YF65_CH53E

I am not sure but I will ask a Chinook buddy

I understand the internal tube is retracted. But since the inner tube is the same, I am thinking the housing is the same as well, but I will confirm. What you do not see in the CH-53E probe is that inside the CH-53E right hand electronics bay is the probe housing extends well into the fuselage, it is only a fiberglass and rubber housing that fairs the housing into the chin bubble of the 53E and makes it look short and stubby in reality to me it looks ecactly the same as the MH-60L when we remove them and store them when on board ship.The refueling ends are exactly the same. The fin on the C

Aaron, I would not discount the CH-53 A/R probe from Reskit, with some scratch building it is a very good starting point, the internal probe the part that extends is the same part number between the two aircraft, as it is Sikorsky. Just a thought Gunny

That is awesome! Would love that model in 1/48th! Bravo Zulu! Gunz

I understand it as an "ice shield", but like I said it is a FOD screen of sorts like on our CH-53's we had Engine Air Particle Seperators (EAPS) barrels installed and they stopped FOD from going in the engines in high dusty environments. But it came at a price, engine degradation. So if he said "maximum hover performance was required" that tells me with the basically airdam, shield installed it degraded power available in especially a hot humid environment like Viet Nam. The two pics I posted were of suppposedly HH-3E's, however the top pic I realize had no AR probe and no Aux Tanks

HAJO, I guess it depends on the the mission. I know the defelctor caused a percentage of engine degradation as fas as avialable power in hot climate. Here is a few pictures either way. HH-3E during Operation "Pony Express", shield is installed. Yet another HH-3E with no shield installed. So I think it would come down to the specific aircraft, Squadron, ARS you are depicting and see if we can find a pic in country of that Ser# see if they flew with it off or on.

Dutch, Thanks for the heads up, of course I went over to the evil-bay and checked it out.....only to find he has taken the original upgrade kit and broken it into TWO auctions. Each at $80.00 a piece. So you have to buy both if you want a complete upgrade kit. Oh, and it is missing parts in one of the auctions, not a big deal but I can't believe he broke up the original kit. Oh well, its a marketplace for a reason and I can choose not to market there. Semper Torque!! Gunz

Fantastic builds! Was there that night but out on a boat not on the beach. Awesome tribute and superbly detailed. Semper Torque! Gunny

That is one "Sierra Hotel" looking Snake. Love the quinta Studio stuff! Where was that when I grew up dry brushing Monogram raised instrument panels and thinking it looked good then! I am again amazed at all the 1/35th scale stuff that is coming out! Maybe.........just maybe someone will do a CH-53A/D/E/K in 1/35th? They have done the CH-54 and the CH-47....us "Shitter" guys need some love too. Beauty of a model Sir!! r/Gunz

Right on the money Brother Ski!! Semper Torque!! Gunz

well did they include the handling wheels for the tow bar? BONUS!! LOL!!

HAJO, Completely agreed, unknown why they included that in a AH-1W variant. Unless they had the mold already cut for a future AH-1Z release? or theyread the wrong Wikipedia post....LOL

Aaron, Thats not entirely true. The AH-1Z has the capability to utilize the AGM-114L "Long Bow" variant. The AH-1Z can equipped with the AN/APG-78 Longbow fire control radar, which can be mounted on a wingtip station. Not a production modification, but the program office has tested the systems. So it is "possible" to mount AGM-114L to the AH-1Z. Just not deployed at this time.

Yes they started at Herb's facility, and ultimately moved to us here at Legend Flyers in Everett WA. Paine Field. We finished the Navy Museums original Me-262, and we built 3 - flying examples, Rob Collings "White-1", Messcherschmitt Foundations "Tango-Tango", and Jerry Yagens "White-3". Evergreen Museums "Yellow-5" is a static display in oregon and the last airplane went to Germany to be finished but we have not heard anything in a long while about her. Neat to see it flying at OSH!! Mike Spalding the Chief Pilot for MAM is currently testing our 1942 Mitsubishi A6M3-32....look

To my knowledge there has never been a Navy Blue painted USN/USMC painted H-53 in any model series. The Fujimi 1/72 scale RH-53D box art is completely in error. Those aircraft were never painted in glossy sea blue. Some of the color pictures from the late 1970's show the gloss engine gray as somewhat "bluish" but thats a stretch. But, you can always model what you want. You could do a "Could have been" Blue Angels Blue CH-53E that was a support helicopter for the team.....Make it Blue Angel 09, or even 10.....have fun its your CH-53E model. Gy Dan