Atkinson's Hellcat II

Hi All!

After several difficult builds I decided to do something fairly easy. As I scanned over my inventory list, I settled on an <a href="https://imodeler.com/tag/eduard/" class="st_tag internal_tag " rel="tag" title="Click for the Eduard database at iModeler">Eduard</a> F6F, actually the second in the <a href="https://imodeler.com/tag/hellcat/" class="st_tag internal_tag " rel="tag" title="Click for the Hellcat database at iModeler">Hellcat</a> I&II kit.

The FAA was the second largest user of the Hellcat, and it served in the Atlantic, Indian Ocean and with the British Pacific Fleet. Although the FAA preferred the Corsair, they took all of the Hellcats offered. Only one FAA ace scored all of his kills in a Hellcat, and he was SLt. Bill Atkinson of 1844 NAS, first on HMS Indomitable, then on HMS Formidable. His score was 8.5 kills (1-Judy, 1-Zeke, 1-Tony, 1-Betty, 1-Myrt, 3-Grace on same mission). Atkinson was one of 2 Canadian FAA Aces (Don Sheppard was the other) during WWII. He was the only FAA pilot to shoot down 3 enemy aircraft in one mission. As I have been building aircraft of FAA aces, Bill Atkinson was a shoe in.

The Eduard Hellcat is the best on the market (though I am building the 1/48th scale kit here, the same applies to the 1/72nd scale kit). It is a fairly simple build, even though some areas are a bit over engineered. The Hamilton-Standard High-Activity Hydromatic prop   is shaped wrong (it narrows towards the tip, where the actual prop maintains a constant chord) and the wheels. The kit wheels appear to be too narrow. Assembly presents no real issues, though the cowl is a bit fiddly, as are the landing gear. I did use some of the etched parts for the cockpit, esp. on the instrument panel. Only minor amounts of filler were required, along the fuselage seam and cowl. When all of the seams were attended to, and the bits needing application were attached the kit was painted Sea Blue. When dry, the non-Specular Sea Blue anti glare panel was masked off and the model received a coat of Future. The decals (from several sources) were applied when the Future cured. After the decals were dry, a second coat of Future was brushed on. The masking was removed and all of the remaining bits were attached. 

This is the third Eduard Hellcat I have done, and I like them. They got the shape right and are detailed enough out of the box for me.

The model represents a Grumman Hellcat II, JX772 coded “119-X ” on board HMS Formidable as part of the British Pacific Fleet. It was in this aircraft Bill Atkinson shot down 3 Grace torpedo bombers of the IJN.

     One note on the color...the Hellcat IS Glossy Sea Blue. the ^%$$$##$#$%$#$% camera altered the blue and I for some reason could not correct it.

The kit is highly recommended to all!

Bruce

The kit is highly recommended to all!

Bruce

1 additional image. Click to enlarge.