Sikorsky MH-53 JMSDF #25 - completed

Alec K
A chopper! I am in. Butter with that popcorn for me, please😉

Nathan Dempsey
Definitely in for this one 🙂

Christian Kohl
I'm in also! 😉

Treehugger
Good luck on this 1:48 build. I had been wondering if maybe Bernhard was sticking to 1:72. Looking forward to this. 🙂

bughunter
Must be huge in 1:48! I'm in too.

Oliver Zwiener
Following , too 😉

Hanno Kleinecke
Once again, wire reinforcements make these items look functional ! No harm that the parts could not be separated without damage.....

Bernhard Schrock
Yesterday I receive an answer from one of my mates who is building the same Helo. He supports my assumption that all there landing legs respectively all wheel wells are the same. This is only logical because all wheels are the same. The only difference is that the front wheels have no brakes. So I ordered two more Reskit's whell bays.

Björn Svedberg
Yes, I'm in! 🙂

Patrick Hagelstein
Bernhard is building something? No matter what it is; I'm in! Oh wait! It's an MH-53? Then I'm definitely in! 😄

Sergej I
The thing is huge! Better make this thing fly😉
This build is going to be a great distraction for my own mojo 😄

Augie
Ooooh am in

Spanjaard
i am certainly in. thanks for the popcorn!

Patrick Hagelstein
Some creative problem solving going on there! Even though those landing gear bays are in essence boxes, Bernhard is thinking out of the boxes. 😉

Melgg Lütschg
Definitely following too! Another great reference build started 🙂 I'll enjoy your skills and documentation!

Slavo Hazucha
Taking a comfy chair for a treatment of tricks I like to watch but dare not to try to repeat yet!😉 Was already afraid you too will pick a 109! Or a 209 record plane (that would actually be rather interesting!). The more happy to see it´s a proper chopper! 👍

Bernhard Schrock
You have no idea how happy I'm about so many people watching me build my next chopper🙂 I already mentioned in one caption that the kit is not specially detailed. I promise to post a lot of WIP pictures and tips.
Slavo: I already did my duty and build one 109...
Megaperl (Rote "26"), 1940 Henkel-Cup - finished | Album by Yellowwing (1:48)

scalemates
nice! (ps: this newsfeed item was changed to "private", I fixed that)

Juergen Klinglhuber
I am interested as well... for sure a good show again ! 🙂

Sergej I
LOL, a Maggi Messerschmitt 😄 😄 😄
did not know it existed haha...

Nathan Dempsey
@Scalemates - that explains why I received private messages from Slavo & Bernhard with no content. 😄

Patrick Hagelstein
@ Tim, I was wondering the same. Makes sense now. Thanks for the fix! 👍

Oliver Zwiener
OMG , ich habe bei meinen Modellen die Lüftungsgitter immer nur aufgeklebt ohne die entsprechenden Stellen vorher sauber auszubohren ????

David Taylor
looking good.

Ben Schumacher
Ah, now we are talking! I have no idea how I have actually missed the beginning of this brilliant project. I will follow with huge interest!

Daniel K
Great build! I will be following along.

Bernhard Schrock
Thank you Mates. Despite of 2 GB of reference material I have no idea how the lower and upper gear housing for the tail rotor looks exactly. Because the interior is very well visible I had to improvise. That main thing is that it looks "important" and complicated. I remember the 80s modeling legend Shepard Paine calling this "Gizmology". 🙂

David Taylor
Its got a twirly thing on top Im definitely in.

Patrick Hagelstein
Bernhard, you could ask Ronan for more information. He's building a highly detailed 1/72 MH-53J, he might have some pictures of that area.

Ben Schumacher
Bernhard, it's exactly as you say - it has to look busy and "realistic". I have spent quite some time researching the MH-553E as well and there is pretty much nothing showing this area in detail around.

Alexander
Wow, impressive scratch building! 👍👍 Taking a seat und looking forward to your progress.

Clifford Keesler
Late to the party, but watching with keen interest.

Bernhard Schrock
One could say that all I did today was papering. As usual I produced my antiskid paper of left over durable decal covered with unthinned dark grey paint airbrushed with low pressure.

bughunter
I hope that you have enough of this antiskid paper for your next projects, because it looks great! And I hate to not have the material or could not get it anymore after I found a working solution. And the small model supply companies may be quickly out of business for what ever reason. So I bought also a bigger number of Small Stuff engines for the kits in my stash for example😉

Spanjaard
that is a really good solution!

Ronan
Always a pleasure to look at your build, Bernhard !

Clifford Keesler
Looks great.

Hanno Kleinecke
Anti skid pads look very realistic ! Have to bear that technique in mind ..... 👍

Ben Schumacher
Absolutely brilliant. I love your method to replicate the nonskid surfaces!

Marco Preto
Brilliant work! I can not wait for more updates!

Cheers

mpminiatures.wordpress.com

Lochsa River
very cool stuff, marco......and of course, Bernhard is on to another awesome project….

Bernhard Schrock
Thank you for support and comments. I can use that because there are more problems. Today I prepared the much better detailed air filters (ResKit) and noticed that they are to big. The don't fit, not even a title. 🙁 Has anyone ever used them? I'm thankful for every idea.

Naram
super good and inspiring ! what material did u use in pics 40 and 41?

Augie
Bernhard, I've just done a size comparison between the filters for the Revell CH-53 and the Academy offering and they are same size, so I would err on the side that they are the right size 🤔

Bernhard Schrock
Good morning Augie. Thank you for checking the Revell kit and info. This morning I weight all possible variants and the effort they would need.
The resin parts are much better detailed and I intend to use them even though they may be too big. However I'm also going to use the "bulge" of the kit part.

Augie
I think it was a good choice, they are superb.. might have to get me a set or two lol.

Ben Schumacher
Bernhard, are you sure the Res.Kit filters are too big? Possibly the Academy parts could be too small? There should have been a factory drawing of the EAPS (Engine Air Particle Separator) in the files I have sent you - if not, please let me know!

Augie
I'd be interested in knowing that too Ben, I compared them with the Revell parts and they matched for size.. If indeed the Rezkit are right, then i'll be ordering a few sets for my own MH-53 and CH-53E

Bernhard Schrock
Ben.
I think you are right; Reskit designed the filters correctly. Design 1:1 for a wrong size in the kit would be the wrong way. Because of that I decided to use Reskits parts and I'm now happy with the result.
Augie:
the effort was not so great. If you wish I could send you some hints and a sketch how exactly I did the job.

Augie
Hi Bernhard, I think I can see how you did it from the pics, Will let you know once mine turn up and I get to that part 🙂

Bernhard Schrock
Hi Augie; OK. I add additional pic 52: maybe useful for you.

Augie
Perfect Bernhard 🙂 thanks very much m8

Es-haq Khosravi
Love watching your projects! Great job!

Bernhard Schrock
Today I wanted to make & install the support struts for the outer engines. When I did this I discovered two more mistakes. The air filters are not at a right angle from the floor. Things got a bit better when I removed about 0,5 mm of the engine shaft housings. This mistake has to be in the kit and not because I replaced the kit parts with resin parts.
Then I discovered that obviously the door on the right side is too large and do i installed all 6 mounting plates (3 for the winch and 3 for the air filters struts) too high. That means that I had to do it all over again. But it was worth it because I found a better solution to apply the struts.

Hanno Kleinecke
As usual, your scratchbuilt details make the whole thing look so authentic as if they were functional . Augenprüfung bestanden ! 🙂

Ben Schumacher
Perfect, Bernhard!

Clifford Keesler
Looking very nice Bernhard.

Alec K
Those hinges on pic 65 look, well, delicious 😄 👍

Bernhard Schrock
I'm glad to hear that you like my puzzle🙂. In the meantime I reached on this heli project a modeling phase I called "inner peace". I do not mind at all to busy myself with one small part for days. For example today i reworked the aftermarket resin intakes by gluing on several dozen slices of 0,5 mm round rod.
Next task: the winch on the right side. First I have to rework the winch housing witch is installed on rectangular base plate.

bughunter
You are the definitive master of scratch work in plastic! Impressive 👍

Hanno Kleinecke
OOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM Unbelievable patience !

Spanjaard
my respect Bernhard, that is the spirit

David Taylor
Fantastic level of detail your putting in Bernhard.

Ronan
Very nice scratchbuilt 👍

Patrick Hagelstein
This is so cool to watch (in no particular order and without discarding others) Hanno, Ben, Spanjaard, Augie, Bughunter and Ronan, whom I consider experts in their respective fields, marvel over Bernard's work. It's like a little tea party on Mount Olympus. 😉

Lochsa River
It's like a little tea party on Mount Olympus.

Indeed! And we mere mortals get to watch....

Lochsa River
Mister....i am going to use that "Tea Party on Mount Olympus" line for years to come...is that OK? Did you copyright it?

Patrick Hagelstein
Nope, came up with it just a few minutes ago. 😉

Bernhard Schrock
Erm, I needed some help translating and digesting this. I am very honoured by your comments. However, I would like to stress that last time I looked, I was definitely mortal.😉

Chris Parsons
Awesome work! Wow!!

Hanno Kleinecke
I'm very proud being considered part of this tea party with all of you, being inspired by Bernhards work time and again.

Patrick Hagelstein
😄 Maybe Hercules would work better for you, Bernhard? As he's a demigod. 😉 Just saying that if very talented modelers are drooling over your project, you're doing something right, right? 😉

Spanjaard
well, i am totally shocked (and deeply honoured) by being included in such a incredible group! specially since i have not done any modelling for far too long 🙁

Clifford Keesler
Agree, you are the master of scratch building.

Erik Off
Immer wieder toll, Deiner Detailverliebtheit zu folgen! Klasse! 🙂

Bernhard Schrock
Thank you for all comments, they will give me new motivation:
I finally found very useful pictures of JMSDF MH-53 in the air from below. Why am I not surprised that the bottom of the kit contains a lot of mistakes: the contour other sidetank is not correct and the large hatch & rectangular antenna are too large...

Bernhard Schrock
...the bottom of the heli is finished. Typically for such large multi purpose helicopter the bottom is full of sensors, antennas and mounting points for external equipment. The most of the elements were well visible on the few pictures taken from below. With the exception of the two small external hook hatches were I had to improvise.

Slavo Hazucha
Finally a build progressing at a pace that I can somewhat understand (= not so fast...😉 )!

But it is a big bottom that needs handling then... And it looks exquisite. Almost a heresy to put paint on all that work. But then, I am soooo looking forward to seeing you replicate the appearance from the featured photograph! 👍

Bernhard Schrock
Little progress: rudder pedals.
Despite of several GB original material I have invested about half of the time to understand the functionality of the rudder pedals.

Hanno Kleinecke
If I'm counting right, that „Little progress" includes roughly ca. 50 parts of scratchbuilt pedalry per side ? 🙂
extraordinary ! 👍

Bernhard Schrock
Thank you Hanno aka Eagleeye! Exactly they are 50 extra parts... Did you count left or right side? 🙂

Hanno Kleinecke
Right side sir !

Spanjaard
comparison with the kit part.... I am surprised that the original part has not jump by itself to the mouth of the carpet monster to disappear forever, out of shame.

Clifford Keesler
Beautiful work.

Bernhard Schrock
Spanjaard: Indeed the kit parts deserve a just punishment even though they may plead for diminished responsibility: I have the feeling that Academy have upscaled their 1:72 kit...
The rudder pedals have decided against the carpet monster and chose lifelong banishment to the spare box colony.🙂
Clifford: thank you.

Hanno Kleinecke
Harsh but just verdict for this plastic papillon 🙂 🙂

David Taylor
busy office Bernhard.

Bernhard Schrock
Premiere for the new product of Anyz Models bought several months ago: 3D printed knobs, switches in excellent quality. The handling is very easy and the result is excellent and much better than self made knobs. Highly recommend!

Hanno Kleinecke
Looking like a vast improvement, application using the piexkraft<CA klebkraft method as usual ? 🙂

Bernhard Schrock
...not quite, gravity and viscosity help me: holes with 0,32 mm in the PE parts & 0,30 mm shafts of the knobs. CA applying from the bottom.

Augie
Wow Bernhard... my hats off to you mate, just simply astounding work

Slavo Hazucha
Those 3D printed knobs really bring the Eduard-stuff back to the game! I was using some lead-wire cut-offs on my F-111, these look much better.

Excellent job on the whole cockpit sub-group cluster 👍

Felix Troschier
Bernhard as usual - excellent modeling!

Clifford Keesler
Looking great, excellent work.

Oliver Zwiener
Dieser Baubericht ist jeden Abend mein Pflichtprogramm , absolute Spitzenklasse das Cockpit !!!

Juergen Klinglhuber
speechless,....

Bernhard Schrock
Thank you Oliver and Juergen. I tried a new technique/material for the electrical cables. I used a fine dark grey polyester thread and airbrushed this light grey (not white for lower contrast). The thread is easier to bend than wire with similar diameter and has a noticeable surface structure similar to cabletree (Kabelbaum).

Spanjaard
that is certainly a good idea 🙂

Slavo Hazucha
This does not look like at all as any usual (or even unusual) 48-scale modeling... it truly is work in it´s own unique league...

Detail, Clarity, Cleanness - one & only - fantastic job 👍

Hanno Kleinecke
The thread makes a very realistic wiring effect, excellent idea 👍
The Anyz knobs on the instrument panels look real good

Clifford Keesler
The wiring is stunning.

Ben Schumacher
Brilliant as usual, Bernhard! Have you sealed the Eduard parts with matt varnish? In my opinion, this hugely improves the overall finish of those parts.

bughunter
Someone is pulling out all the registers here right now! 😮

Clifford Keesler
Nice wiring job.

Bernhard Schrock
The days session motto was cable laying 🙂

Florian H.
Sehr sehr imponierend 👍 Wie hast du denn die roten Lüftungsschläuche so "bemustert"?

Bernhard Schrock
Florian H. Danke danke danke für das Lob.
Es ist der orangefarbene Draht aus einem Cat 7 Kabel mit einem recht weichen Mantel. Zuerst habe ich mit einer fotogeätzen Säge (0,4 mm stark) versucht jede Rille einzeln einzurollen, leider mit bescheidenem Ergebnis, da die Abstände ungleich waren. Dann habe ich die Säge ein bisschen schräg gestellt und so gleichmäßige Abstände erreicht.

Florian H.
Hi Bernhard, vielen Dank für die Erklärung 🙂 Wenn du noch Akzente setzen willst, könntest du die Rillen noch weiß bemalen, siehe hier [img1]

bughunter
Das könnte auch nur durch den Blitz so weiß aussehen, ich würde vermuten da läuft ein Draht um.

Florian H.
Nein, es läuft ein Draht durch, der allerdings nur von innen zu sehen ist (stahlfarbend) und aussen ein weisses Seil, so wie hier besser zu sehen
[img1]

bughunter
Das ist ein Argument 👍😉

Florian H.
Hab die Dinger oft genug in den Pfoten😉

Bernhard Schrock
Weiße Akzente: in etwa so?
Working station of pilot and copilot completed minus spiral cables (intercom and cockpit lights).

Florian H.
Ja genau 👍

David Taylor
Nice cockpit.

Bernhard Schrock
Thank you David.
Today I worked on the clear nose part and noticed that the complete interior is visible through the large side windows. Because if that I installed some gizmos on the inside such as wiper motors and air conditioning boxes behind the inlets gills. The orange tube and some white cables coming soon.
Then I realized based on excellent pictures of JMSDF machines that the interior is mostly wrong🙁 , to put in mildly. So I will close the ramp and the door.

Alec K
Is it too late to correct the interior to allow for open ramp and doors? Or am I not understanding correctly?

Norbert Steffens
Fantastic

Bernhard Schrock
Thank you Alec and Norbert.
Alec: it's not to late but "correcting" it's not the right word. The interior especially the side walls it's completely empty nearly without details. And everything that is there is totally wrong. Because of that I intend to build some details visible throughout the windows. For example I posted a picture of the JMSDF interior. If I tried to build all that I would never finish....

Alec K
Ah, now I understand. Yes, I saw that picture and it looks, well, busy 🙂. It's going to be a magnificent build in either case 👍

Norbert Steffens
I hope all the details can be seen when finished...

Dietmar Bogatzki
Ganz großes Kino was du hier zeigs, Bernhard, so viele Details, die kaum jemand zu sehen/ schätzen wird..

Clifford Keesler
Looking very nice.

Bernhard Schrock
Yesterday I managed the last task in the main cabin before gluing the fuselage together. I noticed during dry fitting the large side sponsons / tanks that for clean fit without gaps you need counter pressure from the inside. This is difficult to achieve if you have glued the fuselage halves together. So I decided to glue the side sponsons / tanks before closing the fuselage. As usual I created some auxiliary holes for applying CA glue from the inside. There are well visible in the picture. After breakfast more pictures of the completing task.

Spanjaard
great idea!

Hanno Kleinecke
Great solution on the exhaustgap - fairing, BM foil ?

Bernhard Schrock
Thx Hanno. I used the a bit thicker foil from a roll, about 8 cm width. Used usually for sealing gaps in airconditioning systems.

Spanjaard
that exhaust looks amazing. so real

Brandon H
I'm half expecting this thing to just get up and fly away any day now. Amazing work!

Eric Juvyns
Your eye for detail is incredible! If you don't mind I'm gone use your build as reference/inspiration for my own CH-53E build somewhere in the future.

Slavo Hazucha
Super work on every step..!

- The Cockpit detail is beyond any comparison - only thing left is to add some of these typical knots into those "classic" telephone cables 👍
- The sealed windows look like taken out of the real thing - I´d be interested to know more, I plan my own sealant experiment for the MiG´s 👍
- The exhaust looks fabulous, excellent metal work and scale details, including thicknesses, colors & all 👍

Finally - I´d be interested to see more of the intakes and the "cheesegrinders", on the photos they look very promising, any magic applied there?

Clifford Keesler
Excellent detail work sir. My hat is off to you.

Bernhard Schrock
Thank you Eric, Slavo and Clifford.
Eric: I'm very honored. You have an unlimited permission to use all my research results🙂 Warning: the seam to be no two identical MH-53🙂.
Slavo: I'm not sure what you mean. Tamina tape masked front windows? All three cheese grinders 🙂 are excellent 3D created by Reskit. For No 1 and 3 I used masks and airbrushed them. No 2 has an slightly different color layout and so I painted the round raised cylinders via dry brushing.

Zsolt Czegle
SUPER Klasse Arbeit, wie immer! 👍

Dietmar Bogatzki
Sprachlos, so viele Details und Fehlerbeseitigungen, wieviel ist nachher vom Originalbausatz noch vorhanden 😉

Bernhard Schrock
Danke Dietmar. Der Bausatz ist in Wahrheit in meinen Augen eine Einladung zum Korrigieren und zum Scratchen. Der MH-53 ist ein wahrer Gigant mit einer unglaublichen Fülle von Details an der Oberfläche. In 72 würde m.E. Academy's leere Oberfläche vielleicht noch durchgehen, nicht aber in 1:48... eigentlich habe ich keine Wahl...🙂

Hanno Kleinecke
🙂 klarer Fall von Notwehr 🙂 Ich bin mir aber sicher, dass auch in 72 hier kein Stein auf dem anderen geblieben wäre........ Good for all the stunned spectating rest of us Wonderful detailing of the fuselage surface

Dietmar Bogatzki
Sicher bietet der Bausatz viel Platz für Verbesserungen Bernhard, aber man muss die auch so gekonnt ausführen können wie du, ganz großes Kino 🙂

Clifford Keesler
Just beautiful, your attention to detail outstanding.

David Taylor
Looking good Bernhard.Looks slightly large.

Dietmar Bogatzki
Super Fortschritte, Bernhard, wie hast du den Antirutschbelag so toll hinbekommen?

Bernhard Schrock
Vielen Dank Dietmar. Der Antirutschbelag ist selbst gemacht: ein überschüssiger Decalbogen den ich von DF Hello Stuff bekommen habe, vollflächig mit einem sehr robusten aber trotzdem dünnen Trägerfilm versehen als Basis verwendet. Dunkelgraue seidenmatte Humbrol Farbe unverdünnt mit einem sehr geringen Druck gesprüht und 15 Minuten danach mit 1800 Micro Mesh die Struktur reingedrückt.

Dietmar Bogatzki
Echt Klasse geworden und gut zu wissen das es Helo Stuff noch gibt. Weiterhin viel Spass bei dem Heli

Michael Papay
Wahnsinn was du da zauberst, kann man gar nicht oft genug sagen

bughunter
Every picture in this build shows a little wonder 👍 The finished model will again be one to dream about!

Bernhard Schrock
Thank you Dietmar, Michael and bughunter.
Today I demasked the cockpit and I had my own private miracle: no CA fogging and nearly no dust particles🙂 I'm very satisfied. Time for celebrate with a glass wine. 🙂

Dietmar Bogatzki
Fantastic work, Bernhard and cheers 🙂

Hanno Kleinecke
Prösterchen ! 🙂 superclean and superclear result 👍
All the delicate pedalry and wiring is well visible

Bernhard Schrock
Houston; I HAVE A BIG PROBLEM. Today I began with applying the Wolfpack decals. The first (bad) experience / results there I made with the engines have come back full impact: I can't get rid of the silvering. I have tried everything and all fluids. Nothing works. Not even the Tamiya decal adhesive. Does anyone have an idea?
Without a durable solution I will have to omit all maintenance stencils.....

Augie
I've pierced silvered decals before and massaged future under them with a cotton bud.. its not guaranteed, but Its saved my arse a few times

Or try something like micro kristal clear thinned down instead of the future.

Nathan Dempsey
I've used the Future as adhesive on small decals that silver.

Black Baron
Fantastic work. Definitely following this.

Bernhard Schrock
Thank you Augie and Nathan. I tried yesterday you trick with Future but it did not work well because I will need a dull finish coat. And this is exactly what I do wanted avoid. I remembered yesterday a very old trick by using an old Hasegawa decal sheet with a very thick and powerful glue. I made a very interesting discovery that my silvering was not on the underside but on the upper side of the decals. I sanded very carefully the very top shiny coat of the decals and reached the expected result. Fortunately the decals are printed with a top clear coat ...

Augie
Nice Bernhard, glad you found a solution to the problem 😄

Michael Papay
Silvering on the upper side, good to know. Great the you found a solution

Dietmar Bogatzki
Silvering on the upper side, strange but good to know what to do then..

Slavo Hazucha
Well, the result looks absolutely convincing, no silvering visible anywhere, no perception in change of thickness either... Looks as painted on, for all purposes - whatever treatment will follow, I´d expect it to look just perfect on this base! 👍

Also the teal upper windows look just fabulous contrasting to the surrounding white, top!

Nathan Dempsey
Nice save Bernhard. Looking magnificent🙂

Hanno Kleinecke
Problem solved ! Decals look like there never was any issue ! 👍

Alexander
Looks really great, no silvering visible! 👍👍

Clifford Keesler
That is looking just awesome.

Juergen Klinglhuber
Looks fantastic!

Marco Preto
I've said it before and I'll say it again: This is one of the most impressive builds I've ever seen.
Congratulations! I'll stay tuned, eagerly waiting for the completed model!

Cheers

mpminiatures.wordpress.com
Instagram: @marco_a_c_preto

Daniel Klink
Awesomely brilliant work Bernhard...Just wow !👍

Bernhard Schrock
Thank you Mates. I'm glad that I could share my new experience with you.🙂
Yesterday I applied the last decals on the lower side. Today it was time for the second antiskidmat papering session. First I produced new paper (airbrushed thick dark grey paint on spare decal film).

Lochsa River
cool suggestion about the anti skid material, Bernhard....it looks great

Bernhard Schrock
Thx Lochsa_River. It's easy to produce them.
„Antiskid papering" is now completed. Washing at next tomorrow.

David Taylor
Looks brilliant.

Alexander Grivonev
What is up with the crazy detailed helicopters on here lately 😄

Daniel Klink
👍👍👍

Treehugger
I am happy for Bernard, this all looks very nice I think. 🙂 I hope he has this models on display in the open at home and not locked away in some room.

Bernhard Schrock
Thank you David, Alexander and Daniel.
Treehuger: You are so right. I'm looking impatient for the next exhibition. Both exhibitions in 2020 (Lingen and Lübeck) were canceled. Don't know when it will be possible to take part in an exhibition without a mask....
At last I finished today the washing and filtering the surface and begun with installation of external stuff. At first the round antenna on the left side.

Treehugger
Btw, I made sure I keep my display cabinets at home, right beside my computer table, and in the living room, so that I get to look at it whenever I want. 🙂

Ben Schumacher
Absolutely stunning, Bernhard!

Slavo Hazucha
I´m watching, not saying anything cause it would be like interrupting Leonardo while he´s finishing Mona Lisa´s smile...😉 👍 Great show, truly!

Bernhard Schrock
Thank you for the compliment. My motto is more like Journey before destination...🙂
Left outer engine in place without mess. Exactly preparation was very helpful.

David Taylor
I was taught the 6 p's.Proper preperation prevents p--- poor performance.

Clifford Keesler
Looking awesome.

Dietmar Bogatzki
fascinating 👍

Kerry COX
What a pleasure to drift through all the images of your work progress Bernhard. ! 👍
The detail you have added has set this model heads and tails above any other MH-53 build I have seen. 🙂
Inspirational is the word that comes to mind. 👍
A BIG salute to you my friend. 👍 👍 👍

David Funke
Thank you Bernhard! Because of your great work, my MH-53 will probably stay in the box forever. I would always compare my model with yours and never reach your level.

Ben Schumacher
Perfect as usual, Bernhard!

Dietmar Bogatzki
Is it the Original or a Model, fantastic Job, Bernhard 👍

bughunter
Again fantastic details! I really love the metal bands to hold the cable to the mirrors with a black band underneath 👍

Alexander Grivonev
If this thing does not take off in the end I will be disappointed😄. Simply eye watering work 👍

Juergen Klinglhuber
Hi Bernhard - another great build. Everythings looks so perfect and clean - congrats !

Bernhard Schrock
Yesterday I finished the mirrors but the joy was not long. Today i "remembered" that the mirrors should be installed on the lower fuselage which is in this area grey and not white... 🙁

Norbert Steffens
stunning. It's a pleasure to follow this build

Hanno Kleinecke
Good to see this beast on it's feet, great idea to leave the windows opened, looks very good !
Shame that you have to respray the mirrors and beams......

Bernhard Schrock
I'm very happy to see how you follow my project. Thank you!!
First I tried to brush the areas between the black/metalic strips gray but the result was pretty shitty... so I ripped all parts of and did everything all over again 🙂

Clifford Keesler
Stunning work mate.

David Taylor
Where did you get the mirror foil Bernhard.

Bernhard Schrock
David: 2years ago I build for fun this truck:
Dekotora Truck ("Spirit of Jonathan") | Project by Yellowwing (1:32)

In the kit was a large sheet of mirror foil.

Erik Off
Macht wirklich Spaß, Deiner Arbeit zuzusehen. 🙂

Daniel Klink
Art, simply amazing scale modelling art...👍👍👍

bughunter
Hast Du eine Quelle für dieses Black Magic Tape? Da finde ich alles mögliche, aber nichts, was so dünn wie Deins aussieht. Hätte ich heute wohl gut gebrauchen können.

Alexander Grivonev
Probably one of Your finest builds so far, Bernhard. I like your no compromise approach and precision. Now I truly believe your claims to be an engineer😄

bughunter
This rotor head is a model of its own! It has more parts as one of my biplanes at all 🤔

Norbert Steffens
Hi Bernhard, oustanding build...... I also face the issue that detail ups from resin have a poor quality, annoying...

Augie
Bernhard... you sir, are the master craftsman..

Hanno Kleinecke
Ha ! I knew the rotor would be a feast ! 👍

Neil
Just checked out this album. Speechless - not just modelling this is engineering. Stunning work. Agree with all. ?

Brandon H
I love your merciless attention to detail! Truly world class!

Clifford Keesler
Agree with Augie, you sir are the master craftsman.

Alexander Grivonev
That rotor head is an engineer's wet dream 😛

Peppy
I liked this about a week ago and it keeps popping up
in my feed with more pictures. LOL
This is staggering in scope. Some of you guys make
me want to run my stuff over with the lawn mower. ?
It is unreal.
I really believe you guys are missing your true calling.
Excellent, I'm in till the end.

Bernhard Schrock
Thank you for all comments. I'm glad that you like my work🙂
Yesterday I thought about how to transport the rotor (really large!!). I decided to divide the blade at the same point like on the original. Unfortunately the connecting plate with the 8 prominent screws is missing in the kit so I had to add a 0,5 mm thick disc of plastic to the short round conical shaft. I intend to build the rotor with detachable blades (1,3 mm tube in the shaft and 0,9 mm steel rod in the blade).

Hanno Kleinecke
The wire-master in a wiring frenzy...... man, you keep constantly pushing the envelope here,
and the blade connectors haven't even joined the rotorhead yet.
Superlatives beginning to fail 👍

Michael Osadciw
Wow.

Oliver Zwiener
Bild 266 ist für mich elementar, um überhaupt noch zu verstehen, was in den folgenden Prozessen geschieht ..... , so nahe kommt man einem Rotor sonst ja nie im Leben, sei denn man gehört zum Wartungspersonal einer Instandsetzungsstaffel. Sehr beeindruckend - dafür 5 ***** !

Kerry COX
When will the first test flight of you creation happen Bernard. ? 😉 👍

Ben Schumacher
Hochgradig beeindruckend, Bernhard! Sehr schade, dass Lingen dieses Jahr wieder ins Wasser fällt - ich hätte das Modell zu gerne mal live gesehen. Und ich hätte mich sehr gefreut, dich nach all den Jahren endlich mal wieder zu treffen...

Bernhard Schrock
You comments are the best motivation I can imagine🙂
Oliver: in der Tat hast du den Nagel auf den Kopf getroffen. Das Nachbauen ist das eine, aber das verstehen „von wo nach wo welcher Schlauch und Kabel geht und wo er angeschlossen ist" ist eine zweite Geschichte. Unzählige Stunden habe ich viele Bilder studiert, aus allen möglichen Richtungen ausgewertet um um den Verlauf heraus zu bekommen. Dazu kommt noch die Schwierigkeit, dass es drei linke und 3 rechte Gelenke gibt, die nicht gleich verkabelt sind und dass die japanischen MH 53 sich deutlich von den amerikanischen unterscheiden... Es ist unglaublich was sich die Konstrukteure bei Sikorsky ausgedacht haben: eine herausragende Ingenieurleistung. Genaugenommen habe ich vielleicht nur 60 % der Schläuche und Kabel realisiert.

Bernhard Schrock
Ben: in der Tat sehr sehr sehr schade, dass 2021 auch keine Ausstellung stattfindet🙁. Ich habe darüber nachgedacht, dass ich zu mir paar Leute zum Grillen einlade (natürlich wenn sich die Situation entspannt) um dies mit einer Art kleine Privatausstellung auf dem Wohnzimmertisch kombiniere.

Alexander Grivonev
Just for my own understanding: you main rotor head consists of almost 1000 parts??

Bernhard Schrock
Moin Alexander: Jou. Die Achse ist dran und im Moment montiere ich die Kabel zum Hut an den Anschlussstücken. Pitchlinks und Kleinkram an den Blättern fehlen noch. Ich schätze, dass der „Zähler" bei ca. 1070-1080 stehen bleibt.

Treehugger
Q: Not sure if already mentioned by you Bernhard, but do you rely on magnification tools for working with all these tiny parts?

Felix Troschier
don't know what to say :-o

Christoph Schnarr
incredible implementation of the details on the rotor head. Bernhard at his best 👍

Dietmar Bogatzki
Absoluter Wahnsinn der Rotor, hat vermutlich mehr Teile als viele Bausätze 👍

Eric Juvyns
Incredible!!
Can I ask what kind of visor/magnifying device you use?

Bernhard Schrock
Treehugger & Eric: thank you for the praise. I'm short-sighted but fortunately I can see very well up close. That means I don't need magnifying glasses. But I'm trying to limit my hours on a project to not strain my eyes. That's why this is taking so long.

Christian Kohl
More than well done, mate! This is sick and cracy! Please geht me right 🙂

Alexander Grivonev
This is not crazy, this is insane....

David Taylor
Work of art.

Spanjaard
this is beyond attention for detail. it is simply modelling at its best.

Erik Off
Incredible... Oo

Alexander
It's sad that I can like only once...

Clifford Keesler
I'm speechless.

Dietmar Bogatzki
Wirklich beeindruckend wie du umsetzt was man auf den Originalfotos sieht, Bernhard 👍

Bernhard Schrock
This morning I attached all hydraulic lines to the hat. The dual lines on the right side have a double support rubber line for preventing flutter when the rotor turns. First I tried to use 0,14 mm wire but this turned out to be too large (!!!). Because of that I used fine polyester thread.
Now I have a few meters to run: the finishing line is clearly visible 🙂

Hanno Kleinecke
When 1/48 looks like 1/1 it can only be Mr. Schrock building some model...... just make sure the hydraulic pump is set to the right pressure !

Kerry COX
What Hanno Kleinecke said. Stunning skills. 👍 🙂

Lex Jassies
The construction of the rotor followed with increasing admiration. Too bad there are no modeling competitions because of the Covid. Your helicopter would certainly be a prize winner.
Funny that the parts in photo 262 look like robot heads to me 🙂

bughunter
Absolutely awesome! The rotor head alone has more parts than the parts of the models in my display case in total! 😳 Just looking at the original photo of the rotor head would have driven me away.

Bernhard Schrock
The longest project in my "modeling career" is at last finished. Many thanks for all likes, motivating comments and support. There is just one picture for now: the Heli is too large for my standard photo set so I have to invent something new. 🙂

Florian H.
Congratulations to that amazing built 👍 BUT there is a really big mistake, you forgot to fill in the hydraulic fluid to the mainrotor 😄

Oliver Zwiener
Bravissimo Bernhard !!!

Daniel Klink
speechless
imagine about 100 Bows here by me Bernhard 👍👍👍

Hanno Kleinecke
Fertig, Tusch und Applaus ! Makes me think: More depth in detail is almost impossible........but maybe, if I keep a close eye on this workbench.....
Congratulations, this is top of the tops !

Clifford Keesler
Just beyond words. An excellent build Bernhard. Like Daniel many bows sir.

Sergej I
This looks much better than the original, Bernhard! 👍 You are the master. We are scrubs.

Spanjaard
I ran out of superlatives even before the rotor was started..... wow

Chris Church
Really exceptional work. Simply outstanding.

Gary Kitchen
Bernhard- this is mind-blowingly awesome levels of detail and build quality. Just wow! Hats off to you.

Lex Jassies
Fantastic, bellisimo, chapeau !

Villiers de Vos
Amazingly detailed and finished.

Neuling
Can a copy be better than the original? I was convinced: no. Seeing your model I´m afraid I have to rethink .......... 👍👍👍

Marco Preto
👍

mpminiatures.wordpress.com
Instagram: @marco_a_c_preto

Alec K
This is truly a magnificent build, really a joy to follow. Very, very impressive 👍

Tim Heimer
Bernhard, You've done it again! Another beautiful whirlybird!

Nathan Dempsey
Wow Bernhard! You sir, prove that nothing is impossible given enough skill and determination. I salute you 🙂

Zsolt Czegle
Superklasse ausgezeichnete Arbeit! 👍👍👍👍👍

Alexander Grivonev
A masterpiece

Martin von Schreckenstein
absolutely stunning work.

Daniel Klink
And all this in only round about 6 Months... Awesome 👍

Lenny Hoffmann
Absoluter hammer. Die CH-53 schaut unglaublich aus...diese Details ಠ_ಠ

Dietmar Bogatzki
Meisterkino 👍

Alexander
All you need is some good weather and appropriate lighting and camera view and you couldn't tell the difference between yours and the real vehicle. 👍

Christoph Schnarr
Very impressive model, superbly built, superbly detailed and superbly painted. Very excellent Bernhard!!!

Alexey Alexeev
it's awesome. after that i can call my "Project" only how school home work =(.

David Taylor
Nothing to say,everything has been said.Wow.

Bernhard Schrock
I'm overwhelmed about your comments!!🙂 I was not really happy with the first batch of pictures and so I reactivated my other photo set.

Spanjaard
i wanted to say that it just needed the right background..... but you also resolved that 😉

Daniel Klink
Last pic is original... for sure 🙂
Well deserved Bernhard, the pics of your model are so authtentic crazy really

Ronan
A piece of art indeed , congrats Bernhard

Mark D
Impressive detailing! skills, patience and good reference material absolutely needed 🙂

Lochsa River
Spectacular and at a level of modeling that is unreal...

Brandon H
Absolutely out of this world! Great job Bernhard!

Treehugger
Rally nice, a lot of fun stuff to look at here.

Juergen Klinglhuber
Very impressive - this is amazingly reallistic. Thx for sharing and giving the chance for particibating this build journey. top 👍

akira kita
Congratulations on the completion. The great Meister's work is appropriate for the Chief of Staff's room JMSDF.(^o^)

Hanno Kleinecke
Saw this giant in reality today, as usual phtos don't do justice - this is the ultimate masterpiece in modelbuilding. Breathless admiration 👍

Juergen Klinglhuber
let us know when this model can be seen on a show....

Bernhard Schrock
Hopefully next year in Lingen. I hope can fit some of my helis in the car...

Eric Lamare
Bernhard, this is the most detailed and beautiful Model I have ever seen. It really looks like a real MH53. And in Japanese colours to look even cleaner ! Can you tell how many parts and work hours you put in this build ? Just curious. All your kits looks really great, but this one is above all others in terms of complexity and details. Phantastic ?

Bernhard Schrock
Eric, I'm honoured about your comment. Thank you. Indeed as you mentioned this is the longest and most complex build I've managed ever. The entire build took nearly six months. I don't know how many hours and how many parts I put in this project. I think because of corona I had more time than usually ... maybe 15 hours /week? 60-65 hours / month? In total maybe 360-400 hours? I don't know. Just for fun I counted the parts when building the main rotor and the counter stopped at 1095 parts... I think the „rest" of the heli consists of 2500-3000 extra parts?

Slavo Hazucha
Behold the king of choppers, and rejoice in his light... 👍

Rarely do we see 5-6 model´s worth of excellence & details in one build, but here we are (the rotor alone making for 2 😉 )

It´s always a pleasure to see how far our hobby can be stretched, great show & top pics, was an honor following the whole build!

Patrick Hagelstein
3595-4095 parts and all equally well executed.... Amazing.... 😮

Tom
Hallo Bernhard,
leider lange nichts mehr von dir gehört, ich hoffe dich bald auf Messen wieder zu sehen. Dein Heli: einfach sagenhaft, würde jedes Magazin bis nach Japan ehren, Wow! 🙂

Dominik Weitzer
Wow. what an amazing built! i'm speechless!

Ben Schumacher
Herausragend, Bernhard!

Ralf Topeters
Atemberaubend Bernhard! Sieht echter aus als der echte echt ehrlich!!! 👍 👍 👍

Daniel Mysak
Simply stunning modell, fantastic work.

Pero Susinger
Unbelievable! Awesome!

Clifford Keesler
Beyond words sir, just simply stunning.

Michael Kohl
Massive. In size and quality.