Curtiss SOC-3 Seagull - Hasegawa 1/72

[RodolfoMas]

Hi everyone,
I'm starting to assemble this Hasegawa kit:


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

to make this aircraft:


VO-5 USS New York (BB-34) Source: Naval History and Heritage Command

The Curtiss SOC Seagull was a biplane scout-observation aircraft that operated from US battleships and cruisers throughout the Second World War and was designed as a replacement for the Vought 02U. Each battleship carried three SOC's for the primary purpose of spotting long range of its 14-inch guns.
All cruiser carried four planes units and these were primarily for scouting.
All models of the SOC were convertible from floatplanes to landsplanes and operated on wheels from naval air stations ashore when their parent ship was in port.

The Seagull was used to support several shore bombardments, including Operation Torch, the invasion of Sicily and the Salerno landings. During these operations it proved to be very vulnerable to enemy fighter aircraft.
The Seagull was in use on US cruisers during the battle of the Coral Sea (4-8 May 1942), at the battle of Midway of June 1942, and on the fleet that supported the invasion of Gaudalcanal and Tulagi in August 1942. At Midway twenty-eight Seagulls equipped Cruiser Scouting Squadrons 4, 5 and 6 (VCS-4, VCS-5 and VCS-6). During the Guadalcanal campaign Seagulls were used to try and find the Japanese ships ferrying reinforcements to the island at night (the Tokyo Express), with at least one being shot down.

A quick look inside the box:


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr
VO-4, Battleship USS Colorado (Land Plane Version)


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr
VO-5. Battleship USS New York (Seaplane Version)


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

[antonowski]

Looking forward to seeing your progress! Looks like a fun build

[Garion77]

Oh this is going to be nice !

[BigWall]

[RodolfoMas]

I managed to buy this little gem to detailing the engine:


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

but I couldn't buy the Starfighter resin cockpit interior and so I tried to detail the cockpit, what do you think about it?


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

[RodolfoMas]

Here is the Soc-3 Seagull seaplane embarked on the USS New York ...


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

I applied a coat of black primer before painting it


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

[RangerNeil]

Interesting builds. Looking forwards to seeing the completed planes.

[digger303]

[RodolfoMas]

by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

[digger303]

Finished already....Nice metal finish to a lovely build.

[BigWall]

That looks quite nice!

[RodolfoMas]

Plane before weathering, rigging and .... a sea of resin


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

[digger303]

Lovely build.
Will it float with that much resin....

[Tomcat64]

Lovely work as always - looking forward to seeing the final result

[RodolfoMas]

The Land Plane Version (VO-4, Battleship USS Colorado), is also ready for Weathering and rigging ...


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

[RodolfoMas]

Rigging a 1/72 plane is a challenging task for my hands ...


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

[RodolfoMas]

Base almost done ... I'm in doubt ... do have I add some white to the waves ?


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

[DRUMS01]

That looks wonderful, regardless of the scale. What I mean is that many times models are harder to bring alive when the scale is smaller. In your case, this is perfect. I would show this beside any large scale aircraft without hesitation, very nice build. As for white caps? It is my understanding that any waves 2 scale feet or less in height normally would not need white caps or suds.

Have you thought of modeling a pilot standing on the beach to provide a sense of scale?

Even if you don't do that, this is the "chis-nizzle"!

DRUMS01/Ben

[aur0ra145]

Cool! Really nice job with all of it!