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1/48 Pave Low conversion from Academy CH-53


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Hi,

Hope this hasn't been brought up before but I've just finished reading the article in this months Air Forces Monthly about the MH-53's that were based at Mildenhall and the thought of a 1/48th MH-53 was quite appealing.

Is the airframe of the Academy CH-53E a feasible option for a conversion or is there just to many changes to be made? Obviously the nose pod would require scratchbuilt, but how about the rest of the heli.

Helicopters aren't my speciality I'm afraid so please excuse my daft questions.

Eng :cheers:

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You'd need the Revell CH-53G kit to start with as the CH-53E is a different airframe engine/ combination,I think the -53E has 3 engines opposed to the D's two. There's a resin conversion set from Cobra Company which has all the requisite bits.

http://www.cobracompany.com/48024.htm

Stephen

PS I knew you were going to post that question here :cheers:

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You'd need the Revell CH-53G kit to start with as the CH-53E is a different airframe engine/ combination,I think the -53E has 3 engines opposed to the D's two. There's a resin conversion set from Cobra Company which has all the requisite bits.

http://www.cobracompany.com/48024.htm

Stephen

PS I knew you were going to post that question here :cheers:

You would have to change doghouses from the acad. to the Revel kit. If you did an E to a J model 53. Thats the set Cobra company has.

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The main and tail rotors are different on the -53E, as is the whole tail itself, so it's more than just dropping an engine from the Academy kit. Given the availability of the RoG CH-53G/GS kit, plus the fact that the Pave Low conversions are made for the Revell kit, it just isn't worth the very

large effort to try and convert the Academy kit.

Edited by Dave Williams
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Hi,

Hope this hasn't been brought up before but I've just finished reading the article in this months Air Forces Monthly about the MH-53's that were based at Mildenhall and the thought of a 1/48th MH-53 was quite appealing.

Is the airframe of the Academy CH-53E a feasible option for a conversion or is there just to many changes to be made? Obviously the nose pod would require scratchbuilt, but how about the rest of the heli.

Helicopters aren't my speciality I'm afraid so please excuse my daft questions.

Eng :)

I'm glad my article has inspired somebody to build a mighty Pave Low.

I've got the Revell CH-53 GS/G plus Cobra Company resin set to make a 1/48th Pave Low. It's going to be the most challenging build I'm ever going to do but its going to be worth it.

NY0L6131_NEIL_JONES.jpg

Cheers,

Neil.

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I'm glad my article has inspired somebody to build a mighty Pave Low.

I've got the Revell CH-53 GS/G plus Cobra Company resin set to make a 1/48th Pave Low. It's going to be the most challenging build I'm ever going to do but its going to be worth it.

Jonesy,

I'm just glad that someone has owned up to being the instigator of my next obsession!!! :taunt:

I can see it now - a hunt for info, much purchasing of kits n bits, but nothing being glued together til atleast 2015!!! LOL

Seriously, a great article and I'd actually love a 1/35 MH-53!

Thank's for all the good info - I'm certain the Revell CH-53 is probably cheaper than the Academy machine as well.

Eng

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Here is a couple of pics of mine, alot of work and a cool helo in the end.MH-53J.jpg

Sorry about the less than great pics, it was about to be tranported. I took these pics at the last moment.

MH-53J-2.jpg

Hope these inspire to get your project going :(

Mark

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Now there's a thought... Forget converting the airframe back to a twin-engine, six-blade machine, just add the same mods from an MH-53M to the -53E airframe. If anyone asks, it's a CSAR-X what-if.

Would the front end of the 1/72 Italeri -J fit the -E without mods? :(

(Didn't someone post a photo a long time ago of a Pave Low with the same DIRCM units that are on the RAF Merlins on the sponsons? Was that just a test fit or something?)

Great looking model, by the way. Love the finish...

SP

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Sebastian; yes the Italeri J model Pave front end (with the radar, flir, probe) will fit on their E model kit. I have done it and it sits on my desk at work. I did as what every Pave Low Pilot, FE, Gunner wants: An MH-53K, three engines and all the Pave avionics. That would be some helicopter. Too bad it won't happen..

Bob

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  • 2 weeks later...
K, dumb question time. What about decals for the bird? Would you have to do them yourself or were there any ever produced?

Regards,

Brian

For my build, I sourced the decals from my spares box. I don't know of anyone that makes decals for MH-53 in 48th scale.

Mark

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