Stokesy's 1/48 Eduard Grumman F6 Hellcat

[cor]

Thanks mate. I need to reassess how I take my photos. I use a daylight light for my bench sessions and that is on when I take my photos. It bleaches color out of paintwork and changes the general hue of the subject. I had a good look at the Hellcat last night in normal lighting conditions and it is much darker and far less blue - just as it should be.

I need to make up my mind what to do about the color (if anything) as I need to mask up for adding some white flashes for the variant I have chosen from the instructions.

Can you set your phone camera to custom white balance.

[Stokesy44]

Can you set your phone camera to custom white balance.

I don't think so, I've just gone through the phone settings. I can get better results simply by turning the bench light off so I'll try that. I'm due a phone update anyway.

[Stokesy44]

Painted the prop and engine today. Some further brush painting required but the spraying's done.





Then it was time for the Alclad Aqua Gloss. It went down ok and so much coverage for a relatively small amount in the cup.













Next is the detail painting on the engine and prop then its decal time

[Stokesy44]

Nice plane. Looks like a clunker, but must have been otherwise as it designed specifically to kill the zero.

Its a perfect example of war time expediency. Take a proven engine and bolt it to the simplest easy to produce airframe with an eye to mass production. No chin scratching over its role, its a zero killer. End of.

Thankfully the Me 262 was at the other end of the spectrum. Otherwise it would probably have gone into service a year earlier

[Stokesy44]

Engine and prop tidied up. Engine will get a wash once the paint is dry.

[Portman]

Very nice indeed - that's a great bit of painting.

[Stokesy44]

Got started on the decals.

I used Microscale's decal solutions, blue for application and red conformity where needed. Overall it looks ok but there were a few very minor scrapes in the stars and bars decals. I'll sort that out with white paint so it wont be a problem. Annoying though.

I still have the stencils to do and, being an American aircraft, there are quite a few to do.









I've never been a fan of the dark US navy blue color for kits because I find it doesn't suit the way I weather aircraft. Having said that I am enjoying the challenge of working with a really dark base color and I have a few thoughts on how I will weather the kit.

[digger303]

[Portman]

That's a stunner! I do like it when the decals go on a kit.

[Stokesy44]

That's a stunner! I do like it when the decals go on a kit.

Thanks Gents

I got started on the airframe stencils. I'm about halfway done with the fuselage almost finished.







I am really liking the look of the aircraft in the dark navy blue color with the white decals. I'm almost tempted to finish it as a museum piece. All it would need is a matt varnish to finish. Thing is I've got my eye on the new release of the Airfix 1/24 Hellcat, due this summer, so it might be worth weathering this one for practice ahead of its big brother arriving!

[digger303]

All these builds of these aircraft types are making me want to build my Devastator.

[Stokesy44]

All these builds of these aircraft types are making me want to build my Devastator.

Go for it.

The build phase of the Hellcat was ok, no real surprises with a 1/48 aircraft kit but the painting and decaling has been really enjoyable. I may have to start working through my stash of aircraft kits for a bit and only build armor for the Tuesday group sessions.

[Stokesy44]

Finished off the stencils yesterday afternoon









There's some detail painting to do and a matt varnish before weathering. Still a way to go but getting there now.

And this has arrived for the 2026 Sci-Fi Sig

[cor]

Looking good. I like the way the paint turned out with the mottled undercoat.

B wing eh?

I'm doing an X wing.

[Portman]

Really really nice!

[Stokesy44]

Looking good. I like the way the paint turned out with the mottled undercoat.

B wing eh?

I'm doing an X wing.

Excellent

[digger303]

[Stokesy44]

AK Ultra Matt applied. I'm going to weather it properly so the matt varnish was the necessary first step.

Time to get the oils out and get in touch with my arty farty side





[/urll]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2siEFAV]



I think I'm happy with how it looks, now I have to work out how to do paint chips and panel lines on such a dark base. Exhaust stains are also needed.

[digger303]

[Portman]

That's looking fab! A really nice bit of work.

I do like the Hellcat, it was a great aircraft that is sadly a bit underrepresented in the modelling world - you don't see many builds of them. I'd like to get this kit at some point and built it in the tri-colour scheme to replace the blooming awful Italeri one I have in my display case.

[Stokesy44]

That's looking fab! A really nice bit of work.

I do like the Hellcat, it was a great aircraft that is sadly a bit underrepresented in the modelling world - you don't see many builds of them. I'd like to get this kit at some point and built it in the tri-colour scheme to replace the blooming awful Italeri one I have in my display case.

Agree, its not a popular subject, the Corsair seems to hog much of the Pacific limelight. I'm surprised Airfix chose it for a 1/24 release a few years back tbh.

As for the kit, I'd recommend it if you're looking for a Hellcat to build.

[digger303]

That's looking fab! A really nice bit of work.

I do like the Hellcat, it was a great aircraft that is sadly a bit underrepresented in the modelling world - you don't see many builds of them. I'd like to get this kit at some point and built it in the tri-colour scheme to replace the blooming awful Italeri one I have in my display case.

Agree, its not a popular subject, the Corsair seems to hog much of the Pacific limelight. I'm surprised Airfix chose it for a 1/24 release a few years back tbh.

As for the kit, I'd recommend it if you're looking for a Hellcat to build.

What would you recommend in 1/48 and 1/32 ?

[Stokesy44]

What would you recommend in 1/48 and 1/32 ?

I would go for Eduard in 1/48 as the plastic is good and the Profipak editions come with lots of extras like coloured PE for the cockpit. This one came with resin wheels, which are rare.

I haven't seem any 1/32 releases so I dont know. The Airfix 1/24 kit was well received when it came out and they are soon to do a new release of it with different marking options.

[Portman]

As for the kit, I'd recommend it if you're looking for a Hellcat to build.

That's good to know - I'm sure I'll pick one up at some-point, and a Corsair, now that you've mentioned it. And then of course I'll need a Wildcat to go with it, and then how about a Helldiver, and yeah an Avenger too.... oh dear...

[Stokesy44]

As for the kit, I'd recommend it if you're looking for a Hellcat to build.

That's good to know - I'm sure I'll pick one up at some-point, and a Corsair, now that you've mentioned it. And then of course I'll need a Wildcat to go with it, and then how about a Helldiver, and yeah an Avenger too.... oh dear...

My work here is done