthusiasts of American military helicopters, Vietnam War equipment, and large-scale aviation models. The CH-54A’s iconic silhouette, combined with the 1/35 scale, also makes it a natural choice to accompany military vehicles and figures in the same scale.

Technical features:

• Plastic model kit to assemble.
• Brand: ICM.
• Reference: 53054.
• Subject: Sikorsky CH-54A Tarhe, heavy American helicopter.
• Scale: 1/35.
• Era: after 1950.
• Number of parts: 573.
• Dimensions of the assembled model: 770 x 180 mm.
• Box dimensions: 410 x 260 x 55 mm.