YF65_CH53E Posted December 18, 2020 Share Posted December 18, 2020 I have been looking around the forum for awhile now, and decided to take the plunge and post some of my CH-53 builds. I have been an avid modeler for over 40 years, but never really go into the hobby the way I should. I retired in 2018 after 33 years in DoD, 22 years active duty Marine, CH-53A/D/E crew chief, and 11 years as a DoD contractor supporting the H-53 program office in Patuxent River Maryland. In 2018 I headed home to Seattle to build airplanes with my Dad full time. We have in the barn right now, a 1942 Mitsubishi A6M3-32 "Hamp" fighter. Been restoring/rebuilding for the past 7 years. With moving home and having more time on my hands....well I thought I did. I decided to get back into the hobby after a 15 year lay off. I still toted my plastic collection from SoCal to AZ to MD then to WA, so its time to build again. Wow has the hobby changed. The work on this forum is spectacular. The after market products, the decals, the finishes, my learning curve is steep!! So here are a few builds I have been working on for fellow Marines I served with in various 53 units. I do try and print custom decals for them, so we can put their name on the side, choose a side number, BuNo of their choice. The kits I will I have finished since June 2020: Academy 1/48th CH-53E, HMH-462, YF-59, 164359 "Thunder-59" Academy 1/48th CH-53E, HMH-466, YK-07, 162483 "Wolfpack-07" Academy 1/48th CH-53E, HMH-462, YF-00, 164360 "Thunder-00" Revell 1/48th CH-53A, HMT-302, UT-00, 154877 "Pheonix-00" Revell 1/48th CH-53D, HMH-362, YL-07, 157736 "Ugly-07" Revell 1/48th CH-53D, HMH-462, YF-53, 157157 "Thunder-53" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YF65_CH53E Posted December 18, 2020 Author Share Posted December 18, 2020 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YF65_CH53E Posted December 18, 2020 Author Share Posted December 18, 2020 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YF65_CH53E Posted December 18, 2020 Author Share Posted December 18, 2020 Details on Ugly-07, scratch built the "wet head" rotor vice the dry head included with the kit. Also I included the squadron logo on the starboard side of the fuselage as they did in the 1970's. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YF65_CH53E Posted December 18, 2020 Author Share Posted December 18, 2020 CH-53E's: Again, scratch built the blade fold systems, and weathered them to what I remember they looked like when I flew them and maintained them. HMH-466, YK-07 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YF65_CH53E Posted December 18, 2020 Author Share Posted December 18, 2020 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YF65_CH53E Posted December 18, 2020 Author Share Posted December 18, 2020 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YF65_CH53E Posted December 19, 2020 Author Share Posted December 19, 2020 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YF65_CH53E Posted December 19, 2020 Author Share Posted December 19, 2020 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YF65_CH53E Posted December 19, 2020 Author Share Posted December 19, 2020 Sorry for the low resolution photos. I just realized, by reading the forum FAQ's I can use my Flikr account. So I will post a few higher resolution ones. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dafixer Posted December 19, 2020 Share Posted December 19, 2020 Very nice! I wish they would repop the Echo, used prices on them are ridiculous. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YF65_CH53E Posted December 19, 2020 Author Share Posted December 19, 2020 wrong forum....I am soooo sorry all Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bounce Posted December 19, 2020 Share Posted December 19, 2020 hi Chief! I'm right there with ya! the curve is steep and daunting...but I have miles to go before I sleep 🙂 nice helos Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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