Profile Photo
Istvan Havril
9 articles

Minsi III – F6F-5 Hellcat, Eduard 1/72

July 10, 2021 · in Aviation · · 11 · 2.1K

This is one of Capt. David McCampbell's Hellcats.
The kit is well engineered, the fit is great.
List of modifications:
-riveted the entire surface
-changed the .50 cal barrels to metal tubes
-brake cabels added to the landing gears
-made the position lights from transparent plastic
-added antenna wire.

The weathering is very solid, according to the photos, this aircraft kept in good condition.

Reader reactions:
9  Awesome

8 additional images. Click to enlarge.


11 responses

  1. Most excellent work @havrilistvan ! That is a great looking Hellcat sir! 🙂

  2. Istvan,

    Excellent, painting with subtle variations of blues on the fuselage and wings. The exhaust staining is very sophisticated for 1/72nd. Minsi is a standard for many modelers. What separates your build are the after mention comments .

    I have no choice but, to smash the like button.

    Two thumbs up.

  3. Excellent paint and weathering. I have several Eduard kits but have yet to build one. Superb work sir!

  4. What a fine build you produced with that 1/72nd Eduard Hellcat. Your weathering technique is outstanding. All very well done.

  5. Like you say yourself, the weathering is not too much. What there is, is subtle and really making the detail pop. I like the slight shine you have on the model making the curvature of the cowling, wings and stabilizer stand out. Who needs multi colour camouflage when dark blue is enough.

  6. Great build, Istvan.
    The exhaust stains indeed look very nice.

  7. Good thing the weathering is "not too much," since that is what makes it so realistic. Probably about what Minsi III looked like come mid November 1944, after being flown hard and hung up wet since July. Very nice work.

  8. This is a wonderful Minsi, Istvan. You started with a great kit, which you took to really excellent levels, weathering and extra detailing definitely included!
    The final result is almost unbelievable for 1/72!
    Well done!

  9. Outstanding!

  10. Amazing work Istvan, wow I can't believe the amount of detail you got onto a 1/72. I love the 'cats' and the way you've faded that blue is so nice and realistic, would you mind me asking what you used to make those exhaust stains, looks amazing.

  11. Excellent paint and weathering work on this! Looks great.

Leave a Reply