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I hope Academy does this!

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  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Greencastle, IN
I hope Academy does this!
Posted by eizzle on Monday, May 14, 2007 7:45 PM
I wonder if they will make a PaveLow out of their CH-53 kit? Seems there is probably a market for it, and it couldn't require a whole lot more could it? I know, I could go buy a resin set, convert it and all that, but dang it, sometimes its nice to just build OOB! So somebody tell me some good news that they are doing it?

Colin

 Homer Simpson for president!!!

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Monday, May 14, 2007 8:32 PM
No word if they actually will, however, there are locator holes on the inside of the fuselage to be drilled out for the larger side sponsons and a few other MH-53E specific features.  So maybe we will get a future USN MH-53E.  Keep your fingers crossed.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Greencastle, IN
Posted by eizzle on Monday, May 14, 2007 9:20 PM
That would just be an awesome addition to the DAP and MH-60's that are someday going to find their way to the shelfs, along with the CH-53 as well! Thanks for shining some hope into my day Gino!Bow [bow]

Colin

 Homer Simpson for president!!!

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Modeling anything with "MARINES" on the side.
Posted by AH1Wsnake on Monday, May 14, 2007 11:32 PM

The Pave Low is a twin-engined model, similar to the CH-53D. The current CH-53E kit is the Marine 3-engined bird. So, some extensive re-work of the doghouse area would be needed if Academy were to release the USAF version. As I look at it, Academy molded the -53E's doghouse right on to the fuselage -- so there won't be a convenient swapping-out of engine-specific parts, unlike Italeri's Cobras (common fuselage, kit-specific engine packs).

Still, I'd welcome the possibility. I'm just afraid that it would require a bit more tooling than simply adding a sprue of Pave Low-specific parts to the box.

Andy

**edit... the extra locator holes Gino talked about will probably only be for the Navy's Sea Dragon version, which also has 3 engines.

 

 

"There are only two kinds of people that understand Marines: Marines and those who have met them in battle. Everyone else has a second-hand opinion."
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posted by ridleusmc on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 2:44 AM

Snake is right,

The MH-53J "Pave Low" and the CH-53E are vastly different airframes.  Not only does the 53E have another engine, but the airframe is quite a bit larger on the E model.  The tail structures are different. The 53E has a tail which is canted 5 degrees to the left, as compared to the MH-53J's straight tail.  The sponsons are different, and so is the Main rotor pylon.  The blades are similar, but not exactly the same.  CH-53E's have a 2.5 foot blade extender on the blades root end.  An MH-53J would need to be a whole new kit. 

MH-53J's are updated B and C models dating back to the Vietnam era.  H-53A's, B's, C's and D's were very similar.  They greatest difference between them was in their engines, all of which were variations on GE's T-64.  The CH-53E was a completely different beast.  Sikorsky "went back to the drawing board,"  and the whole aircraft was changed greatly.  It got a third engine, plus a seventh main rotor blade.  It was lengthened and widened, and it's tail was redesigned.  All of these changes were to give the Marine Corps the ability to carry greater payloads. 

The price paid was in maintenance to flight hour ratio.  It takes more work to get a 53E in the air than any other in the series. 

The CH-53E has a twin brother, which is the Navy's MH-53E.  It has huge sponsons and provisions in the cabin for towing a sonar sled for mine detection.  There are some rear view mirrors on the chin bubbles so the pilot can see the Sonar sled.  Other than that, the CH-53E and the MH-53E are identicle twins.  Academy's kit fuselage has provisions for both sponsons. 

I think some people may be getting the Navy's MH-53E mixed up with the Air Force's MH-53J.  But they're far from similar. 

Sikorsky will be producing a CH-53K for the Marine Corps in the next decade.  It will be much different from all previous 53's.  It will be larger than the E model, with 7 main rotor blades and 3 engines.  The blades will be of a new airfoil with sloped tips for greater lift and quieter operation.  Much of the fuselage will be made of composites to make the aircraft lighter and tougher.  GE is slated to make a new generation of engine which is expected to make over 6500 shp.  It will have a "glass cockpit," and "fly-by-wire."  It will have larger sponsons, but will do away with the big Auxiliary fuel tanks.  Much of it's design will be focused at reducing maintenance, thereby reducing its cost of operation and increasing its flight readyness.  None of this is top secret, I read it in Marine Corps Times. 

Semper Fi,

Chris      

  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Maryland
Posted by Chief Snake on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 7:47 AM

My closely held informed sources say that is not being considered at all.

 

Chief Snake 

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Greencastle, IN
Posted by eizzle on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 8:34 AM
Well, I guess I can wish in one hand.... anyway, thanks for the info guys. I knew the "E" was different than the pavelows, but I didnt realize how different. Oh well, we can always dream and use resin!

Colin

 Homer Simpson for president!!!

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posted by ridleusmc on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 1:02 PM
 Chief Snake wrote:

My closely held informed sources say that is not being considered at all.

 

Chief Snake 

May be true, and may not, but Sikorsky is certainly investing $$$.  Uncle Sam's Misguided Children are hurting for fresh heavy lifters.  I can speak from experience the E models are getting ooooold, and D models are still in the inventory. 

Semper Fi,

Chris

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 1:09 PM
 ridleusmc wrote:
 Chief Snake wrote:

My closely held informed sources say that is not being considered at all.

 

Chief Snake 

May be true, and may not, but Sikorsky is certainly investing $$$.  Uncle Sam's Misguided Children are hurting for fresh heavy lifters.  I can speak from experience the E models are getting ooooold, and D models are still in the inventory. 

Semper Fi,

Chris

 

I think he meant that Academy is not considering making an MH-53E or MH-53J Pave Low kit.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Maryland
Posted by Chief Snake on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 2:54 PM

I'm talking model kits, not real aircraft production. MH-53E Sea Dragon from MRC is highly likely.

 The MH-53J is not.

Chief Snake 

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posted by ridleusmc on Thursday, May 17, 2007 12:51 PM

Sorry, Sorry,

I misunderstood. 

I agree with you about the model kits.  The MH-53E is very likely.  The CH-53E kit needs little more than some new sponsons and rear view mirrors to make it an MH-53E.  I wonder if they'd add a sonar skid to the kit.

Semper Fi,

Chris

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