Subject: Re: MH-53
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: Philipp Grüninger <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 23 Jul 2011 15:23:59 -0700

Hi,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks again for sending it in.

Steve Bamford
ARC Air - Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.arcair.com

Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Philipp Grüninger 
  To: Steve Bamford ARC 
  Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2011 3:20 AM
  Subject: Re: MH-53

      Hey Steve, here are the pictures.Thanks 

      Gallery Article Template

      "Academy 1:48 MH-53 Sea Dragon" 

      by "Philipp"
      --------------------

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      Hey Folks, this is my first helicopter I put on ARC.
      The Kit offers two Options for the build, a Combat Transport Version and the mine hunter.also you can choose between three decal options.The academy kit is really very nice detailed excepted the Browning M2´s that came with the kit.I replaced them with homemade resinguns which are alot better.I also replaced the ammo boxes mounted on them with selfmade resin parts.Overall I would say the Academy Sea Dragon is a really good kit.The only really big minus for me were the decals.They look good but they bubbled like crazy and are very glossy which made it necessary to apply four coats of varnish.
      I added the Eduard Photoetched detail sets for the cockpit interior and cargo seatbelts which were hell of a work!!Unfortunately you can hardly see them.But I know they are there.Also I added some wiring to the rotor head, the air refueling boom and the two things on the nose,well, I don´t know what they are...I call them the rear mirrors!I also added a lot of wiring on the back of the instrument panel.

            Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 03.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 03.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 04.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 04.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 05.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 05.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 06.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 06.jpg 

      I added a door gunner on the loading ramp with another resin M2.In his old life he was a ground crew member from Hasegawa.
      I decided to build the combat transport version used in Iraq in 2006 used by the "Stallions".The build went without bigger problems till I was almost finished.But more of that later.I build this thing strictly as it was explained in the manual.The first thing was the huge main rotor.I added the wiring and painted it with the Modelmaster Gunmetal Metalizer color.The blades were painted with Revell flat black and a mix of light and dark ghost gray.When I applied the decals I made the first mistake and messed up some of the white stripe decals.But no problem, I masked and brushed them on.After weathering the rotor it was time for the Interiour.Painted with different grey tones and weatherd with the Tamya master, I added the seats and the cargo belts.It took me about four days only for the f***ing belts.But finally I made it and thank god you can´t see the little mistakes I made with them and the 2 tiny parts that I lost.But overall it looked very nice.In the meantime I painted the big exteriour parts with a mix of Revells olive drab,gunship gray,dark ghost gray and light ghost gray.I wanted the used bleached look that the real heli has on pics and for that I mixed the color over and over with different colors for lighter and darker spots.The fit of the parts is really excellent,almost no spot had to be filled and sanded.After putting everything together except the front window (nwhich is one big part, not like in the Revell kit) and a first satim matt clear coat,I applied the first decals.And instantly made the next mistake.I messed up the big decals on the side with the Stallions logo.That´s why I had to use the Vanguard option that came along with the kit.But as you can see now there is a little misfit cause the stencils that I had already added are fvor the stallions.Well, I have to live with that.

            Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 02.jpg here  

      When I finally had put all together it was time to paint the nose/front window section.And there were my last mistake and it was the worst.I had to remove some paint from the front window and the thinner made some really bad matt spots on the window.Well alright, I thought and used my dremel which I had all new to polish the windows clear again.But the RPM was a little too high and I melted the front window a bit.After I tried to repair it I accepted that I had to order a new nose section which took about a month and costed me 15 euro.But finally the big thing is ready and looks really nice.you can see that I am not really expirienced with helicopters but I am pleased with the results of my work.But I would never again build this monster, one time is enough.
      Have fun and tell me what you think.
      See ya

      "Philipp"

            Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 07.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 07.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 08.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 08.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 09.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 09.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 10.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 10.jpg 

      Just delete any of the boxes below you don't need.....it's not important to include them.....they are there to give you an idea of the finished article.  It is best to limit your article to no more than 60 or so photos, so the finished webpage won't take too long to open.

            Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 11.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 11.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 12.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 12.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 13.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 13.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 14.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 14.jpg