1/48 Eduard F6F3 Hellcat (FINISHED) "Alex Vraciu"

Coming along nicely so far, Lawdog.  I find Eduard's colors are usually quite 'off' when compared with paint offerings.  Doing a FW 190, I found their 'RLM 66' very blue.  I guess we can't really complain when using pre painted parts, and generally once the gauge boards are sandwiched in and naturally shadowed I find the color difference isn't glaring.  

I've also recently learned about Flory washes.  I'm still playing with artists oils, but nice to know there's such a simple solution out there.  Not using acrylic clear coats?

Good grief Joe, you are on fire!! I have this very kit in the stash. Cannot wait to see it after a lawdog treatment!!!

Your're doing great work to another great kit Joe. Yeah I wish eduard would leave the PE color alone. I much prefere Aires pe stuff, I can just paint and weather it the way I like. Who makes an AM prop for the hellcat?

Sweet looking cockpit!

Thanks guys.  Andrew, Agreed, the detail on the instruments is enough to let the colors slide.  Reference clear coating, I used to use Furture for my clear coating needs up until they changed the formula.  Sorry, try as you may to convince me its the same old formula, but the stuff just doesn't cure anymore.  Now I use Testor's gloss which dries much faster....like a hour or so.  I can almost complete a cockpit from sprue cutting to final clear coat in one evening.  I use Alclad gloss coat before decaling.  

Nathan, indeed it appears nobody makes an AM prop for the Hellcat.  I was hoping Ultracast did.  I think the Corsair utilized the same prop and I cant find one of those either.  Oh well, guess I'll have to make due or rob my Tamiya Corsair kit for one.  

....and Jester...."Lawdog Treatment"...surely you jest?  I'm hardly good enough to warrant my own catch phrase....LOL.  Thanks for the compliments though.  

Joe

...or rob a prop from a Tamiya p-47?

The P-47 had a four bladed prop.  The Hellcat was a three blader...

Joe,

Loved the P-38 and am looking forward to the F6F build.  I want to pick up one of the Eduard F6F-3 kits myself, so I'll be watching your progress.

BTW, does the F6F use a Hamilton Standard three-bladed prop?  Maybe like this one:

http://www.ultracast.ca/products/48/240/default.htm

Can't be sure that's what's on the aircraft, but I'll check around.

Gary

PS> Yes, the Hellcat seems to have used the Hamilton Standard Prop, so you're in business if you can afford the price. 

Apologies.  You will need the WIDE blades.

http://www.ultracast.ca/products/48/241/default.htm

Nathan, its funny you mentioned the Jug prop.  I actually thought of that and considered raiding my Tamiya P-47 stockpile until I realized the Hellcat was a three blader.  I wonder how much faster it would have been with an extra blade like the Jug?  Same with the Corsair.  

Thanks Gary.  I found an Ultracast HS Prop at Sprue Brothers.  I missed it somehow the first time I looked.  These guys are incredible and it will probably on my doorstep tomorrow.  Impressive customer service there.  

Joe

On the clearcoat, Lawdog, it was just curiosity.  I agree about Future, just doesn't work the same anymore.  I've swung over to acrylic clear coats, and that's why I ask.  Flory washes should still work with the acrylics, no?  I only ask as I want to make sure I have my technique good still.  I know the oils play well over top the acrylics.

Ultracast is a very nice outfit to deal with, just about bending over backwards to help.

I seem to remember seeing a picture of an Experimental F6F with 4 bladed Hamilton Standard prop.  May have had the split case R-2800 as used in the P-47M and Bearcat.  That would be a neat simple conversion.

Lawdog,

I just bought the Ultracast HS props for the Italeri F7F-3N Tigercat and they look really good.  A question for you on the clear coat.  I'm almost out of Future and have been looking for a replacement.  Is the Testors clear coat their clear laquor?  Thanks!

Steve

Looking great Lawdog!

Thank for the compliments guys. I just finished rigging the mill and will post some pics once my camera charges.  Andrew (and this should answer Steve's question too), I use Alclad Clear Gloss Coat which I believe is mineral spirt based (smells just like it), so I have no idea if the Flory will work on your acrylic.  I dont see why not. Steve, I think your refering to Testor's Gloss Coat.  I use it to seal  my cockpits for a wash and cut it withe lacquer thinner.  The upside is it dried very quick.  The downside is it smells awful.  

Joe

In for an update.  I have completed the PW R-2800 and began assembly of the fuselage.  The engine was sprayed Alclad Dark Aluminum and the propeller gear box XF-53 Neutral Grey.  Like I've said, I would rather rig my own ignition harness instead of using PE.  Its tedious work but worth it to me, especially on planes where this area is so visible.  I just don't find PE harnesses all that convincing because in actuality, they're trying to make something that's flat appear round.  My method consists of  styrene rod and stereo fuse wire.  Rather that rehash my method, allow me to direct you to a tutorial I posted last year which explains step by step how I achieve it:

http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/2/t/149327.aspx

Heres how it turned out.  This took a shade over an hour:

After a Testor's Gloss Coat, "The Detailer" black wash and blast of Tamiya Smoke X-19, Here's the finished product. I don't normally dullcoat it because I like the oily sheen the Smoke leaves. 

See...it looks much more convincing that PE.

I joined the fuselage and assembled the cowls...yes cowls.  I built all three of them because I'm not sure which F3 varient I'm going to build.  I also assembled the drop tank.  The fit on everything so far has been good.  I particularly like the ridged panels on the top of the fuselage, almost if they were going to overlap each other.  It was kind of a pain for sanding the seam but still a nice touch.  I assume the real Hellcat was done this way.  I will be starting on the wings and such soon. Here's the fuselage with the engine and cowl tacked in place.  The fit looks good so far.

My Ultracast Prop arrived yesterday and it was assembled with Gorilla glue.  As you can see when compared with the kit part (the olive colored one on the right), they aren't even in the same league.  To me this was worth the $11.00 since it is so prominent on the front of the plane.  I can't wait to paint and detail this guy.

 Stay tuned...

Joe

...Cool...!

Nice Joe! Your engines always turn out superb! Can't believe the difference in that prop, so much more detail than the kit version. I pulled my Cat out after seeing this build log and drooled over the sprue....some more, and was surprised at how bulky this a/c actually was.

Beautimous, Joe!  What a great start on the Hellcat.  And aren't those Ultra-Cast props sharp?  Got one for the P-47 I'm building, and it's makes all the difference (well, considering it was a Monogram prop, that's not saying much).

I hope I can find one of these at the upcoming model show.

Gary

Outstanding work.  Thanks for the how to's!

Nice looking mill Joe!  That prop looks. sweet. Can't wait to see you get to paint.  Are you doing the tri-color scheme?

Steve

Thanks guys.  I'm glad my mill rigging method has been useful.  Eric, I did the same drooling then ultimately decided I needed a Zero Killer in my collection.  Just dive in bro, you wont be disappointed.  Steve, I'm definitely going with the tri-scheme but I'm still undecided on a subject.  Furthermore, I have to figure out Tamiya's equivalent to Non Spectacular and Intermediate Blue.  I see they have XF-17 Sea Blue and XF-18 Medium Blue, but I'm not sure if these are accurate for my needs here.  I suppose I should post this question.

Joe 

Jester75

I have this very kit in the stash.

Me, too.

I'll be following this one!

That PW engine is outstanding.

I'm in for a quick update.  My night was spent assembling the airframe, building the drop tank, and replacing the lost panel lines and rivets.  I used a combo of Gorilla glue and Tenax 7R to get a good bond at the wing root. I had a bit of trouble getting the dihedral angled properly since there are no positive locators or tabs.  I suppose Eduard could have designed this a bit better here, but I think I finally got it right.  I've read the Hellcat had spring loaded control surfaces, so I fastened them all in the neutral position.  Once it was assembled I hit it with a light coat of Alclad Grey primer.  I rescribed a few lines and replaced some of the rivets on the spine that I sanded off with a sewing needle chucked into a pin vice. 

I assembled the drop tank and added the prominent weld down the middle of the tank which is normally seen on these with .10 styrene rod.  I then added the PE straps.  Here it is after a primer coat. 

Here's a dry run.....not too shabby.  I think the fit will be good, but its too bad the PE doesn't run all the way around the tank. 

I should be starting the scheme soon, but I still can't make up my mind...........

Joe 

Looking good Joe!! Nice work on that droptank 

I shot the underside this morning.  I started with Tamiya Flat White XF-2 but it was just too white, even over the pre-shading.  I decided to cut it with a touch of Buff XF-57 to make it appear slightly "dirty".  This improved the appearance considerably to my eye.  I figured these turkeys got very dirty underneath, so, I used my concoction of diluted XF-69 NATO Black and XF-64 Red Brown and did some extreme post shading, more than I'm usually comfortable with.   I added a smidgen of XF-1 Flat Black on a toothpick to the mixture in my airbrush cup to give it a bit more "substance" and sprayed some exhaust streaking and staining on the belly.  I didn't want to overdo it so I stopped here for now....I may do more after decaling.

 I should get to the blues soon.....but right now I'm just singing it.

Dang Joe, you're an artist with that AB dude.  That's looking really good, the staining and panel lines look superb.  I'm betting this bird looks some kinda great when you finish.  I'm looking forward to more!

Gary

You actually could have used the Flat white you just tone it down with some pin washes. The color you used though looks like the color you used on your Zero fighter.

lawdog114

I shot the underside this morning.  I started with Tamiya Flat White XF-2 but it was just too white, even over the pre-shading.  I decided to cut it with a touch of Buff XF-57 to make it appear slightly "dirty".  This improved the appearance considerably to my eye.  I figured these turkeys got very dirty underneath, so, I used my concoction of diluted XF-69 NATO Black and XF-64 Red Brown and did some extreme post shading, more than I'm usually comfortable with.   I added a smidgen of XF-1 Flat Black on a toothpick to the mixture in my airbrush cup to give it a bit more "substance" and sprayed some exhaust streaking and staining on the belly.  I didn't want to overdo it so I stopped here for now....I may do more after decaling.

 I should get to the blues soon.....but right now I'm just singing it.