Revell has made a 1/48th scale H-19/S-55 since the mid fifties. You can find various releases of this kit on ebay pretty cheap. It first flew in November of 1949, so the idea of it being pushed into production earlier is not too far fetched. I actually picked up 3 of them to carry my SOTR-49 AirCav squads! I have an R-4 to arm as a light attack-spotter helicopter.
