F6F Hellcat Recommendations

[Robert Porter]

I would like to build a 1:48th or 1:32 scale F6F Hellcat. Any recommendations on a specific kit that will be a good one to use?

I have seen 4 common kits that appear to be within my budget, one from Revell, two from Eduard one of which is called the "Weekend" version, and one from Tamiya.

I seem to recall that the Revell kit is a reissue of the older kit with raised rivets and panel lines as opposed to the more modern inset ones. Other than that I don't know much about any of the kits.

My budget is no more than around $50.00USD for the kit, less would be better!

Cheers,

Robert

 

[fubar57]

This.....my friend is the Revell kit. You do not want to go there...
--> **** DONE: 1/48 F6F-5K HELLCAT DRONE - Post-War Warbirds

As mentioned in the article, I have the Eduard kit and the Eduard Weekend kit and they look fantastic. The Weekend part means you only get one decal option and no P.E.. I've also done the Hasegawa kit and it was a slam together

 

[Robert Porter]

This.....my friend is the Revell kit. You do not want to go there...
--> **** DONE: 1/48 F6F-5K HELLCAT DRONE - Post-War Warbirds

As mentioned in the article, I have the Eduard kit and the Eduard Weekend kit and they look fantastic. The Weekend part means you only get one decal option and no P.E.. I've also done the Hasegawa kit and it was a slam together

Thanks for explaining the difference in the Eduard kits. I am thinking after reading a couple of kit reviews of going in that direction. But wow, the Revell kit interior is indeed non-existant. Have not found much on the Hasegawa kit but I see a lot about the Hobby Boss kit, good and bad.

I think I will have to save my pennies and opt for the Eduard full kit as opposed to the Weekender, and maybe buy a few add-ons after I figure out what comes in the kit.

 

[fubar57]

Right now on ebay for about 50$CAN....
Eduard 1/48 EDK8434 Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat Weekend Edition | eBay
Eduard Zoom FE454 1/48 Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat Eduard Weekend Edition | eBay

 

[Robert Porter]

Right now on ebay for about 50$CAN....
Eduard 1/48 EDK8434 Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat Weekend Edition | eBay
Eduard Zoom FE454 1/48 Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat Eduard Weekend Edition | eBay

I am looking at this kit as well, about $25.00 US Scalehobbyist.com: F6F-5 Late Fighter Profi-pack by Eduard
Is the Profi-pack something different?

 

[fubar57]

That's the one with all the extras. The Weekender is the basic. Also look for something called Eduard overtrees on the Eduard site. This just contains the plastic sprues, not even sure if they are in a box. Kinda hit and miss with these though. Just type in "eduard overtrees" into the search engine of your choice

 

[Robert Porter]

That's the one with all the extras. The Weekender is the basic. Also look for something called Eduard overtrees on the Eduard site. This just contains the plastic sprues, not even sure if they are in a box. Kinda hit and miss with these though. Just type in "eduard overtrees" into the search engine of your choice

I had no idea overtrees existed! Great cost savings as well. Provided you can suss out how to do without instructions although I know there are lots of sources for those. Would also be a great second model to allow building multiple versions. Thanks for the info!

 

[fubar57]

Eduard has you covered there my friend. Once you choose the overtree, find the original kit on there site. Eduard know that d̶o̶o̶f̶u̶s̶e̶s̶, d̶o̶o̶f̶u̶s̶s̶e̶s̶, d̶o̶o̶f̶u̶s̶i̶i̶ idiots like me can and will lose the occasional instruction sheet so the include a PDF you can down-load...

 

[Robert Porter]

This is a Hobby Boss kit I found, any thoughts on this vendor? The kit seems much superior to the Revell in all aspects. But not sure how they compare to the Eduard kits?

HobbyBoss 1/48 80340 F6F-3N Hellcat Model Kit Hobby Boss | eBay

 

[fubar57]

When I want to check out how a kit sizes up, these are my 3 go-to sites. There are others I use but these supply me with the quickest info
MODELING MADNESS: The Finest Review Site on the Web
HobbyBoss 1/48 F6F-3 Hellcat, by Tom Cleaver

HyperScale - An Online Magazine for Aircraft and Armour Modellers
No HobbyBoss builds

ARC Air - An Online Magazine Devoted to Scale Aircraft Modelling
1/48 Hobby Boss F6F-3 Hellcat by Aaron
1/48 Hobby Boss Hellcat F6F 5 by Amin Ghazzaoui

 

[Robert Porter]

When I want to check out how a kit sizes up, these are my 3 go-to sites. There are others I use but these supply me with the quickest info
MODELING MADNESS: The Finest Review Site on the Web
HobbyBoss 1/48 F6F-3 Hellcat, by Tom Cleaver

HyperScale - An Online Magazine for Aircraft and Armour Modellers
No HobbyBoss builds

ARC Air - An Online Magazine Devoted to Scale Aircraft Modelling
1/48 Hobby Boss F6F-3 Hellcat by Aaron
1/48 Hobby Boss Hellcat F6F 5 by Amin Ghazzaoui

I have been pursing the Modeling Madness site for the last hour, thanks! It is a pretty good review site. Tom Cleaver seems to be fairly prolific in reviewing as well. ARC I have been to as well will take a look there again today as well as HyperScale. Obviously the reviews are subjective as one author raves about a particular kit that others rant against but you can certainly get a good feel for the relative merits or faults.

Because of reviews by you and others I have ruled out the Revell kit and am focused now on the Eduard and Hasegawa kits. Trumpeter and HobbyBoss seem to get a lot of criticism about totally inaccurate fuselage size and profile. Revell of course lacks detail to such a level it would seem only to be worthy of use if you were going to perfect your scratchbuild techniques on it.

 

[fubar57]

A few other sites I belong to though not quite so user friendly ...
iModeler
http://imodeler.com/tag/f6f/

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/

http://www.cybermodeler.com/index.shtml

 

[Wayne Little]

Eduard Hellcat without a doubt.....save your pennies and go for it....

 

[Crimea_River]

Agree with Wayne. I built two and they went together beautifully. The only criticism is that they wheels are a bit narrow but it's an easy fix.

Watch for overtrees as they may not include decals either.

Here are my two builds:

**** DONE : 1/48 Hellcat Mk I JV-131 No 800 Squadron HMS Emperor

**** DONE: 1/48 Hellcat Mk. II - Aircraft in Foreign Service WWII

 

[Robert Porter]

Agree with Wayne. I built two and they went together beautifully. The only criticism is that they wheels are a bit narrow but it's an easy fix.

Watch for overtrees as they may not include decals either.

Here are my two builds:

**** DONE : 1/48 Hellcat Mk I JV-131 No 800 Squadron HMS Emperor

**** DONE: 1/48 Hellcat Mk. II - Aircraft in Foreign Service WWII

Great builds! Based on the feedback I am going with the Eduard kit. I will get a complete kit and maybe a set of overtrees for spares and plunders. I will post here and on my blog once I get going!

Thanks again!

 

[Robert Porter]

Eduard Hellcat without a doubt.....save your pennies and go for it....

Done! Everyone seems to agree and from some of the video builds I have watched the Eduard kits are a great build experience!

 

[Crimea_River]

Another Eduard option might be to find a Dual-Combo kit. You get 2 complete kits in one box for less than the price of two. Not sure if they are still on the market though.

 

[Robert Porter]

Pulled the trigger just ordered this one up!

 

[Crimea_River]

You've done the right thing.

 

[Robert Porter]