Loach Driver

Congratulations on a fabulous model! LD.

It is 30 years today since the Battle of the Black Sea. May all who died that day rest in peace. LD.

Here are two further pics of the NAS Oceana SAR bird. Possibly 143725 (?). LD.

Jam packed with detail, as usual. Great build. LD.

Great picture, Bill, and very interesting. As an aside, I just discovered today that the original issue of the Fujimi 1/72 SH-3 kit featured decals for the USMC's MX16. If only they had selected markings for MX15 instead! 😀 The same markings were included in the same kit when it was re-released in 2001 so that might be the version to seek out. Decals from 2001 might still be useable. The original decals from 1981 are probably past their sell-by date by now. LD.

Your truck and crane combo are a work of art. Great work. LD.

No need to worry about your answers dragging on. They simply don't! It is fascinating to read all these little bits of information on a helicopter operation that, although acknowledged and public, is still something of a mystery because so much of it is either classified or operates on a "need to know" basis, and in general, most of the public don't need to know! Thanks for replies and any photos will be welcome. LD.

Thanks for all this fascinating information. Do I understand this correctly - MX-15 would have served the same purpose as the CH-3B 52-12571? As in "If the bomb drops, MX-15 goes to the South Lawn and picks up the Commander-in-Chief and whisks him away to Air Force One or to a secure location (bunker)? If so, it's interesting to now have two different Sea Kings identified that were assigned to just such a role! 👍 Here is one of your photos of MX-15. LD.

Here is another interesting SAR bird from NAS Oceania. LD.

Very nice result from that old kit. LD.

💥! Can’t say fairer than that! LD.

This photo I found elsewhere on Flickr. NAS Whidbey Rescue bird. Does anyone have any further pics of this machine? LD.

It appears the Modeldecal sheet doesn’t feature the small piece of nose art or the required third unit crest. This can all be corrected by inclusion in this new sheet! 😀👍 LD.

Hi John. Thanks for the heads-up on the NASA sig and also the 1/144 one. I have a few queries that I would like to forward to both groups. The 747-Shuttle combo is one I have looked at but failed to mention. That thought of building that Revell combo kit is scary, given how big it would be, even in the smaller scale. LD.

I should have read the very first post in this thread. This sheet is dedicated to Navy SH-3s only. 🤦‍♂️ I guess that means my previous suggestions are null and void. The SH-3s of the Apollo recovery missions have been well-documented and numerous decals have been released covering "Old 66" as well as other Apollo recovery Sea Kings. The Gemini recovery operations have received less attention. Here is 152134, an SH-3A of HS-3, "The Tridents". It performed the recovery of Charles Conrad and Richard Gordon, the crew of Gemini XI, on the 16th of September 1966. As can be seen in one of

If it's OK, I'd like to suggest the following aircraft for consideration as subjects in the up-coming SH-3 sheet. First up is 62-12571 employed on the "Outpost Mission" evacuation plan for the U.S. President in the eventuality of a nuclear attack on the U.S. capital. Thankfully, this was one helicopter that never had cause to ferry the President! 💣 It was attached to the 2857th Test Squadron based at Olmsted AFB. Thanks to AndyF117 for bringing this machine to wider attention. Next up is another USAF CH-3, attached to the 6593rd Test Squadron based at Hickam A

Thanks for taking the time to share that information and photographs. 👍 LD.

I have only just come across this thread today so apologies. Nice result on your SH-3 build. LD.

Is there a possibility of issuing this sheet in 1/144 as well? The AFV Club kit looks to be a fine little kit that needs some attention from your good self. 👍 LD. P.S. I second the calls for including the USAF SH-3 62-12571 used on the "outpost Mission". It is a colourful and unique scheme.

The USAF's HH-3 39683 can also be added to the list of aircraft that flew in support of NASA's space programs. It flew rescue cover in the Cape Canaveral area during the launch of both Gemini 6 and Gemini 9. It will take some work to convert AFV Club's SH-3 into a HH-3. 😬 LD.

Nice work for such a small scale. LD.

Nice pics. Is she quieter than the CH-53E? Perhaps with the new composite blades are not as loud as the older H-53 blades. LD.

I found this picture of MX23 on the cover of "Leatherneck" magazine from July 1970. Would that date indicate the MX23 was a CH-53A? If that is the case, it was a CH-53A fitted with the "HH-53C" style external tanks when it was used for testing on the South Lawn. I could be wrong on this assumption too, though! 😬 LD.

Great spot there, Andy! The two branches of the armed forces certainly went to some lengths to assert their respective identities, right down to the shades of green they used to paint their helicopters! Here is another HMX-1 Sea King in flight over Washington DC. The caption on this photo indicates it is an SH-3G. I'd imagine this picture might depict a training flight for a new pilot being trained up for "White Top" operations, but who knows. LD.

Apologies for the slow reply to both comments. Work had me away from any computer for a few days. Andy, thanks for clarifying the situation in relation to the "MX" tail codes. I had always assumed these were Presidential support aircraft, as a rule. Dan, thanks as well for your comments. Always good to hear from a H-53 expert. The 1/144 Revell H-53 kit really is underexploited by Revell, if you ask me. They should release the HH-53 kit again with external tanks and refuelling probe in USAF, USMC and US Navy markings (RH-53D) as well as a Green Side CH-53D. They'd sell well! I found