1/72 CH-53D?

The only differences between a CH-53D and a HH-53C is the Engines, paint and armorment.  CH-53D's use T-64-GE-412's or -413's.  HH-53C's used T-64-GE-7.  All made by General Electric.  (GE brings good things to life.)     

The Air Force liked to mount M134 7.62mm miniguns at their right side crew door, left side A/O window and on the ramp.  Marines would mount a couple of .50 cals, one at the crew door and one at the A/O window. 

I have built Italeri's CH-53E in 1/72, and I have Italeri's HH-53C in my "one day it will be built" pile.  I'm not impressed by either kit, but both can accurized with a little TLC and some good reference material.

The Italeri Airforce HH-53C could be made into a Marine Corps CH-53D simply by adjusting paint scemes and finding some decals. 

I saw on your site links that you build fire fighting equipment and vehicles.  Are you doing one of those CH-53D's that were fitted for fire fighting duty?  That would be cool.     

Semper Fi,

Chris        

Yep, that is the plan. Heavylift got a couple of USMC CH-53D's they are converting to heli-tankers in a very patriotic red white & blue scheme. It seems like a neat project to duplicate eventually. I did see R-G has an MH-53J, if wikipedia is correct the J is a rebuilt D, so that might work or maybe I should quit being cheap and just get the Fujimi H-53D.   

Thanks

Aaronw wrote:

Yep, that is the plan. Heavylift got a couple of USMC CH-53D's they are converting to heli-tankers in a very patriotic red white & blue scheme.

Hi Aaron,

I had found a picture on the internet a while back of the type aircraft you described... probably the same one you're referencing?

It sure does look good!

Take care,

Frank

That looks like one of them, they actually have the whole rehab and buildup posted on their site as a slide show.

http://www.heavylifthelicopters.com/

I've got the Italeri /72 MH-53J kit no.030 and after inspecting inside see it can't truely build the -53 fire fighting version, such as in the pic that _OldHooker_sent you.  The Italeri kit comes with the EAPS(engine air particle seperators)  but doesn't include the seperate NGB(nose gearbox) cowling [notice in the pic that the engine has a big hole upfront,,,no filtering system].  If you can find Airfix kit no.06004 or MPC kit no.1-4401 [looks like same mold-diff box] they include parts that make the bird you want to make. I can't recall if I built the Fujimi /72 -53 kit so cannot advise if parts are included to make the correct fire fighter.

If I can help further...holler or email.

Brian 

Hey AaronW,

I searched but couldn't find a pic showing the parts trees for the Italeri hh-53c so I can't advise if this kit would be able to build into the fire fighting version -53 that you want. I have gone thru my parts box and have found four sets of NGB cowlings but it will take abit of work to blend into a set of engine cowlings not made to be filter-less.                                          The following doesn't have anything to do with your future build just advising something I noticed: After reviewing the pics in 'heavylifthelicopters' site it looks like they actually have a 'Super A' type -53. Marines had/have the A,Super A,D and E series. The giveaway was the location of the single-point-refueling-panel being on the forward/outside of the port sponson instead of being on the fuselage/port side forward of the sponson. Yes,there is a panel there but that's the panel where the engine-wash-cart is hooked up, the refueling panel is twice as big. As well, the outsides of each sponson is void of the sponson fuel dump hardware and even mount pads. Why did the airframe have radar/launch detectors and chaff/flare disspensor mounts if only a 'super A'? I can only figure due being located at MCAS Tustin,Ca. This base housed [IMHO] the biggest bastard collection of -53series from the 70s into the 80s; honestly, this type of upgrade on this old airframe makes no sense..but that's why I'm not in charge(lol).

Brian    

Italeri's HH-53C DOES NOT have the Nose Gear box fairing/engine intake.  It only has the EAPS (engine air particle seperators),which would cover the NGB fairing/engine intake.  I'm sure something can be made up.  I remember seeing someone built a 1/72 CH-53G (German) that has NGB/engine intake without the eaps. 

Semper Fi,

Chris 

Aaronw wrote:

That looks like one of them, they actually have the whole rehab and buildup posted on their site as a slide show. http://www.heavylifthelicopters.com/

Ha, my buddies dad is a mechanic for heavy lift. little while back on our way to some conventions in vegas we stopped into apple valley to say hi and he brought us down to the airport to show us the conversions they were doing to retired military choppers. got some good pics of that chopper stripped down and also of the sky crane. really cool stuff, you dont really realize how big they are til your being dwarfed by them

Hey Aaron,  how's the kit search going??  Besides the kits prev suggested the Airfix #06003-7 would meet your needs as well.  To date....two Airfix and one MPC kits are the same ....     If you'd like to try cutting-up an EAPs to attach the NGB[NoseGearbox]  (and doing alittle filling) cowling let me know and I'll send you at least two sets of NGB pieces. 

Just holler...there are all kinds of -53 bubbas available here

Brian 

I've got a bunch of projects going so since there isn't a "perfect" kit out there I'm just watching for a smokin' deal on ebay, hoping '07 brings a new mold of the right -53D, or finding the kit at the LHS and falling for the impulse buy.  

I also haven't got a good set of walk around pics yet, if I run across one of the heavy Lift 53's this summer the project will probably get moved up on the build list.