1/48 Royal Navy Hellcat Mk 1 (as used during attacks on the Tirpitz)

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Colin L

Airman
43
98
Nov 27, 2016
This is one of the earliest Hellcat Mk 1's in the Royal Navy, operating with 800 Sqn FAA, HMS Emperor, and participated in the attacks on the Tirpitz in a 'fighter suppression' role. It accounted for three FW-190's in those strikes.

This is the ancient Otaki 1/48 Hellcat with some improvements. With a bit of work, some of these Otaki kits still standup today!

- Detailed gunsight, True details cockpit, scratchbuilt rear bulkhead and armour plate based on photos, replaced machinegun barrels, and exhaust with aluminum and brass tubing.
- Canopy is Squadron vacuform with internal structure from plastic strip.
- Removed and scratch built wheel wells from photos and plans, scratch built arrester hook and holdback, detailed landing gear, and thinned and corrected gear doors and actuators.
- Rebuilt and corrected droptank as per photos.
- Detailed engine and wired, added cowl inner structure and details, deepened intakes and added screen.
- Added formation, ID, landing and nav lights with acrylic rod.
- Painted with Tamiya acrylics, weathered (hairspray technique) with stiff brush and sharpened toothpicks, pastels and enamel paint.
- Decals from Techmod, spares, and custom made.

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Hope you like,

Colin
 
Last edited:
Thanks all! I do like the old Otaki kits, and this one is to be 1/3 of a Royal Navy 'Tirpitz' strike trio, the other will be a Barracuda, and a Firefly Mk 1. Somewhere in my to do pile!

Colin
 
Just like to say that, that is one of the nicest finishes Ive seen for sometime :thumbright:=D>
 

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