PeepingBear

Hi, after dry-fitting the 1/48 Monogram AH-1S (well F) cockpit into the Fujimi Fuselage, let me say it fits quite well, but needs support or correct positioning: Fujimi has horizontal ribs at the level of the cockpit floor inside both fuselage halves, these perfectly adjust the Fujimi cockpit tub, but the side panels are too narrow, leaving ca 1 mm gap to the inner fuselage sides. OTOH, the Monogram tub fits nicely against the inner fuselage sides, but there is nothing to place it correctly. Either eyeball it and use fast setting glue or put some fine sqare plastic rod in place first, agains

BTW, some examples of built 1/72 models Hajo Lippke's MH-53J on Mdellversium (German website), based on the Airfix kit is a really nice example of a possible kit bash. Craig 'modelling minion' shows several really detailed step-by-step phots of his aifix H-53 project Somchai 'Blackeyes' built a clean IDF Yasur showing the engraved panelling of a Fujimi kit nicely. Christian Schmidt updated Fujimi's kit to the GS variant (ca. year 2000) Oliver Zwiener built a HH-53 Super Jolly Green Giant from the Fujimi kit

The sketch of the IRB is from the F-40 book "CH-53G". The new composite main rotor blades Italeri tried to represent in their CH-53E kit (top in thy picture) have a too narrow chord, the blade root is too thin, the trim tab is not wide enough and the slanted aft ends (both inner and outer) have the wrong angle. The blade root extension (correct for the CH-53E) can easily be shortened and the angle of the aft blade tip can be corrected easily. The inner slanted aft edge is harder to correct. The two painted old style blades are from a Fujimi kit, alas I made the yellow

Look here in this older thread for pictures: page 9 showing the different main blades in 48th scale (farther down) HTH Jan

If you desire to build a modernised H-53 with improved rotor blades, you could look for Italeri's MH-53E kit, this has seven rotor blades that can be used for a conversion, their shape is not perfect, but... Furthermore, you also get the larger external drop tanks (total capacity 4,921 L), the kits only offer the older and smaller external tanks (tot. cap. 1900 L?) BTW, the discontinued Eduard PE interior detail set is also for this kit, well who can see the detail is wrong for an old school H53 without a microscope...

Hi, if you visit this (German) Aviation website and register (for free), you can see the pictures I published for a comparison of all three kits: https://www.flugzeugforum.de/threads/1-72-ch-53g-bausatzvergleich-airfix-fujimi-italeri-auch-revell-bilek.53083/ Google translate will help with my German text. Best wishes and a happy new year 2025!

Hello, Academy's CH-53 kit is of Fujimi origin, not a bad choice. See photos of the spues here: Super Hobby Webshop ACA # 12575 CH-53D 1/72 Italeri's CH-53 is, AFIAK, their own mold, see details here: Super Hobby ITA # 1035 CH-53 1/72 For a walk around, see here: Burkhard Domke's CH-53G walkaround photos IMHO the best 1/72 scale starting point is the old Airfix kit: 145 parts, if I counted correctly, details and dimensions are rather nicely done, the outer fuselage is covered in rivets, like the original. Cockpit detail is ok: all controls, alas o

Just in case someone arrived here because of his/ her desire to convert an A-37 to a T-37. Oldmodels Decals (NZL) produces a really nice set of decals for the T-37. I ordered the set and really like the graphics, alas I do not yet know about ease of application. You can find the decals here: https://jaysmodelkits.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=85_140_87&products_id=2974 Having hands-on experience both with Monogram's and Trumpeter's A-37 kits, I would recommend the Trumpeter kit as a starting point for this conversion - there is more than a bit of hacking and s

Hello, you might also want to think about these decals: https://www.hahen.com/epages/64625185.mobile/de_DE/;ClassicView=1?ObjectPath=/Shops/64625185/Products/48022 HaHen produces really nice sets, well researched and printed. https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/X48248

CH-53G was the original variant, more or less equivalent to the American CH-53D. The German Heeresflieger (Army Aviation) got 112 machines between 1972 and '75. There were three operational regiments: HFlgRgt 15 in Rheine, HFlgRgt 25 in Laupheim, and HFlgRgt 35 in Mendig, each with >30 helicopters, a small number was used at the Heeresfliegerwaffenschule in Bückeburg and as test aircraft. Mendig was disbanded in 2002, their machines were handed over to the other two regiments. In the year 2012/13 the Luftwaffe took over all German CH-53, this was a problematic change, leading to a severe lo

The olimp resin conversion is not hopeless, but do not expect Aires-like detail and fit. Furthermore, It offers no instrument panel, you need to change that by scratch building. Kitty Hawk had announced a new AH-1W NTS kit in 1/48 scale, then they closed shop. Hopefully someone buys their molds and CAD so the kits reappear.

Hello Dai, a sure guess is the early / initial variant. The West German Luftwaffe used the Sabre in the 50es / 60es. When I was an active soldier at the end of the Cold War, I saw both varaints of RAL 6014 side by side, the earlier shade was a tad lighter, slightly more yellowish. The later / "younger" shade was definitely darker. BUT: This might not be due to different pigments, but a consequence of aged colour on the older specimens. This also goes along nicely with the scale effect: Especially smaller scale models look more realistic if painted in slightly lightended col

Hello Mason, and thanks for authoring this very nice walk around book. I bought it at Aviation Megastroe (Amsterdsam NLD), read it and took the liberty of writing a review for the German modeling scene: https://www.modellversium.de/presse/artikel.php?id=1239 Happy New Year! Ian

You should contact Abt. X (Dpt. X) of Revell, they are very customer oriented. Currentliy Revell offers "1/72 DGzRS Berlin & Bundeswehr Westland Seaking, Revell 05683", usually they have spares available for several months after the sale of a kit started. I always offer to pay replacement parts and postage, as of yet they never sent me a bill.

Cool idea indeed, when I was shown this in an AH-1F several years ago, I thought (and still think) how much I would like such a system in my car. Cheers Ian

This thread is getting better and better!

@ Hawkwrench/Tim: You are a heretic! 😉 @Rotoreash/Ray: Thanks for the additional pics, really helpful.

Thank you so much for these HQ pics! W. Mutza's Sqn WA is nice, but your pictures are priceless! With ICM's new big AH-1G coming and Special Hobby's 72nd scale 'Nam Cobra on the market, it's just great to have such comparisons available. Personally I plan to convert Fujimi's AH-1S (already started hacking away) and your photos will help me very much. Is there any chance you could give us some more pics of the left side and underside? E. g. the tail, because the AH-1S/F's much bigger blister over the 90deg gear needs to be shaved off and replaced with a quite smaller cov

Yea! He meant three scale feet. That is one lovely model of the 53. Especially if one knows about the old-school quality of the kit: Not bad on details but definitely not a "shake and bake" assembly. The Super Jolly Green Giant saved many a pilot, your model is a fitting memory.

Hi from Germany! Are you asking for the "dolphin scheme", offically calle norm 76? You will need Basaltgrau RAL 7012 (close to FS 36081 gunship grey) and Weissaluminium (white aluminium dope) RAL 9006 (FS 37178) and Leuchtorange (DayGlo orange) RAL 2005 (close to FS 38903) for the wingtip tanks. Do not become misguided: Our F-4F Phantoms and F-104G Starfighters were not painted Silbergrau RAL 7001 (silver grey) on the underside but with aluminium dope. Still, that colour weathered to a smudgy grey rather quickly, as did the Leuchtorange, which became bleached cloudy yellow-whiti

Here on ARC gorgeous models are shown regularly, but not every day does one see such a great project. The result looks very good, a wall decoration many would like to show in their rooms. It must be even more satisfying that this was a daughter & dad venture. Lyta can be proud of her dexterity and Stephen surely is one happy father, having the opportunity to do something creative with his daughter and see her skills grow. Three Hoorays from the land of the Red Baron!!!

You might try this link: http://originalundmodell.de/reviews2016_3/hahen-48060.htm There are rather good drawings of the scheme. Google will offer you more resuls, just enter "Norm 81 F-4F" HTH JCT

Hobby Boss' F-105? Well what about the missing centerline pylon for the typical load of one MER with six M117 bombs? OK it is a relatively easy scratch build, but it WOULD fill a gap. Regards Ian

Hi Midnightprowler, are you looking for the old Revell decals (USMC field greem over all with black markings, see here for an example: Box cover pic). I think I have that set available, but I will need some time to check this as it is in deep storage. If there is none available "over there", I could send you that set as a letter from old Europe. Best regards Ian (janteipel at web dot de)

Congratulations for a very well built F-16 model with a stunning display! Ian