CH-46E conversion to Vietnam Era, is it possible?(finished Pictures)

bigfoot01 wrote:

I picked up an Academy CH-46E some time ago, before Academy released the Vietnam version. I was wondering if anyone could tell me how much work would be involved to convert the "E" to a Vietnam Era version. I believe it would be an "A thru D" version. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

The intakes are the big thing you need to fix!  the kit has the Delta ejecters, now some are going to say the stubwings, but I think the Delta kit that Academy put out has the same as the Eaco kit. But the 1:1 the E's have big SW, and the D's have the small SW.

SSgtD6152 wrote:

bigfoot01 wrote: I picked up an Academy CH-46E some time ago, before Academy released the Vietnam version. I was wondering if anyone could tell me how much work would be involved to convert the "E" to a Vietnam Era version. I believe it would be an "A thru D" version. Any help would be greatly appreciated.   The intakes are the big thing you need to fix!  the kit has the Delta ejecters, now some are going to say the stubwings, but I think the Delta kit that Academy put out has the same as the Eaco kit. But the 1:1 the E's have big SW, and the D's have the small SW.

Actually, there are several items that need to be changed to convert the E to a D. 1. Rotor systems as in the box for all their releases depict the set up for FRBs and rotor heads Fiberglass baldes and the changes to the rotor system weren't introduced until about 1977 or 78 when the first E models reached the Fleet. 2. The exhausts for the engines are "squared" for the GE-T58-16 engines instead of the older "oval" shape as found on GE-T58-8s and -10s. 3. The "stub wings" included in the "E" kit ARE significantly larger than those on a "D", these larger stubwings were introduced after the "E" model had reached the fleet and it was found that the "E" didn't have the range of the earlier Ds and Fs, due to greater fuel consumption of the GE- T58-16 engines. 4. CH-46Ds were not equipped with an external winch at the cabin door. 5. You could probably get away with the intake from the E, as some Ds were equipped with the EAPS system, which resulted in the types of intakes as provided in the E model kit. Many of the other differences were not readily apparent, for example the torque measuring equipment and instrumentation for the engines was different as was a myraid of other avionics gear. The best bet is to check your reference photos. HTH Jonathan Primm Youngsville, LA

J.H. Primm wrote:

SSgtD6152 wrote:  bigfoot01 wrote: I picked up an Academy CH-46E some time ago, before Academy released the Vietnam version. I was wondering if anyone could tell me how much work would be involved to convert the "E" to a Vietnam Era version. I believe it would be an "A thru D" version. Any help would be greatly appreciated.   The intakes are the big thing you need to fix!  the kit has the Delta ejecters, now some are going to say the stubwings, but I think the Delta kit that Academy put out has the same as the Eaco kit. But the 1:1 the E's have big SW, and the D's have the small SW. Actually, there are several items that need to be changed to convert the E to a D. 1. Rotor systems as in the box for all their releases depict the set up for FRBs and rotor heads Fiberglass baldes and the changes to the rotor system weren't introduced until about 1977 or 78 when the first E models reached the Fleet. 2. The exhausts for the engines are "squared" for the GE-T58-16 engines instead of the older "oval" shape as found on GE-T58-8s and -10s. 3. The "stub wings" included in the "E" kit ARE significantly larger than those on a "D", these larger stubwings were introduced after the "E" model had reached the fleet and it was found that the "E" didn't have the range of the earlier Ds and Fs, due to greater fuel consumption of the GE- T58-16 engines. 4. CH-46Ds were not equipped with an external winch at the cabin door. 5. You could probably get away with the intake from the E, as some Ds were equipped with the EAPS system, which resulted in the types of intakes as provided in the E model kit. Many of the other differences were not readily apparent, for example the torque measuring equipment and instrumentation for the engines was different as was a myraid of other avionics gear. The best bet is to check your reference photos. HTH Jonathan Primm Youngsville, LA

 

Yep on the baldes, but the kit has the oval exhausts in the kit, for the HMX-bird. And yes the D's do have the winch by the crew door, and No the D's did not have the EAPS. I've  worked on the things for 12 1/2 years, I know what the 1:1 has on it.

I know all about the stubwings, I had to do the A/F change on them, that was a pain btw. But is the Academy D kit have the old S/W?

SSgtD6152 wrote:

J.H. Primm wrote:  SSgtD6152 wrote:  bigfoot01 wrote: I picked up an Academy CH-46E some time ago, before Academy released the Vietnam version. I was wondering if anyone could tell me how much work would be involved to convert the "E" to a Vietnam Era version. I believe it would be an "A thru D" version. Any help would be greatly appreciated.   The intakes are the big thing you need to fix!  the kit has the Delta ejecters, now some are going to say the stubwings, but I think the Delta kit that Academy put out has the same as the Eaco kit. But the 1:1 the E's have big SW, and the D's have the small SW. Actually, there are several items that need to be changed to convert the E to a D. 1. Rotor systems as in the box for all their releases depict the set up for FRBs and rotor heads Fiberglass baldes and the changes to the rotor system weren't introduced until about 1977 or 78 when the first E models reached the Fleet. 2. The exhausts for the engines are "squared" for the GE-T58-16 engines instead of the older "oval" shape as found on GE-T58-8s and -10s. 3. The "stub wings" included in the "E" kit ARE significantly larger than those on a "D", these larger stubwings were introduced after the "E" model had reached the fleet and it was found that the "E" didn't have the range of the earlier Ds and Fs, due to greater fuel consumption of the GE- T58-16 engines. 4. CH-46Ds were not equipped with an external winch at the cabin door. 5. You could probably get away with the intake from the E, as some Ds were equipped with the EAPS system, which resulted in the types of intakes as provided in the E model kit. Many of the other differences were not readily apparent, for example the torque measuring equipment and instrumentation for the engines was different as was a myraid of other avionics gear. The best bet is to check your reference photos. HTH Jonathan Primm Youngsville, LA   Yep on the baldes, but the kit has the oval exhausts in the kit, for the HMX-bird. And yes the D's do have the winch by the crew door, and No the D's did not have the EAPS. I've  worked on the things for 12 1/2 years, I know what the 1:1 has on it. I know all about the stubwings, I had to do the A/F change on them, that was a pain btw. But is the Academy D kit have the old S/W?

I also know what the aircraft that I crewed were equipped with, and I'm here to tell ya sparky that CH-46D BuNo 154831 was equipped with EAPS, and so were about half of the other 15 D models assigned to HMM-164 during 1977-1978 and 1979-1980 while operating out of MCAS(H) Futenma.

I am sure there were some changes to retrofit some equipment into the Ds, all I am saying is Ds may have been equipped with external hoists at some point after 1980, but Ds and Fs assigned to MAG 26, MAG 16 and MAG 36 didn't have them prior to then.  HH-46As as used by SAR Dets at Cherry Point and Beaufort may have had them (along with doppler and loud hailing gear) but none of the Fs at New River, none of the Fs at Santa Ana /Tustin, and none of the Ds at Futenma had them.

I also worked on and crewed the 1:1 Ds, Fs and Es and I know what they were equipped with. Also I've got the Academy D and E sprues in my hands right now and the stubwings AREN'T the same. The ones from the E Model kit are longer and thicker than the ones from the D model kit.

Here are three D models with EAPS installed.

 

Here are three more

 

Now, this isn't to imply that ALL Ds were equipped with them, some still had the old "witch's t*ts" conical shaped intakes.

 

Thank you Gentlemen for your input. So it sounds like I would need different intakes, different rotors, and different sponsons. Since I am not fond of scratch building, I think I will just build this one OOB and look at picking up an Academy Delta. Thank you again to both of you for your advice and your service to our Country.

bigfoot01 wrote:

Thank you Gentlemen for your input. So it sounds like I would need different intakes, different rotors, and different sponsons. Since I am not fond of scratch building, I think I will just build this one OOB and look at picking up an Academy Delta. Thank you again to both of you for your advice and your service to our Country.

I plan on getting a couple of those myself. The "Viet Nam" version supposedly can be built as either an A model or D Model.

The A model is distinguished by the pronounced protrusion at the lower end of the trailing edge of the aft pylon.

As far as the rotor system goes, I wouldn't worry too much about it. The vast majority of people aren't going to know nor will they care...and it will take nothing away from the build.

Good luck on the kit, no matter which version you get it should make into something very nice.

If you do decide to get the D model, let me know and I should be able to get you some reference photos of D models that I worked on and crewed.

 

Jonathan Primm

Youngsville, LA

Also I've got the Academy D and E sprues in my hands right now and the stubwings AREN'T the same. The ones from the E Model kit are longer and thicker than the ones from the D model kit.

That is what I did not know!

These birds are D'S? Norm Clark just told me that D's had the Full Barrier Fillters and the Witch But all of that crap was way before my time. I'm a old Knight Rider too. But we had the (T) In HMM(T)-164

bigfoot!

Good to see a fellow cheesehead here on the forums!
I agree that it'd probably be easier to just build up the actual A/D version of the kit rather than converting the E. It will save you the headache. Of course what would be really easy is if Academy included parts for both versions in one kit!

If you have no intention or desire to build up the E you already have, give me a heads up. Good luck.

Go Pack!

 

this is HMM-165 Saigon bird. from back in the day.

SSgtD6152 wrote:

Also I've got the Academy D and E sprues in my hands right now and the stubwings AREN'T the same. The ones from the E Model kit are longer and thicker than the ones from the D model kit. That is what I did not know! These birds are D'S? Norm Clark just told me that D's had the Full Barrier Fillters and the Witch But all of that crap was way before my time. I'm a old Knight Rider too. But we had the (T) In HMM(T)-164

Yes, those are D models assigned to HMM-164 (1977-1980 time frame) while at MCAS(H) Futenma, Okinawa. I crewed the one in the center CH-46D 154831, built in 1968.

I went through NAMTRADET at MCAS(H) New River in 1976 and was eventually assigned to HMM-162, the CH-46Fs in all the squadrons had a mix of all three types of intakes...EAPS, "Witch's T*ts" and the full barrier filters.

HMM-164 was turned into a training squadron in 1999

Well, I did build it OOB. In my normal "clean" and buttoned up style. Clean, because thats how I like it , and buttoned up to keep the dust out. Here are a few shots:

 

 

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