F6F-5 panel lines

Nah, the factory split the molds down the side!

of course there is!  thats where they put the two fuselage halves together at the Grumman factory!  but, some good clamping pressure and a small amount of filler should minimize it appearance...

All of the reference photos i have from actual F6F's show no panel line from where the tail arcs to the upper spine of the fuselage to the back of the canopy. 

gumshoe59

Am building the 1/24 airfix Hellcat and have a question about a specific panel line.

Is there a panel line, on top of the fuselage, running from the base of the tail to the back of the cockpit?

I have seen other kits without this panel line. However in "squadron signals publication, walk around #9 of the F6F hellcat. on page #32 top right photo, there appears to be a panel line running the length of the upper fuselage.

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, John

 

Dont use other kits as a reference source, they have no guarantee for accuracy. Trust good clear photos of an actual subject.

That being said, looking at this aircraft here, it appears that there is a line on alternating panels along the top of the fuselage spine.

https://www.cybermodeler.com/aircraft/f6f/f6f-5_walk.shtml

There is not a panel line there.  I am finishing up my 1/72 F6F and all my reference material shows no panel line there

Here you go:

https://www.alamy.com/pilot-waiving-from-the-cockpit-of-a-grumman-f6f-hellcat-fighter-plane-madras-airshow-oregon-image226193806.html

https://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Hellcat/VF3/pages/Grumman-F6F-5-Hellcat-VF-3-White-2-Henry-M-Rowland-lands-a-battle-damaged-ac-without-a-tail-hook-02.html