f6f hellcat part-1 Hasegawa 1/48

F6F-5 Hellcat (Hasegawa 1/48) part 1

June 9. 2012

Great thanks to Larry for English text!!

Introduction

Introduction
Many people say; "The Hellcat was valid as a war machine, but somewhat mediocre." And, I feel most Hellcat models reflect that same tone. The 48th scale Hasegawa Hellcat kit is a little dull, so it is just mediocre to me as well. Eduard's kit is sharp but just doesn't capture that; tough, rugged and powerful look of the Hellcat.

In this project, the main theme is: Complete replication of Hellcat's true outline form and depict the sharp, tough, brawny, and vicious presence of the Hellcat!

The second theme was a gimmick of wing folding. To me, the Hellcat is quite unspectacular in a model exhibition, so I flashed; if the wing folded, it is spectacular. There were two tasks. One was ensuring compatibility between the accuracy for scale model and the ability to fold the wings. The second was; keeping the wings rigid, both folded and extended.
Kit review
Frankly; the Hellcat has not been represented well by any kit. There is not one Hellcat kit that captures its true shape. Personally I think the Hasegawa 48th scale kit is the best, but it's not complete. The fuselage length is short by 3mm (0.12"), the cowling is to round and the canopy is to low and wide. Also, the absolute thickness of the center wing area is constant on the actual aircraft, but the kit wing is tapered.

The Eduard kit is new but, its cowling is too square. The windshield and canopy however, are shaped very well. The cross sectional shape of the rear fuselage is incorrect so it doesn't depict the wide flat area like the real aircraft does. Also, the main wing position is 1mm (0.04") to low and the thickness of the center wing is the same as Hasegawa's kit, being tapered instead of constant like the real aircraft is.

The Otaki 1/48th kit resembles the Hasegawa kit and some say Otaki's "Cat grin" is better than Hasegawa but overall I think the Hasegawa 48th kit is superior in basic shape. Hobby Boss 1/48 and Trumpeter 1/32乧 they are out of the question.

Most of all, every kit manufacturer made the same mistakes with the width of the cowling and fuselage. The actual A/C is much wider than all of the kits. I suppose these mistakes were made by incorrect drawings, and the incorrect drawings were caused by misunderstanding fuselage width data, as I discuss later.

Hasegawa F6F-3.

Eduard F6F-3.

Otaki and Hasegawa.

Otaki.

The consideration of the fuselage or How to correct the fuselage inaccuracies!
The sharp nose ridges ensuring visibility in deck landing is a common characteristic of Grumman carrier fighters from F4F to F8F. See following photos.

See the sharp ridge of the nose.

The highlight line clearly shows the shape.

The curve of the front window lower line shows how sharp the nose ridge is.

The cross section of the cockpit, left is forward.

F4F Wildcat

F8F-2 Bearcat

Cyclone R-2600 at 1,397mm (55") diameter was mounted in the XF6F-1 and it was replaced with the smaller Double-Wasp R-2800 at 1,341mm (52.8") diameter after F6F-3 model. So the design of the fuselage was fit to Cyclone engine.

See the gap between the engine and cowling.

The slope of the fastback is a plane surface.

The plan shape of the rear fuselage is the straight line.

Actual A/C is rather square-jawed but every kit is not enough.

See the width of rear end of the cowling. Panel lines on lower cowling are not parallel.

See how massive the lower cowling is?

Kit cowling is not wide enough.

See how wide the cowling is.

F6F walkaround
My friend sent me these detail photos.

click here!

Drawings
The following drawings are my original drawings. They are traced from actual A/C photos and are adjusted deformation as much as possible. So I believe these drawings are highly accurate in outline shape.

fuselage side view CLICK HERE

top view CLICK HERE

bottom view CLICK HERE

fuselage cross section (click here)

front view (click here)

Comparison with kits
Some references state the fuselage width is 60 inches. So most of the kits and drawings were designed or drawn with 60 inches "maximum" fuselage width. However, I compared with actual A/C photos and found this was incorrect. The truth is; the maximum width is 63.5 inches at the end of the cowling and 60 inches wide at the cockpit.

The fuselage

The fuselage correction
The kit fuselage was extended by 3mm (0.12) using two fuselage parts. The front part was cut at the green line. The rear part is cut at the yellow line, and then the two parts were joined with CA glue. After the parts were joined the fuselage part was cut at the blue line and bent. The flat area of actual A/C is wider than the kit. I cut shallowly on the inside of kit fuselage with knife, and then bent kit parts to fit correct cross sectional shape.

The upper one is after correction. The red line is glued line. The lower is kit part.

The left is kit original. The right is corrected. The flat area of rear fuselage is enlarged.

The inside is reinforced with Tamiya 0.5mm plaban (0.02" styrene sheet) using CA glue.

The upper forward fuselage is bent outside to sharpen the nose ridge.

Basically, I use CA glue to join most of the main parts. I don't like plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Cement) as it will latter sink. Plaban (Styrene sheet) for inside reinforcement is absolutely necessary; because bent parts tend to return how they once were over time. Plaban retains the shape I have altered.

Then the fuselage surface was sanded with rough sand paper.
The cowling
Every kit depict the "Cat grin" incorrectly. The reason has to be; difference of perception.

The shape of the upper cowl (1) and upper intake lip (2) are identical and they are absolutely round on actual A/C. But the upper lip (2) and lower lip (3) are different in shape. The lower lip (3) is slightly wide, low (see the following side view drawing) and not a true circle.

The upper front cowl is cut out from kit cowling part (upper right). The upper lip of oil cooler and intercooler intake is cut from the other kit (lower right and left).

The upper front cowl and the upper intake lip are glued together.

The inside is filled with putty.

The lower intake lip is widened. The backward cowling is enlarged with the shim (white plaban). The correct width of the cowling is 33.5mm (1.32") and the height is 39mm (1.54").

The lower fuselage and tail