Italeri 1/72 MH-53E SeaDragon

[Geoffers]

Hello all,

I’ve recently joined the forum and thought some of you may be interested in my current build.
I’ve already started it otherwise I’d have entered it into the helicopter GB.

So here we go


Box art, however this isn’t the scheme I’m going to finish it in.

I’m going to use the included Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force decals to recreate this aircraft.



According to Scalemates this kit was first tooled 1993 then updated with new parts in 1996. I think it would be fair to say it is best described as a kit of its time. Not the best of fit, poor interior with lots of raised rivet detail.
So with filler and sanding sticks on standby it was on with the build


Thanks for looking

Geoff.

 

[scottie3158]

Geoff,
Off to a great start. Not sure why some of your pictures can be seen others are links.

 

[Geoffers]

Thanks Scottie, I’m not sure either, I’ll try and edit it so they can all be seen.

Geoff.

 

[Geoffers]

Hell all,

I’ve been having a play with the pictures and think I’ve got a grip of it now

I’ve deleted the previous ones and will redo the thread later.

Geoff.

 

[The Smythe Meister]

Hi Geoff,
Well,I see what you mean about it already been started, however, it's a Helicopter,and the group build is "Helicopters",so,I for one, will follow your progress alongside watching the GB,even if it is a "separate" thread
That's one unusual, chunky, looking bird by anyone's standards,nice choice
Andy

 

[Geoffers]

Thanks Andy

Geoff.

 

[Geoffers]

As previously said I’ve already started this beast so he’s a quick resumé of progress so far.

First up was the cockpit/ interior.

The cockpit has some details but nothing up to today’s models standards.
This was duely built up





At least the cyclic control is included, something that seems to get missed in other helicopter kits.

There are a lot of ejector pin marks on the interior, they probably won’t be seen when it’s all buttoned up but once I’d seen them I couldn’t just leave them so they were given a bit of Mr Surfacer 500 and later sanded smooth.



There was also some sink marks near the tail to deal with, they got the same treatment.





The interior was then primed with black Mr Surfacer 1500 and left aside to dry properly before the proper painting began.

Once dried the cargo floor was painted with Vallejo Metal Color Aluminium followed by Vallejo Model Air NATO Black. Once dry the NATO Black was carefully scuffed up to replicate wear and tear. The rest of the interior was given a coat of Vallejo Model Air 71.114 which is their equivalent for the recommended FS.35327.
The details were then picked out in various colours by brush.
I’ve also made some rudimentary seat belts from good old Tamiya tape. They aren’t the best but will give a hint of a seat harness when the windows are in place.







Weathering was just done with Tamiya brown panel liner.

The side door and windows fit was very poor. To get the windows to fit flush I hard to carefully carve around the individual window frames. Once this was done they were a much better fit.
The door frame was to big for the door. To solve this shims of plastic-card were cemented to the door edges and the carefully sanded back to size until the right fit was achieved and it was cemented into place.

So I think it’s fair to say this is no “shake and bake” kit but it is quite an enjoyable challenge so far.

That’s it for now guys, thanks for looking

Geoff.

 

[Geoffers]

Hello guys,

A bit more progress to report.

The engines/exhausts were cleaned up and put together but as with the rest of the build needed a lot of sanding/ filling before I was happy with them.

The exhausts were primed with Tamiya X-1 Gloss Black then once dry this was followed up with Vallejo Metal Color - Jet Exhaust.

The engines were then cemented into place on the fuselage sides.



Unfortunately this is just a butt joint which I didn’t think would last long so I drilled from the inside of the fuselage and inserted some brass rod pins to try and create a more robust joint.

Once the engines were sorted it was time to bring the fuselage together. Easier said than done as this section of the build involved trying to line up the fuselage floor pan while at the same time ensuring the best join across the top seam also while trying to keep the rear cargo doors in place
.

After a fair bit of fettling and me uttering a lot of bad, bad words the beast finally started to take shape.





Still a lot of filling/ sanding / rescribing to be done as some of the fit is really below par, eg




The rotor head and rotors are all cleaned up ready for primer, I might need to add some sag to the rotor blades as they seem very straight, I will study some reference photos first.



So that’s it for now.

Another update soon, thanks for looking

Geoff.

 

[Jakko]

That is one poorly fitting part on the top of the fuselage there

 

[Jim R]

Hi Geoff
Well you're taming the beast but a load of work. That second to last photo - the part could be from a different kit!
Jim

 

[Geoffers]

Cheers guys

Yes it’s crazy I had to look at it and check the instructions a few time to check it was the right part.

I think a lot of the poor fitting parts may be due to the poor quality softish styrene.

Oh well I keep telling myself it will all help improve my modelling skill

Geoff.

 

[Geoffers]

A bit more progress

First up the side sponsons were added also the underside of the tail.

The sponsons fitted well, not so much the tail parts.

The clear front of the cabin has also been cemented into place, I bet it won’t be a surprise that this isn’t a particularly good fit either

I’ve bodged a bit of filler around and have put it on one side now as it’s starting to drain my enthusiasm a tad

Anyway here’s the pictures.




I’ll start the clean up once I’ve had a bit of a break from it and post another update then.

Thanks for looking

Geoff.

 

[Mini Me]

Looks like you have your work cut out for you Geoff. I'm sure you will master it in the end and I might add that it is shaping up nicely. Keep up the good work. Rick H.

 

[Geoffers]

Cheers Rick, appreciated

Geoff.

 

[Geoffers]

Hello chaps,

Well after a bit of a rest I’ve started to push on with the build again.

I had a session cleaning up the worst seams then started the process of adding all the bits and bobs.

As with the previous part of the build it was very hit and miss.
Some parts fitted well while others needed a bit more persuasion.

Worst offender was the framing at the back of the cargo door but I finally got it looking reasonably ok.



Once the majority of the parts were in place I decided to give it a coat of primer to give me a better idea of where I need to do a bit more work.

All the small parts not already in place plus the rotors were also primed.

I used black Mr Surfacer 1500 50/50 with self levelling thinner.

It revealed a bit more work needed on the seams but not as bad as I expected.
I deliberately missed the tail as I know for certain that a bit more sanding is required there.






So a bit more work required but it’s slowly starting to take shape.

Thanks for looking, another update soon

Geoff.

 

[Jim R]

Hi Geoff
Well I reckon you're doing a cracking job taming this kit. You're gonna end up with a great model.
Jim

 

[Geoffers]

Cheers Jim

Geoff.

 

[Geoffers]

Hello guys,

Well after another bout of filling and sanding followed by more sanding and filling I’m relatively satisfied with how it’s looking.
I still have a hint of a ghost seam but I’m going to live with it as there won’t be much plastic left if I do any more sanding





I’ve got to reinstate a few of the lost panel lines and I have a set of raised rivet decals to play with so that’s the next job before I can finally get some paint on it.

Another update soon, thanks for looking

Geoff.

 

[Tworrs]

Great progress there Geoff.

 

[boatman]

HI Geoff well i think you have done a fab job of it as i have this kit but mine is the sea stallion i think as i was just goin to build it to put on my tigers flight deck as a visiting helo but now i dont think i will as not enough room for 4 seaking let alone a sea stallion but im following your build as i find it may help me with my seakings choppers
atb
chris b