Academy 1-72 MH-53E

[Ran]

With the P-51D done and on the shelf, and the He-280 back on the table I scanned the stash and decided a chopper is due. Picked out this one and will try to go for the White JDF Bird. This should be an easy build with a challenging paint job. 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Stay tuned.

Ran

 

 

[Jackman]

Will watch this with interest. JMSDF subjects are rare in modeling forums. 👍

[heloman1]

Oooh, I like. An interesting choice of subject and markings. I have the kit in the stash plus the 1/48th kit, which I have purchased a lot of AM parts for. Maybe later this year or early next.

I'll follow your build with interest.

 

Colin

[RupertTheBear]

That kicks off some memories. Did this kit (Italeri box) when I was 12 or so but I went for the Marines grey paintjob. Looking forward to yours and also respect for choosing a mostly white camo 

[Ran]

This past two weeks I managed a lot of bench time - but could not bring myself to sit down and write.

I'm now masking with MicroMask and have to take breaks between layers so I might as well update this build log.

 

The fuselage is closed and I'm gluing the outer stuff.

Two major takeaways from this build:

 

1. This chopper is BIG - in 1/72 its almost as long as the 1/48 H-280. 

2. Old mold 1/72 kits just suck with poor engineering. This kit has parts that resemble short-runs

Want a few examples?

Checkout the sponsons - nothing by way of guiding or fixing:

 

 

Or this strange engineering:

 

The bottom part of the chopper and the floor of the cargo hold are also a strange piece of engineering.

 

The cockpit is simple enough - and I fought the AMS urge quite well. Well, almost, just added a couple of boxes to the rear part.

 

 

I failed to win against AMS when I noticed the magnitude of grills and exhaust ports. This is the first time for me - I took the DSPIAE electric grinder, armed with a drill, and went to town. The same took in high speed generates enough heat to make it a hot scalpel:

 

 

 

The tail was more challenging:

 

 

The rotor base was glued, but the glue drooled all te stopper piece - I had to cut it and work something else:

 

 

Fixing inside the fuselage was almost notional, same with engine#3 exhaust, almost no location features:

 

I had to glue the fuselage from the Front to the Back in several steps and then do the same for the bottom part:

 

 

You can't see the time spent on filing, leveling, filing {repeat} - rrrghrr

 

Cutting those miniature masking parts for the canopy lookednot funnot-fun' so I decided to mask with Micro Mask. Most of the features on the canopy were boldly marked. I hope it will go smoothly.

I did put some transparent green on the top windows.

 

That's it for now.

Comments are welcomed.

Best

Ran

 

 

 

 

 

 

[I Dole]

I'm doing the Italeri version at the moment. USN colours.

Using the Eduard set, mostly for the grills, and the Reskit exhausts.

Lots of opportunities to get the putty out.

[Ran]

My last post on this thread, and on Britmodeller, was more than 18 month ago - WTF.

A lot has happened since - I started a new work, which took almost all the bench time away. Then Oct. 7th happened followed by 4 month of reserve duty, 3 kids deployed as well - no sleep, then additional month half deployed, getting back to work and trying to get things sorted out, supporting two kids on their path back to home a regular life (still on going). I got most of its sort of under control and I'm trying to get to build again.

First order of business we clearing the bench of all the stuff that accumulated. It's the prime space in my man cave, so if I'm not building stuff just gets piles over there.

Next will be updating this thread and then back to some actual building. I may have to service the air brushes before. 

So - here we go.

[Smudge]

Welcome back. Looking forward to following this one. I have to agree, looking at your pictures, that it does look a little simplistic and lacking in some detail. At least it has the mine sweeping gear, which is a nice/unusual feature.

 

Thoughts and best wishes to you and your family.

[Ran]

The last updated ended up with the decision to opt for a MicroMask for the canopy masking, and with the body closed and mostly puttied and ready for paint.

 

Next I added the huge pylons:

 

 

not the best engineering, but doable. 

 

For the big Air Filter - I did use masks, after a base layer of aluminium/dark gray:

 

 

I also added the front mirrors, with their long poles - but I have not pictures of that. 

Things started to go sour with the MicroMask - and this was just a telltale for what up going forward. 

 

Of course I lost one pitot before installing them - and had to scratch build one:

 

I added the engines and got the whole thing ready for paint. 

 

 

I was time for paint.

The scheme calls for an all-white. I knew this will be a challenge - but the challenge was accepted.

 

 

   

 

I tried Tamiya FX-02; Mr. Color 1, Tamiya LP-35 and also Model Master white. Nothing worked as I expected - problems with coverage and no matter what I tried - it just looked too gray.  I spent about 3 weeks trying to fix it but eventually opted for Krylon maxx from a spray can. This resulted in a very (way too) think cover. And it still looked too gray. 

 

The thick layer is evident from a mile:

 

 

 

I decided to move the carcas to the model cabinet. There - with the change in lighting - it started to look bright white !!

It turns out that the lighting in my paint booth and bench is too warm (yellow) and also has some areas that are shaded. This made the white look gray. 

I cursed a lot on that day !@#!#!!@#.

 

Since then I pulled the MicroMask and masks - the very long time these stayed on, and the thick layer of paint, made this build a very poor example of my limited capabilities.

 

 

 

All the hard work that went into putting the mesh grills - is mostly gone.

 

 

That's it.

I need to think if I want to "waste" the nice decals of this kit or do something else.

Any ideas on how to salvage - the cockpit area and the grills - are welcomed. 

Thanks

Ran

 

 

 

[Hook]

You'll beat her into submission!

 

13 hours ago, Ran said:

I need to think if I want to "waste" the nice decals of this kit

 

I have the Italeri original in the stash - if you'd like the Japanese decal option of that one to use instead, you're welcome to them. 

 

Cheers,

 

Andre

[I Dole]

Did the Italeri boxing last year.

Used Eduard etch and Reskit exhausts. These made a huge difference, but still hard work.

Happy with how it came out, but only noticed after it was finished that they have the main rotor turning the wrong way.

Doh!