1:48 Scale Eduard, F6F-5, “Hellcat”
Not going to get in too much of a chat with this one, as I already have written about their F6F-3. Same build experience with this one. Great overall detail most of the time, and could be improved upon in others. It's an excellent build, and in my opinion, the best Hellcat model in any scale.
Have a great night and I hope you enjoy the pictures!
Regards,
Freddie from LI
An F6F-5, “White 99”, nicknamed “Hanger Lilly”, was the aircraft of the Air Group Commander, Cdr. Hugh T. Winters, CAG-19.
Flying from USS Lexington, (CV-16), Cdr. Winters knocked down eight enemy aircraft during World War Two. He flew “Hanger Lilly” during November, 1944
Another nice Cat.
Nice looking Hellcat - I like the effect with the lighter-colored panel line wash. I'm not sure how "realistic" it is to see it that way, but for models it definitely helps bring out detail, especially on monochrome paint schemes! I've got it in mind to give it a try on one of my Hellcats to see how well it works in 1/72.
This is an awesome looking Hellcat. I like the weathering and superb finish you achieved on this model. Well done!
I agree...looks pretty good.
You've definitely got the knack with these Hellcats, another good looking model.
Another great Freddie Seitz build.
Since we have been "model buds" and critiqued each other over the years, I want to say something that has not a thing to do with the quality of the model and the effort expended (which is excellent).
With the USN aviation books I am writing (and have written), going over photos of GSB airplanes, it's horrible to create an "accurate" model in this finish, that isn't boring visually as a model. The Navy chose GSB for the fact it didn't do any of the things we do as modelers to make the model "visually interesting." The paint was resistant to weathering. The worst it did was go from gloss to "satin" within the average lifetime of an airplane in that scheme. It went "progressively flatter" weith weathering, but so far as I can tell you wouldn't notice that in an airplane less than a year in WestPac. It didn't even sun-fade! I have yet to figure out how to do a WW2 period (only a year maximum for the airplane in operations) GSB airplane that I don't say to myself looking at all the photos I now have: "Overdone!"
Your observation, Tom, I find spot on. After she was finished, I thought the weathering a bit too severe, in that it was a heck of a contrast to the base coat. She looked too dirty. I don't know if spraying a coat of satin finish will help this, OR, if maybe mixing a darker shade of the gray wash to keep the contrast lower. I have as a test subject, a 1:72 Helkcat ill try my theory on first, and see how that works. Thanks for the input Tom! 🙂
Great model Fred. I agree that GSB can be really boring but you've given your -5 a real lift. I've done the Hasegawa kit (with Quickboost cowl) in exactly the same markings & I should have given it some of your treatment.