1/48th Hasegawa F6F-5N Hellcat
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.
10 additional images. Click to enlarge.
John vd Biggelaar said on March 8, 2022
A very nice looking Hellcat, Jim @bentwing
Great detailing on the interior.
Jim Sullivan said on March 9, 2022
Thank you, John.
Greg Kittinger said on March 8, 2022
Nice clean build Jim! Love those Grummans...
Jim Sullivan said on March 9, 2022
Thanks Greg and I share the love for the fabulous Grumman birds.
Christopher C Tew said on March 8, 2022
Thanks for showing us your cockpit work, Jim. Yours is a very well done build in every aspect. Congratulations!
Jim Sullivan said on March 9, 2022
Thank you, Christopher. The kit interior is pretty good but a little aftermarket enhancement.can help it.
Pip Moss said on March 8, 2022
Lovely job Jim in all respects. Your cockpit, as usual, looks great. It's fun to see a Hellcat in postwar markings.
Cheers, Pip
Jim Sullivan said on March 9, 2022
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.
Spiros Pendedekas said on March 8, 2022
Amazing build, Jim!
Fantastic weathering!
Jim Sullivan said on March 9, 2022
Thank you, Spiros,.
Clark Cook said on March 8, 2022
Excellent work Jim. Great build enhanced by a terrific paint job in GSB and killer post war markings...good work sir!
Jim Sullivan said on March 9, 2022
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.
Andrew H said on March 9, 2022
Nicely done GSB, and a great inter-war subject.
Jim Sullivan said on March 9, 2022
Thanks Andrew, I appreciate that.
Tom Bebout said on March 9, 2022
That's one fine looking Cat , well done Jim.
Jim Sullivan said on March 9, 2022
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.
George Schembri said on March 9, 2022
Nice choice of marking on this great looking model, Jim.
Jim Sullivan said on March 9, 2022
Thank you George.
Phillip Friddell said on March 9, 2022
Great subject and execution, Jim---outstanding as always!
phil
Jim Sullivan said on March 9, 2022
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.
Robert Royes said on March 10, 2022
Nice to see the 20mm armed Hellcat, a fine job it is sir!
Jim Sullivan said on March 10, 2022
Thanks Robert, that's the first F6F-5N I've ever built, and I like those 20mm cannon too.
Bob Torres said on March 12, 2022
Beautiful work, great looking Hellcat. Also great job on the overall finish.
Jim Sullivan said on June 18, 2022
Thanks Bob, that Model Master GSB really does the trick.
Jeff Bailey said on June 18, 2022
Oh my! This doesn't look like a Corsair!
Great work as always, Jim! @bentwing
Jim Sullivan said on June 18, 2022
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.