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Started by Hans von Hammer at 07-01-2009 4:35 PM. Topic has 11 replies.
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   07-01-2009, 4:35 PM
Hans von Hammer


Joined on 06-26-2008
Iowa
Posts 5,696
1/48th Blue Angels Bearcat

Since my original project took a slight turn for the worse and "Beetle Bomb" didn't make the cut, I decided to plug away with the other Bearcat anyway...  This one's the Hobby Craft F8F...

The PE seat hardware is from a ProModeler B-24 kit, the belts are aluminum foil duct tape.

Angel Lead with her color-coat laid on, a gloss blue I got from a Wal-Mart rattle can that matched the "Blue Angel Blue" in a photo of BA #2 taken at it's delivery from Grumman. 

 I know there's a Testor's Model Master "Blue Angel Blue", but it doesn't match the earlier Blues' color of the 1940s.  It's a better match for the BA Blue used on the F-4s, & A-4s, IMHO... The current blue on the Hornet looks darker also..

  Beginning with the Bearcat ( The Hellcats were simply painted the Navy's then-current operational Dark Sea Blue), Grumman had a "Blue Angel Blue" formulated for them, but according to my sources, the color varied with about every aircraft type the Blues used, so there's no ONE "Blue Angel Blue"...  The interiors of the wheel wells, cockpit rear deck, armor plate, and exteriors of the doors are the regular Dark Sea Blue, as are the struts (with the exception of the scissors and oleo) and wheels, although I have pictures of both silver and blue wheels being used...

NEXT: Decals and fiddly bits

 

 



Colonel, 55th FG
Great Plains Wing
Commemorative Air Force
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   07-01-2009, 5:02 PM
viper_mp


Joined on 12-01-2005
DSM, Iowa
Posts 811
Re: 1/48th Blue Angels Bearcat

Looks good so far. I am a huge Grumman fan, and I have even built the Bearcat [Testors kit with a ton of resin]. I agree with you on the blue, looks much better for the early Angel's as opposed to the modern blue.

 

Hope to see you thursday at the meeting!


Rob Folden
Secretary / Webmaster- IPMS Plastic Surgeons
Member at Large-IPMS Hawkeye Modelers

Iowa Aviation Heritage Museum
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   07-01-2009, 6:07 PM
Hans von Hammer


Joined on 06-26-2008
Iowa
Posts 5,696
Re: 1/48th Blue Angels Bearcat

Hope to see you thursday at the meeting!

So far, so good... Hope it's got wheelchair access though...Wink [;)] 

I used the Testor's kit for Beetle Bomb and that's about all I got to say about it... I might still be able to salvage it though... Dunno yet..



Colonel, 55th FG
Great Plains Wing
Commemorative Air Force
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   07-01-2009, 9:08 PM
kg4kpg


Joined on 03-08-2008
Charleston, SC
Posts 362
Re: 1/48th Blue Angels Bearcat
Love the Bearcat.  I just gave someone on ARC a set of Blue Angels decals for his cat.  Your's is looking pretty good.

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   07-01-2009, 9:36 PM
Daywalker


Joined on 09-08-2003
South Central Wisconsin
Posts 10,907
Re: 1/48th Blue Angels Bearcat
Looking good Hans, the finish is so smooth.  I love it! Big Smile [:D]

Frank
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   07-01-2009, 10:28 PM
B-17 Guy


Joined on 03-11-2008
Brunswick OH
Posts 599
Re: 1/48th Blue Angels Bearcat
The paint looks great mike, as said above, very smooth.

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   07-02-2009, 4:53 PM
Hans von Hammer


Joined on 06-26-2008
Iowa
Posts 5,696
Re: 1/48th Blue Angels Bearcat

She's decaled now:

I got ahead of myself about fiddly bits though.. Next move is the BMF for the leading edges of the wings... Then more gloss to tie in the "polished aluminum" and decals...



Colonel, 55th FG
Great Plains Wing
Commemorative Air Force
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   07-02-2009, 7:02 PM
Summit


Joined on 10-29-2007
Inland Northwest
Posts 2,019
Re: 1/48th Blue Angels Bearcat
I like it Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]What color blue and brand of blue did you use ? This kit looks identical to the Hawk Bearcat I built last fall. I could dig up a pic if your interested..

Sean
"I've reached nearly fifty years of age with my system."
Weekend GB 2008
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   07-03-2009, 9:15 AM
Hans von Hammer


Joined on 06-26-2008
Iowa
Posts 5,696
Re: 1/48th Blue Angels Bearcat

What color blue and brand of blue did you use ?

ColorPlace Royal Blue rattle-can from Wal-Mart..

This kit looks identical to the Hawk Bearcat I built last fall.

Not even close... The "Beetle Bomb" Bearcat I started was a Testor's kit, which is a re-box of the Hawk kit... Still has the Hawk logo molded into the wing.. The HobbyCraft Cat is more detailed in the wheel wells, cockpit, and engine... THe Hawk/Testor's kit, I used the HC engine to cast a replica for the it, and had to scratchbuild the cockpit using a Monogram F4U cockpit as the base.



Colonel, 55th FG
Great Plains Wing
Commemorative Air Force
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   07-03-2009, 5:51 PM
mucker

Joined on 07-14-2004
Northern KY
Posts 4,356
Re: 1/48th Blue Angels Bearcat

She's looking most excellent Hans! I really like the old Blue Angels birds. Plus, it's getting me revved up for the Blues at Thunder Over Michigan!

I don't know how you feel about them but I'm find of Hobby Craft kits. I'd be curious to hear your opinions on the Bearcat kit.


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   07-04-2009, 7:53 AM
rjkplasticmod


Joined on 02-04-2003
A Spartan in the Wolverine State
Posts 15,235
Re: 1/48th Blue Angels Bearcat

Looking good so far Hans.  Keep us posted.

Regards,  Rick


RICK


At My Age, I've Seen It All, Done It All, But I Don't Remember It All...
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   07-04-2009, 2:13 PM
Hans von Hammer


Joined on 06-26-2008
Iowa
Posts 5,696
Re: 1/48th Blue Angels Bearcat

I don't know how you feel about them but I'm find of Hobby Craft kits. I'd be curious to hear your opinions on the Bearcat kit.

Overall, I like Hobby Craft kits... I've built only a few, namely their early Me-109s and Mustangs, but none have disappointed me... The Bearcat pretty much fell together, although there were a  few issues, the biggest was the vertical stabilizer.. For some reason, they chose to have it a separate piece, including the rudder, and the joint's kind of in a goofy place..



Colonel, 55th FG
Great Plains Wing
Commemorative Air Force
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