WIP 1/48 CH-53E

Thanks, the rivetting took @ 8-9 hours, which is why I have been hesitating on starting my next one.

 

Yours is coming along nicely, man is that a big gap. I had one as well, but a little smaller.

 

mason

Thanks for the help brian. I can visualize myself installing the horizontal cords, but the PE for the rings ate me alive, since this was my first run with PE. I honestly do'nt know if I have it in me to do that type of detail without getting glue everywhere...I can here the" OH NO HE DID'NT"'s right now. I am thinking about doing the Sea Dragon later this year, if I get a better magnifying glass I might try. Thanks for the "inside info".

Hello Brutus,

CH/RH-53D's and the early CH-53E model had the troop seats that you have installed. We would wind (a single strand) green parachute cord from the bottom of the fwd most window -port side (called "gunner's window/1st mech window) then aft, usually just wrapping around the next meat hooks (litter mounts) and continueing aft to the ramp. Another Parachute cord was started at the aft end of the crew door (crewchief's side-starboard) at the same level--the bottom of the fuselage(cabin) windows and run aft, all the way till the ramp rib. The troop seat-belts were strung over the parachute cord to help on-boarding troops to visulize their "butt-parking" area, and then only made it look somewhat organized.                                

In the side fuselage pic which shows your lap belts: looking right to left(fwd/aft) the 1st and 2nd belts are about correct....each troop had a left and right belt which were connected to a ring mounted at the top(horizontally) OF THE TROOP SEAT, we would then run each left/right seat belt-half up and over the parachute cord, connect the seat belt halves which made a somewhat triangle/pyramaid shape. Between windows (between meat hooks) the cord would be streched lower in the center due to the tightening of the seat belts to reduce slack/flapping.

The left-and-right of.. center fuselage floor..squares were dual purpose: 1.) each square housed a receptacle to recieve each..vertical..troop seat leg, and 2.)provide tie-down up to 4400 lbs per. ...CH/RH.    I don't know the tie-dwon value for the "E".             

 

hope that helped, Brian

Tell me about it, almost 3/16" at the widest part. Everyone I've talked to that has built this said they had fit issues with it. The good news is its on the bottom, and with a little filler it should come together nicely. I hope.

Wow that's one heck of a gap!

Anyhow, great progress!

Finally got the main hull and sponsoons assembled and installed. The top of the hull came together nicely, but there was a fit issue with the bottom. Strip styrene was used to fill the gap, will hit it with some filler, sand and rescribe the panel lines.

Yes, I've seen pics of eduard's offerings, and what is shown on the outside of the box doesn't look right.  Here's a link to that other thread I was talking about regarding an earlier -53 build.  I was wrong, the OP's handle is "riddleusmc", Chris is rather his first name.  Lots of good reference photos attached:

 /forums/705721/ShowPost.aspx

Yama,

Thanks for the input. The seatbelts for both the cargo area and the front seats are whatever came with the Eduard PE kits, so I'm not sure if they're accurate or not. The one thing I could not find when I was looking at pics was bench seats on the real thing, they all looked like individual fold down seats. I'm not an expert, and never been in the military, so I dont know what's accurate. Thanks again, all input appreciated. 

**Not to sound ignorant, just following directions...don't hit me**

Looks good Brutus, just one little thing...those seat belts are supposed to be lap belts, not shoulder belts, I'm 99% sure.  Unless something changed, the "old" style jump seats that are modeled in Academy's '53 used older belts.  The newer seats are "crashworthy" troop seats and have lap and shoulder belts.  Also, they look a lot different than the old jump seats.  I looked and couldn't find any good pics to show what I'm talking about, and I'm not back to the squadron for another week, so any pics I can provide might have to wait.  Somebody with the handle of either "Chris" or "Chris53" did an awesome job on one of the first Academy -53 kits released, and might have more knowledge on the subject.  He was also with one of the HMHs at New River, if I remember correctly.

Your build is coming along very nice.

Mason, love the weathering on yours

Charlie

Looks great!  Ready to crank and pull pitch!  I like your weathering.

Mason, wicked cool weathering job, that is precisely the look I'm going for. I connected the fuselage halves and built the engine and sponsoons, I will keep all posted

 

PS...Mason, how long did it take you to do the rivet detail ?? I don't think I have that kind of patience...

Nice start on your interior.

 

As far as Navy grey paint job, On my las tbuild, I did the base grey paint scheme, put on the decals, and then hit it with a lt grey mist, most of the 53s I have seen look pretty bleached out and dirty. Then I hit the exhaust area with a mist of rust and black that looked pretty oily. Finally I hit specific areas with a red/black pastel combo to bring out the grime that accumulates on the rivets and panel lines.

 

 

My build, /forums/957806/ShowPost.aspx

 

Hope this helps,

 

mason

 

Looks good so far. I am working on one of these myself. I just joined the fuselage and I am now in the biggest putty party I have ever seen. 

I decided to leave the cockpit bits out until just before I stick the nose on for painting to keep me from breaking, bending, or who knows what to all those tiny bits sticking out.