Ch 53 Super Stallion Questions

The Navy's current MCM platform is a MH-53E. The retired the RH-53s (Ds) a while ago.

Yup, hide the beer, Im a member of Alcoholics and Criminals anonomous, AKA the Betio Bastards lol.
Mem
What unit r u with

oh man it's 3/2, hide the beer.

In reference to a couple of things, the mercedes benz vehicles my bros in the corps use are called IFAVs (Improved Fast Attack Vehicles) The 53Es I rode on during my four years usually had the 50 cals mounted in the windows, and the occasional Mark 19 mounted on the ramp, dont ask me why, but I saw a few in Iraq set up the same way. Yes, the D and E mods are totally different on the top end, 3 turbines compared to 2 on the d, larger rotor head, and one more rotor just to name a few differences. Also, the D usually had larger blister packs on the side, compared to the e and usually wasnt outfitted with drop tanks the way the e models are. Check out the Navys version that they use for minesweeping (its a D model) to get a better idea.
Mem0ryLeak2005
Cpl, Inactive Reserve
USMC
0621/ 0656
3rd Bn 2nd Marines
Task Force Tarawa

Well, that answers that question pretty easily. I think I'll pass, as I've got plenty of stuff already in the stash to build before I worry about trying to modify a D to correct E stats.

QUOTE: Originally posted by yardbird78 One thing to keep in mind. The CH and HH-53, models A, B,C and D are totally different birds than the 3 engined E model used by the Marines. It looks very similar, but is actually a much larger machine. The obvious external differences include: the third engine, the "turtle deck" tapering from the upper fuselage area by the rotor head almost to the tail, the vertical stab is canted to port about 10 degrees and the main rotor has 7 blades instead of 6 with a larger diameter. You cannot simply take, say an HH-53D, add a third engine and call it an E.

The Revell CH-53G/S is the German designation for the US C/D models. Not an E model, above are the diferences.

Revell of Germany has a 1/48 -53, I believe they call it a 53G/S. Anybody know how close to an E model that would be? I almost pulled the trigger on buying one yesterday, but then I thought I'd hold off and do a little more searching.

Seems to be coming along nicely now. The kit really isn't good, alot of doctoring is needed. Alot of practice!
Thanks for the help everyone,
Chris Atler.

QUOTE: Originally posted by ridleusmc Nobody make a 1/48 scale kit, but Italeri made a 1/72 scale kit. Revell Germany later reboxed it with different decals.

One thing to remember about these kits. They were originally produced over 10 years ago. They were pretty accurate at that time. The H-53, like most other military aircraft has undergone various modifications since then. Some of these are black box type things that are not visible on the outside. Other items like the FLIR ball, IR missile sensors, flare/chaff dispensers, etc are visible and should be added for realism on a modern day machine. Most magazine and book references are several years old also, so recent pictures would need to be obtained from some source.

Nobody make a 1/48 scale kit, but Italeri made a 1/72 scale kit. Revell Germany later reboxed it with different decals. They're kinda hard to find, but I'm sure they're out there.

Both kits lack detail and have fit issues, and the italeri decals are inaccurate. They got the squadron designations wrong. The kit decals say HMM-464, which doesn't exist. However, there is an HMH-464, so a little surgery with an exacto knife can fix that. The main rotor head of both kits is down right sad. It's just too plain and basic. They could have done more, even for the small scale. The interiors and cockpits lack pretty bad too. They didn't make much of an effort to represent the cabin, and the cockpit doesn't even look like a 53 pit. Missile detectors which bulge out of the fuselage under the pilot/copilot escape hatches and before the folding tail section aren't even there. And neither is the Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) ball.

Even with all of these problems these Italeri and Revell Germany kits are about the only kits out there of the CH-53E. Some patients, time, research and scratchbuilding could turn these kits into a good representation of the Marine Corp's "Big Iron." I only work on my CH-53E kit from time to time. I'm a 53E mechanic, so everything needs to be juuuust riiiiight.

Chris,

Just to clarify on engine mods...I was referring to the actual engine nacelles themselves for #1 and #3 on the Es, and #1 and #2 on the A-D series. #2 engine on the Echos is positioned right behing #1 on the port side.

And no one makes a 1/48 -53E do they? I've got the old Revell HH-53C sitting on my shelf waiting, though I think it may go the Pave Low route. From what I've been reading here at FSM it would take some major surgery to change a -53C to a USMC -53E.

Man, I really want one of these. Well, if the -47 hits the shelves, maybe I can hope that a -53E will make it someday (maybe after I've whittled down the stash a little more).

One thing to keep in mind. The CH and HH-53, models A, B,C and D are totally different birds than the 3 engined E model used by the Marines. It looks very similar, but is actually a much larger machine. The obvious external differences include: the third engine, the "turtle deck" tapering from the upper fuselage area by the rotor head almost to the tail, the vertical stab is canted to port about 10 degrees and the main rotor has 7 blades instead of 6 with a larger diameter. You cannot simply take, say an HH-53D, add a third engine and call it an E.

Chris,

Just as Ridle mentioned, I've only seen the Ramp mounted .50 Cal (M3M) when transporting troops or other cargo besides wheeled vehicles.

As for engine mods...not sure what you're asking. The H-53 uses the T64-GE series engine. Not very much difference from the 53D-53E.

Chris,

.50 cal mounts are not used on the ramp when CH-53E's transport vehicles internally. The CH-53E can carry 2 of the Marine Corps new recon vehicles (made by Mercedes) internally. I forget what those things are called, but they look like extended jeep wranglers. 53's also carry all sorts of aircraft Ground Support Equipment (aircraft tugs, Electrical Power Plants, Hydraulic power units, etc) internally. Many Marine Recon units use Yamaha dirt bikes which fit very easily. Humvee's, M198 howitzers, and even Paranah Light Armored Vehicles (LAV's) can be carried externally.
All this information applies to Marine Corps CH-53E's. I don't know very much about the other 53 variants.