MH-53e, HC-4 Sigonella - Italeri 1/72

[Guest]

Cheers,

I'm back here with a new build (and two still ongoing). This time we have a MH-53e Sea Dragon from Italeri.

Due to the number of grilles, the huge load area with minimal details and the will of learning I decided to give a try to PE and bought a Big Ed kit.

[ATTACH]75658.IPB[/ATTACH]


I started working on it yesterday, first trying to understand how to proceed with assembly and painting (some PE are already pre-painted which I don't like too much) reading the three instruction sheets (one from kit and two from PE.

I started with sponsons and engines, thinking it would be easier but the tasks is more complex than expected due to kit quality. More details and pictures soon.

If you have any picture or document that you can share I would appreciate.

Thanks for reading.

Francesco

[flyjoe180]

Keen to see this one for sure, what a beast!

[Guest]

Cheers mate,

Slowly progressing here due to mould flashing and poor fitting, at least compared to the few kits I had a chance to mount til now. Also few modifications were needed to have the kit look like the real thing: sponsons were rescribed with correct panels and lights added, turbine were rescribed, support cut and redone with proper shape, exhaust redone with proper shape. Below a picture showing pre and post.

[ATTACH]75896.IPB[/ATTACH]


Any suggestion on doing these small rivets, i've tried with white glue but wihout real success. I'm thinking about Archer, would they work on this scale?

Francesco

[Guest]

I'm done with engines and sponsons, just need to glue all pieces together.

Waiting to decide if I will open engine bays I moved to the cabin. Here's a picture before and after some PE and plastic cards. Painted PE (which I don't like) and additional details still to be glued.

[ATTACH]76346.IPB[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]76347.IPB[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]76348.IPB[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]76349.IPB[/ATTACH]


Francesco

[papa 695]

Looking very good Francesco

[flyjoe180]

Yep, good progress Francesco. Really looking forward to seeing this one go together it is going to be enormous.

[Guest]

Thank you mates.

Slowly moving on in detailing the cabin

[ATTACH]76487.IPB[/ATTACH]


Francesco

[Guest]

Added alu tape strips to simulate ribs and replaced the cover for the closed window (did forget there was a piece in the kit and used plasticard but was not happy with the result).

Here I tried to have an idea of how it will look once closed, I think there's still some work to do.

Original:[ATTACH]76525.IPB[/ATTACH]


Copy:

[ATTACH]76526.IPB[/ATTACH]


Thanks for looking.

Francesco

[Guest]

very very nice detailing the attention to detail is awesome

[papa 695]

Great work Francesco

[flyjoe180]

Nice detail Francesco, coming along nicely.

[yak face]

WOW , top work on the interior Francesco !

[Guest]

Thank you for the nice comments.

I was not very happy with the results when comparing it to the original one as ribs made with alu tape were not enough evident. So I tried to replace one with some placard 0.10x0.20 and it was better but I didn't dare to continue for the complexity of doing it with all the other bits glued.

However I tried to replace the last rib, close to the back door, as it should have been bigger and with holes, the result below. In the meanwhile I started adding some color to interior details.

[ATTACH]76617.IPB[/ATTACH]


Francesco

[Guest]

It's looking very good Francesco, the detailing is excellent.

[Guest]

Francesco you are mad,though it does look good and like the original in appearance,still think you are mad though lol