FEATURE ARTICLE
ROYAL NAVY HELLCAT
Eduard 1:48 scale Hellcat Mk. I & Mk. II-Dual Combo kit
Brian Tomasin adds detail to the Eduard 1:48 scale Hellcat Mk. I in their Dual Combo kit.
Both models from the dual combo kit. Hellcat Mk. I with folded wings and Mk. II with wings extended.
The F6F Hellcat was a landmark aircraft in naval aviation history. It was designed to directly combat the Japanese Navy A6M2 Zero fighter and implement the world’s most extensive naval campaign to win back the Pacific during World War II.
Big, powerful, heavily armed and agile were trademarks of the Hellcat.
Combining impressive flight handling characteristics, brute power, and 8-.50 calibre guns, it was a lethal fighting machine. It was a great gunnery platform, could take a beating and bring the pilot home. Grumman aircraft had been putting planes on carrier decks since the inception of the aircraft carrier, so they knew the requirements to make a successful carrier-based fighting machine. The Hellcat’s use was extended to the Royal Navy for use on board their carriers in the South Pacific, Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea.
ROYAL NAVY HELLCAT MK. I & MK. II IN 1:48 SCALE
Eduard’s Hellcat in 1:48 scale is an impressive model and great foundation for model making skill, with construction, painting, weathering, and the intangibles. What do I mean by intangibles?
The visual details that cause a viewer to want a 2nd, 3rd and 4th look at the model.
I will be detailing the build process of the Mk. I version by adding cockpit, engine detail, folded wings and interesting overall finish.
My intent for this Hellcat Mk. I is to build a Royal Navy aircraft in its circa June 1944 paint scheme.
The kit fits together well. This is arguably the best Hellcat model in 1:48 scale. With its solid engineering providing me a great base structure, it allows me to extend my use of after-market photoetch and resin parts with confidence.
“My intent for this Hellcat Mk. I is to build a Royal Navy aircraft in its circa June 1944 paint scheme...”
Eduard Dual Combo kit, accessories and references.
SKILL LEVEL:
INTERMEDIATE (OUT OF THE BOX)
SPECIFICATION:
Hellcat Mk. I / Mk. II Dual Combo • Kit No. 8223 Manufacturer: Eduard Scale: 1:48
Parts count: One complete Hellcat Mk. I and one complete Hellcat Mk. II - 240 injection moulded parts, 45 Engine and external details photo-etched (x 2), 49 Cockpit photo-etched details (x2) decals.
ACCESSORIES USED:
• Eduard R-2800-10 engine -Item No. 648056
• Wolfpack F6F Hellcat Wing Fold set for Eduard 1:48kitItem WW48003
• Eduard RP -Resin Parts -F6F Wheels
• Eduard canopy mask -Item EX682
• 0.60 mm Brass tubing for gun barrels
• 0.02” dia. steel wire for fuselage antennas
TOOLS AND MODELLING PRODUCTS USED:
• Dremel Motor Tool
• Tamiya Extra Thin Cement
• Great Planes Super Glue
• Tamiya Masking Tape
PAINTS AND FINISHING PRODUCTS USED:
• Tamiya Aerosol Paints -Fine Grey Primer
• Tamiya Acrylic Paints -XF-51 Khaki Drab, XF-58 Olive Green, X-25 Clear Green; X-27 Clear Red; XF-2 Flat White; XF-4 Yellow Green; XF-64 Red Brown, XF-8 Lemon Yellow, XF-19 Sky grey.
• Vallejo Acrylic Paints - 71.109-UK P.R.U. Blue: 71.251 RAL9021 NATO Black: 71.119 RAL9002White Grey: 71.12171.244 Sand Biege: 71.002 Yellow: 71.094-Green Zinc Chromate
• Hobbycolor Paints -H305| FS36118 Blue
• Testors Master Acrylic paint -RAF Sky Type ANA610 #4840
• Microscale Industries Micro Gloss and Micro Flat clear model finishes
• Winsor & Newton Burnt Umber oil paint.
• Panel line wash: Tamiya Panel Line Accent Colour (Black and Grey), MIG Ammo MIG-1612 Green Brown, and MIG1607 Sky Grey
• Alclad II Lacquers; ALC-111 Magnesium, ALC-104 Burnt Metal: ALC-123 Exhaust Manifold; ALC-103 Dark aluminium
• Uschi Item 4104 -Trinity Splatter airbrush stencil
REFERENCE:
• “F6F Hellcat in Action” by Jim Sullivan, Squadron/Signal in Action #36,1979
Level of detail; high quality moulding; precise fit and accurate recessed panel lines. Included is a nicely detailed PW R2800 engine with photoetch detail parts.
Propellor hub mechanism could use more detail.
RATING: 8/10