**** DONE: Hellcat Mk.II ,1839 Sqn FAA - Aircraft in Foreign Service GB

[rochie]

cheers Cory, do you think that hub on 145 may even be natural metal as in the paint has worn off ?
and i agree that picture above does suggest all black, i've painted it all black for now anyway as its easy to change

 

[Catch22]

Most photos of DSB Hellcats I've seen period seem to be black. But you're right, it could be worn off paint. That said, I'm wondering if it got stripped during the crash? Probably not.

 

[Crimea_River]

Or maybe it was NMF and never painted. I wouldn't see the point in painting it white.

 

[Catch22]

Part of it is painted black it appears. I've seen schemes where the white on the cowling of some pre-Pacific Fleet Hellcats has continued onto the spinner.

 

[Crimea_River]

Could be. My initial interpretation of the pic was that part of the hub was in shadow but it's quite possible I'm wrong there.

 

[rochie]

been chipping away at the Hellcat.
gear built and attached, canopy masked, painted and attached as is the prop.

was hoping to have this done by now but not so, have the ligjts to paint and fit and the tail wheel to do the same, then going to look at weathering it a bit !

 

[Crimea_River]

Looking good Karl!

 

[Airframes]

Sure is! Suddenly almost done !

 

[T Bolt]

Yea Karl, it looks like you're getting close. Nice work.

 

[rochie]

thanks fella's, not sure if i should leave it as flat as it is or give it a light sheen ?

 

[Catch22]

Nice job Karl!

What I'd do is give it a slight sheet overall except on the top of the nose, and make that quite flat.

 

[T Bolt]

I'm a fan of Dull Cote. I think it makes a model look more realistic in scale, even if the real thing is semi-gloss or gloss. It also evens out the finish.

 

[rochie]

thanks guys

will give it some thought !

 

[Catch22]

Karl, hold off on my advice. I can't seem to find any photo evidence for that painting method on Hellcats. I've seen F4Us with it, but they may not have worried about it on Hellcats because the nose was shorter.

 

[Gnomey]

Coming along nicely Karl!

 

[Vic Balshaw]

That's looking very nice Karl.

 

[rochie]

thanks guys

 

[Wayne Little]

Good work Karl!

 

[rochie]

cheers mate

 

[rochie]

ok, have been fiddling with this for the last couple of weeks a few minutes at a time !
and am calling this about finished and will post a finished thread when i have time and better light for the pictures
have added colour to the various lights
added a bit of grime
unmasked the canopy parts
last pic is next to its FAA stable mate the Corsair