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Jim Sullivan
45 articles

1/48th Hasegawa F6F-5N Hellcat

March 8, 2022 · in Aviation · 26 · 1.2K

I wanted to model a between-the-wars (WWII and Korea) Naval aircraft and decided on the night-fighting Hellcat. For the markings, I selected the USMC squadron VMF(N)-114 with the underlined modex 'LK'. the underline was dropped sometime in 1948. The model build was smooth with a well-engineered Hasegawa kit. Absolutely no problems with flash or parts fitment. The only addition to parts from the kit was an Eduard seat belt and shoulder harness and after-market wheels. The markings all came out of my decal stash box. I liked the kit decals, but they were both for WWII squadrons. The model was finished in Model Master Dark Sea Blue and after the decals had set up, the model was airbrushed with a mixture of about 90% Testors Clear Gloss and 10% Testors Clear Flat to seal the decals and give the plane a uniform appearance. This was a fun build and as I've done for many of my recent building projects, I used a photo of the real night fighting Hellcat to serve as the basis for the model. The final shot in the photos is the real Hellcat this model represents. I hope you like her. Any and all comments welcome.

Reader reactions:
12  Awesome

10 additional images. Click to enlarge.


26 responses

  1. A very nice looking Hellcat, Jim @bentwing
    Great detailing on the interior.

  2. Nice clean build Jim! Love those Grummans...

  3. Thanks for showing us your cockpit work, Jim. Yours is a very well done build in every aspect. Congratulations!

  4. Lovely job Jim in all respects. Your cockpit, as usual, looks great. It's fun to see a Hellcat in postwar markings.
    Cheers, Pip

    • Thanks Pip and I've always enjoyed seeing your fine modeling work. I appreciate your comments on my F6F-5N build. I do not recall seeing that Hellcat squadron modeled before so that was one of my incentives to model it in those markings.

  5. Amazing build, Jim!
    Fantastic weathering!

  6. Excellent work Jim. Great build enhanced by a terrific paint job in GSB and killer post war markings...good work sir!

    • Thanks Clark and I certainly enjoyed seeing your fine build of that F3H Demon you posted here on iModeler last week. I have to admit that I have an addiction to GSB aircraft, especially those with bent wings.

  7. Nicely done GSB, and a great inter-war subject.

  8. That's one fine looking Cat , well done Jim.

    • Thanks Tom and I really enjoy building aircraft from WWII and Korea and in between. There are so many fine markings to choose from, both USN, USMC and USAF.

  9. Nice choice of marking on this great looking model, Jim.

  10. Great subject and execution, Jim---outstanding as always!

    phil

  11. Thanks Phil and I'm glad you liked that Hellcat build. I've surely enjoyed seeing many of the fine models you've shared on your RIS (Replica In Scale) blog. Keep up the fine work on that website.

  12. Nice to see the 20mm armed Hellcat, a fine job it is sir!

  13. Beautiful work, great looking Hellcat. Also great job on the overall finish.

  14. Oh my! This doesn't look like a Corsair!
    Great work as always, Jim! @bentwing

    • Thanks Jeff, glad you liked the Hellcat. With any luck at all, there will be more Corsairs coming off the 'assembly line'. Now, I usually build from photos that 'inspire' me and when I ran across that Hellcat shot, I knew I had to build it.

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