This was just an out of the box practice build of the old,  the box is dated 1981, Revell CH-53G.  I had bought this kit a year or two ago on e-bay before the Revell of Germany release came out.  I waited to build the MH-53 III Pavelow with the Cobra Co. resin set, but I've been intimidated by the amount scratch building this would entail.  So now two years latter and three 53 kits in the stash I was now going to build this one as trial run for the MH version, plus I wanted something shinny on the shelf for a change.

The kit itself is OK even with its age.  There was a lot of flash on the parts and the spue was very thick.  The fit was average with most pieces not needing filling.  The most annoying parts were the main landing gear sponsons with huge gaps and an impossible seem running down the middle.  Their are lots of rivets.. just like the A-10..  The fuel tanks were taken from the Cobra Co kit.   No additional interior detail was done due to the fact of no idea what was in the VH-53D.  The kit decals were yellow and cracked and useless so another e-bay steal the Superscale VH-53 decals were stumbled upon this summer and they looked great.  I always wanted to do a kit in the executive colors.  The next learning mistake was in the masking.  I am going to buy them next time, it was horrible cutting for the front glass.  Model Masters  dark green was sprayed on and sealed with several coats of future.  The decals went on without problems with some solvent to let all of the rivets through.  Then the last two coats of future.  The engine pods and the rotors were the last to go on.  The jeep and the howitzer were stolen early and added to my sons toy collection.  I am now ready for the Pavelow!   

Enjoy

Josh