I have alot of scratchbuilding ahead of me (Academy CH-53E) FINISHED!

Thank you guys for taking an interest in this build.  I had alot of fun building it, but even more fun sharing it. 

SEMPER FI

Chris

Thanks fella's I'm glad you like her. 

Brian, The A/C color and the non-skid color came together in the final dull coat.  I use Tamiya Flat Base mixed with Future (1:3) for my dull coat.  It has an effect of of adding a grey tinge to everything.  I discovered this effect on my last two builds (Mig 15 and F6F-3), so I intentionally overdid the dull coat to give all of the non-skid black and black markings a slightly grey hue.  To my eye, it looks like sunfaded/weathered black. The grey tinge didn't effect the primary grey color of the aircraft, but it did lighten up the upper surface grey.  This was a positive as well, because there was a stark contrast between the two shades of grey. 

Blackhawk Matt, I was able to resist the urge to scratchbuild everything by telling myself that I'd like to see this on my shelf instead of in parts on my bench.  I was considering opening up engine cowlings, gearboxes and Hydraulic compartments at the beginning of this build.  I'm willing to do some scratchbuilding, but I didn't want to bite off more than I could chew.  I'm sure I could have labored on it for years, but I'm sure I would have gotten sick of it.   

Semper Fi,

Chris  

WOW,

I have been watching this thread for a long time now and I can say that your firsthand experience really shows in all the little details that you added.  How did you resist the temptation to add everything that you see on a daily basis?  I ask because I am currently working on a 48 scale blackhawk, and being an army blackhawk pilot, I have to walk away before I go nuts trying to add all the little details that I know are there (however, I think that on the 35th scale blackhawk, I will try to super-detail the heck out of her).

Great build, nice subtle weathering on the bird, and once again thanks for sharing!!

Hey Chris,

WOW, great job on your girl!!!  I don't know what you did but but you really brought the a/c color and the non-skid color together just right(forget my email question). I couldn't believe how you brought out the little things like the #3 eng. piano hindges (your 2nd pic).

WOWZERS and then some

Brian

 Great job, Marine. Way to be Semper Fi!!

    60
 

ridleusmc wrote:

I didn't want to overdue the weathering, but I knew I could go without putting some exhaust marks on her.

I can Imagine what went through your mind!  I have seen a few at stops here and there and I can see that they live up to the name S!*$$@R  in more ways than one.

Really great job on that one!

Mac

Definitely a thing of beauty.  I knew from the get-go that you'd knock this one out of the park, and you sure didn't let us down at all!  I can almost hear the familiar sounds of one of these beasts roaring overhead while looking at your photos.  Great work!

Very nice build! That beast fits very well in your collection.

Thanks guys for the kind words.  I'm happy with this one, and I'm proud of how it turned out. 

Yeah SSgt, It did just have a 14 day.  No, I decided to model A/C 16 from a photo I had of her operating from the USS Kearsarge just before the invasion of Iraq.  She must have been a couple of months out of SDLM (Scheduled Depot Level Maintenance), because she didn't look too badly torn up, even with the one off-color engine cowling.  However, there's no escaping the exhaust stains.  It only take a couple of flight hours for those to show up. 

Semper Fi,

Chris

Shes a BEAST!! Great work

Will

Nice, but she is a bit clean. You must have done a 14 day on it.

Looks good!!! are you going to do one more?

Thanks guys,

I'm glad you like her.  I didn't want to overdue the weathering, but I knew I could go without putting some exhaust marks on her.  I used pastel chalk on the fuselage and flat black from the airbrush on the Rotor blades.  I originally wanted to add oil and hydraulic streaks from the engines, but I decided against it.  It would be hard to undo if I messed it up. 

Semper Fi,

Chris 

I am impressed!!!!!!!!!   I can only dream of building anything to look that good! 

If you haven't figured it out, yet?  Great build, Chris!!!!!!!

WOW

Rich

OUTSTANDING BUILD !!!!!

You did a Great job on her. What really stands out to be is the weathing. In one of your photos where it says " MARINES" it is covered by the eng fumes. " I am still working on my 1st cup of coffee, can't think of the works I am looking for "

All in All Well Done

2

Bud

AWESOME job, Chris.
It's a thing of beauty (at least for something without skids, that is ).

Semper Fi,
Andy

Done

What do you guys think?

Semper Fi,

Chris

Thanks Bud,

I think I'll have it done within the next couple of Days.  No more pics until it's done. 

Semper Fi,

Chris 

Looking GOOD Chris

Bud

To Tell you the truth SSgt,  I don't know.

Semper Fi,

Chris

I've finally started uglying it up. 

It's finally getting there.

Semper Fi,

Chris

Looking great, Chris. Keep up the beautiful work on this beast! And I remember seeing ol' Calvin and Hobbes -- freaking awesome that you got some custom decals like that.

SF,
Andy

 I can't wait to see it finished, Chris!! I like the door decal.

                 60
 

Decals, Decals, Decals, Man there are alot of decals on this thing.  I replaced some of the Academy decals with some custom ones made from CustomHobbyDecals.com   They did a good job, and it didn't cost me much.  $15 per set, no Shipping.  I bought 2 sets to have some backups.  I really fear busted decals.  I'm building this machine how it looked in the Spring and Summer of 2003. 

Semper Fi,

Chris

Sorry Timmy,

It's getting Condor Colors. 

Semper Fi,

Chris

Just found this thread.  Great build good to see it being built by someone who knows the airplane!  I would however love to see it in proper markings.   IRONHORSE!  Great work - in any case!

 Semper Fi!

 Erin "Timmy!" Kewin

(former Ironhorse, stick actuator)