1/48 Eduard Hellcat II
This is the recent Eduard Weekend Edition Hellcat II. I finished it with Humbrol enamels and kit decals. I also added True Details wheels, Eduard seat belts, and scratchbuilt the drop tank retention straps from scrap brass. This kit is the first Hellcat that I've ever built that I've been happy with. It beats Otaki and Hasegawa hands down and is great value for money. The cowling is a bit tricky and I ended up with a gap on the bottom that needed fixing. This was the kit's only glitch that I can think of. It's great kit that was a lot of fun considering that I just finished reading "The British Pacific Fleet" by David Hobbs.
Very nice work John.
If I might, I'd like to point out one small glitch, which is not simply yours but one many modelers make. Since it has a very easy solution, I'm going to point out the glitch and provide the solution, which everyone can make immediate use of I am sure.
The "glitch" i the gap at the base of the windscreen, where it attaches to the fuselage. Sometimes it's the fault of the kit, with an ill-fitting canopy or windscreen, most of the time it's the modeler not wanting to use too much glue out of fear it will squeeze up and harm the clear plastic.
The solution is a glop of white glue on the bench top and a pin. Dip the pin in the glue and run it around the base. It dries clear and fills the gap and no one will notice. An old modeler turned me onto this 40 years ago and it's worked every time since.
It'll make this really good model a great model.
Thanks Tom. You are correct about the canopy. It seemed close enough to pass as a panel line at first. I'll be using the white glue trick on it before I bring it to a show this Fall.
it doesn't hurt to tint the white glue with a little black water based paint either...so you can't see through it
I don't see a "gap", John...great modelin' job. Love that finish!
Thanks Craig It does wear the temperate sea scheme well!
Two thumbs up on this one John. The gap that TC pointed out is a common engineering design that many modeling companies practice. You see it on many of the classic Monogram kits.
Tamiya has recognized this little gap and on some of their kits they have engineered the wind screen so that it is molded into part of the fuselage cowling. Their Me-262 in 1/48 and their P-51D in 1/32nd are two good examples of what a manufacture can do to get rid of the gap.
On the whole a excellent build and a good break from the usual Navy blues normally painted on these kits.
Thank you Stephen. I'd like to compliment you on the B-25. Those old Monogram kits can look good, but I know how much elbow grease you put into that s****r!
Yeah, that kit was a labor of love. I gave it away and have been kicking myself for not doing a better job on the tail markings. The decals that I used had the tail markings looking neat and very smart. Only the real a/c had what looked like a field applied paint job for the codes and I painted them deliberately off. Which to most peoples eyes is not the correct way to go. Also, I painted some areas with a brush because it look like the ground crew used one. The kit ended up being a character study in portrait-er. With the model gone...I had to pick up another one and will have another go in making one.
great scheme...nice job
very nice build I did not notice the gap until you all pointed it out always loved the new Zealand schemes all in all excellent job
Thanks Steve! The markings are for the British Pacific Fleet, not NZ. They are very similar though. NZ markings featured a yellow border around the largest part of the roundel and an additional blue center inside the white. Interestingly enough, reserve officer pilots from Commonwealth nations formed a significant portion of the BPF's officer ranks. In addition to many Aussies and Canadians, Kiwi's formed a disproportionally large element among the fliers.
Nice work on that John,it came out really nice.Love the paintjob.
Thanks John, good old Humbrol enamels. In fact, the Slate Gray was from an Authentics tin that I must have purchased in the late '70s! I used an old tin of US dark green on that Eduard Spitfire too.
Very cool looking cat.
Thank you George. It's a cool and relaxing build! Great kit.
Hi John, GREAT looking Hellcat ! As usual with your work I can just about hear the sound of that beautiful engine and the lovely smell too !
Thanks,
Tom Berichon
Lovely job! They do look good in the Temperate Sea scheme, don't they?