F6F-5 Hellcat (Eduard 1/72)

[ArmouredSprue]

Hi all

Being new to here I'd like to share the build I'm doing at the moment.

The kit is the acclaimed best hellcat in 72nd available and it really deserves it. Besides the accurate shape and details it builts really nicelly and no putty required so far.
Here are some pics of this building.

Finally I got a question for you guys, according to IPMSStockholm guide colours for USNavy the first part of the wheel well is interior green. Is that right or should be all the same colour of the underside? See photo below.

Comments, critics and suggestions welcome!
Cheers

 

[N4521U]

That looks pretty nice for thumbnail scale!!!!

You've got a few nice hobby shops in Adelaide, along with Wayne!

 

[ArmouredSprue]

That looks pretty nice for thumbnail scale!!!!

You've got a few nice hobby shops in Adelaide, along with Wayne!

Thanks mate!


Yes we have good ones here. If you need something just give us a yell!

Cheers

Paulo

 

[ArmouredSprue]

One more update
I did the formation lights on the tip of the wings

Paulo

 

[Wayne Little]

Paulo, courtesy of hellcat expert William Reece in an article he collated on US interiors..

"F6F-5 Hellcat. Cockpit: FS 34151. Later a/c with BuNo's higher than about 80000 had the interior above the consoles in black Any F6F with the rear windows will have the rear fuselage in Light Gray. (Grumman Gray Take note: those building David McCambell's Minsi III.) The inside of the engine cowling could be Light Gray, Interior Green, or Zinc Chromate Yellow FS 33481, respectively according to production batch. Later F6F-5's may have had a Flat Black cowling interior ahead of the baffle seal between the front and rear cylinder banks. This was most likely done at overhaul. The remainder was Interior Green. The inside of the fuselage on the F6F-5 without the windows would normally be FS 33481 ZCY. Very late a/c with BuNo's in the 94000, range had Interior Green fuselage interiors and black upper cockpits. This is exactly according to the USN specifications at the time. All other areas of the airframe that were exposed to weather were painted Glossy Dark Sea Blue, ANA 623. Remember on all of these a/c the general rule is that the wheel bays, landing gear struts, wheel centers, landing flap bays, etc. are the under surface color. There should be no Interior Green visible on the exterior of any factory finished F6F-5. No F6F-5 aircraft were factory finished in the tri-color paint scheme. Note: ANA 623 is not FS 15042. FS 15042 is an FS 595 color that is close too, but not the same as ANA 623 color used during WWII. Although the variation is very slight they are different."

 

[ArmouredSprue]

Paulo, courtesy of hellcat expert William Reece in an article he collated on US interiors..

"F6F-5 Hellcat. Cockpit: FS 34151. Later a/c with BuNo's higher than about 80000 had the interior above the consoles in black Any F6F with the rear windows will have the rear fuselage in Light Gray. (Grumman Gray Take note: those building David McCambell's Minsi III.) The inside of the engine cowling could be Light Gray, Interior Green, or Zinc Chromate Yellow FS 33481, respectively according to production batch. Later F6F-5's may have had a Flat Black cowling interior ahead of the baffle seal between the front and rear cylinder banks. This was most likely done at overhaul. The remainder was Interior Green. The inside of the fuselage on the F6F-5 without the windows would normally be FS 33481 ZCY. Very late a/c with BuNo's in the 94000, range had Interior Green fuselage interiors and black upper cockpits. This is exactly according to the USN specifications at the time. All other areas of the airframe that were exposed to weather were painted Glossy Dark Sea Blue, ANA 623. Remember on all of these a/c the general rule is that the wheel bays, landing gear struts, wheel centers, landing flap bays, etc. are the under surface color. There should be no Interior Green visible on the exterior of any factory finished F6F-5. No F6F-5 aircraft were factory finished in the tri-color paint scheme. Note: ANA 623 is not FS 15042. FS 15042 is an FS 595 color that is close too, but not the same as ANA 623 color used during WWII. Although the variation is very slight they are different."

Copy that!

thanks Sir!

 

[Bustedwing]

So I'm sitting here thinking, must be a typo, that can't be 1/72 scale. Looks fantastic !!

 

[A4K]

Great work mate, and sure does look to be the best of the 1:72 kits! (I have, or have had, the Hasegawa, Novo/Frog, Tamiya/Italeri, and Revell/ Italeri) kits - only others I know of are the Airfix, Matchbox and Eduard offerings)

 

[Wayne Little]

You're welcome Paulo...

 

[Wurger]

 

[Vic Balshaw]

All that in 1/72, you're kidding me…………………..brilliant.

 

[ArmouredSprue]

hi all!
Thanks for your kind words.
here are a few more photos, I've painted using Gunze H54 Navy Blue, I did a pre-shade using Tamyia flat black prior and let this show through to give it a battle worn look, these navy one colour camo are so boring that we need to do something otherwise will end up so dull.

I also have applied a coat of Future=Pledge to seal everything for decalling and weathering.
stay tuned for the next updates!

Cheers mates!

Paulo

 

[fubar57]

Like the rest, i had to go back and check the scale. Amazingly detailed innards for 1/72. Well done ArmouredSprue.

Geo

 

[A4K]

Looks great Paulo!

 

[ArmouredSprue]

Cheers mates!

I've just finished the decals this arvo, I'll get some pics later on.

Paulo

 

[ArmouredSprue]

Decals on, check the photos:

In these photos it looks like they have been weathered but they not, its due the lighting!

Cheers

Paulo

 

[N4521U]

Doin a right nice job an her mate.

 

[meatloaf109]

Seriously!

 

[A4K]

Yep, looks great mate!

 

[ArmouredSprue]

Cheers mates!

Next will be weathering and accent panel lines etc....