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

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

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

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!

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

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

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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

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!!

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  

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