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Morne Meyer
48 articles

Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat

August 24, 2014 · in Aviation · · 23 · 2.9K

This scale carries the distinctive markings from VF-27. Definitely the most ferocious looking Hellcat squadron in the US Navy! This Hellcat probably went down with the USS Princeton when she was mortally wounded by a bomb dropped by a Jap 'Judy' on 24 October 1944.
The kit is from and was built OOB except for the scratcbuilt aerial wires. Modelmaster enamels and Doc O' Brien's weathering powders were used to add color to a true American legend of the war in the Pacific!

Reader reactions:
5  Awesome

7 additional images. Click to enlarge.


23 responses

  1. Nice job on the Hellcat, especially the weathering Morne.

  2. Great finish on this one, Morne.

  3. Hello Morne and thanks for sharing your F6F-3 Hellcat build. Like the P-47 you recently posted, the weathering on your F6F-3 is quite nicely done. I look forward to seeing more of your builds...perhaps a Corsair?

  4. Another realistic looking piece Morne. I like the way you do the erosion & chipping on the panel separations.
    We'll done.

  5. You do indeed have a talent for the weathering/detailing aspects on your builds. Another nice job on this one, sir.
    I've been using those same weathering powders for years now, as well. Sure beats scraping little piles of dust from artists' chalk and pastel, don't it? 🙂

    • Thanks for the vote of confidence in my modeling ablities. Love the detailing aspect of model building. Doc O' Brien's pigments are truly the best. Mine is 6 years old and I still have enough left for many years to come.

  6. You have got the weathering off to a fine tee Morne.
    It is something I am slowly trying to get to grips with.
    I use Tamiya weathering powders for now.
    Nice Hellcat.
    Hope to see more of your builds.

    • Thanks Simon! Weathering lends character to a model. Practice makes perfect. I use watercolor paint for panel lines. Tamiya's range of weathering kits are great! Try using pigments like Doc O' Brien's as well.

  7. Great looking Hellcat Morne. Another well done finish as well. The Hasegawa Hellcat is a sweet building kit too.

  8. Cool Hellcat. Was the shark mouth common to all the squadron planes or is it an individual marking? I read somewhere that US Navy discouraged "decoration" of their a/c's perhaphs to distance themselves from the Army air corps?

  9. really nice weathering - great work!

  10. Really nice work Morne. The exposed rivets in places is a nice touch.

  11. Morne,
    Excellent and I agree with everyone else that your weathering is masterful.

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