CH-53's collection 1/48th

[YF65_CH53E]

I posted this in the wrong display case, over in autos.  OOPS!

 

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, 21 years active duty Marine, CH-53A/D/E crew chief, and 12 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"

 

First CH-53E Wolfpack-07

 

[YF65_CH53E]

Rotor head details

[YF65_CH53E]

YF-59:

 

 

 

[YF65_CH53E]

YF-53:

 

[YF65_CH53E]

UT-00, HMT-302

 

 

[YF65_CH53E]

YF-00, CH-53E

 

 

Again, scratch built the rotor head blade fold lines:

 

 

 

[YF65_CH53E]

Project on workbench right now.  HMH-362, Ugly Angels, YL-07

 

 

This is a pic of Ugly-36, the Marine I am building this for flew YL-07

 

 

 

Rotor head was changed significantly as the old Revell kit only gives you the option for the Elastomeric Rotor head, or "dry head".  My guy wanted it in the early version of the CH-53A/Ds, the wet head.  So I had to work on making it look like the wet head.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Cubs2jets]

 

Those are just FANTASTIC CH-53 builds.  I've had two of the Revell kits in my lifetime and always wondered what they looked like completed.  LOL!  Those builds are a worthy testament of a lifetime of service to the USA.  Thank you.

 

I'd guess this is the "Hamp" you and your dad are building?  

 

[YF65_CH53E]

 

His A/C was 157736.

 

I added, Pitot covers, engine exhaust covers, and scratch built the HF antenna.

 

 

[YF65_CH53E]

Yes that is our Zero restoration.  Gordon Page is apart of our project.  I had not seen the video yet.  That's my Dad, Bob Hammer with Gordon.

 

Thanks for posting!!

 

r/Gunny Dan

[YF65_CH53E]

More 53's to come

R/Gunny Dan