F6F-5 Hellcat part 5

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Paint & Markings



Surfacer

 At long last, I reached the painting stage. The first step is a thin coat of surfacer.



The first surfacer applied to find defects. Mr. surfacer 1000 diluted very thin and airbrushed on lightly.



Then the correction of defects

 Many defects and unfinished works were found. Big sigh.



This is the template made from aluminum sheet for the air intake (left) and gun hole (right) on the leading edge.
The landing light is added on the port wing edge. The cover is heat pressed clear plaban (plastic sheet) same as the navigation light cover.

The antenna mast is sanded from brass rod. The bases of the navigation lights and small blister back of canopy rail are added. The fairing of wind shield is sanded.
The antenna mast is put on the tail fin.

The walkway is 0.14mm (0.006) plastic sheet. There may be variations of some walkway widths. This model is 5mm (0.2) width.
The aileron hinge is 0.3mm (0.01) plastic sheet.

Details are added on the inside of the wing fold.
The fairing on the tail end is wider than the kit.


And then, sufficient and necessary surfacer was lightly sprayed to prepare for the color.


Historical reserch

 I selected "Minsi III" BuNo 70143 of the Navy's top ace Commander David McCampbell; who was the commanding officer of Carrier Air Group 15 aboard the USS Essex. Be careful; some existing decals and marking guide illustrations are wrong. The photos of actual A/C are available from several references, though all of them are of the starboard side.

The lettering, size, position and color of "Minsi III" and the details of score marks are confirmed with reference photos. So I basically traced the actual photo of the logo "Minsi III". However, original shape of "III" is not smart in design, so I corrected on my model. See the lettering shown below. The number of scores are confirmed with photos as 19, 21, 30 and 34. I show each status with white, aqua, yellow and pink at the following drawing.

There is 5 inch width white band on the top of the tail fin. As for Minsi II, the small letter of "CAG" is written in the white band. How is Minsi III; the photo is not sharp so I cannot confirm. I don't think there are any letters. And, Aeromaster Decal include "CAG" letters on the small square gear cover, but there is no photo to prove that. I guess AMD may have assumed it was there from looking at Minsi II.

Sea blue for wheels is confirmed from photo. The spinner and propeller hub are painted in dark color. I painted spinner Glossy sea blue, but there is no confirmation. @






The insignia of the fuselage is 50 inches (the size is shown by inscribed circle of the star) and wing is 45 inches. The fuselage insignia is painted perpendicular to the fuselage frame panel line in actual fuselage surface. Thus, it looks slightly slanted to the fuselage reference line in the sideview drawing. (i.e. The white bar of insignia and red fuselage ref. line are not parallel in the above drawing.) While the fuselage panel line is exactly perpendicular to the ref. line in the sideview. SO WHY? Well, it can be understood while thinking in 3D.


Painting works



I found the position of horizontal fin was incorrect. So I revise it.
After correction of the horizontal fin, masking for the insignia is applied.

Mr. GX 1 Cool White is airbrushed and masking is removed.
Then the white portion is masked. White and Sea Blue are painted as "side by side", not "over or on top".

Glossy sea blue is mixture of Mr. Color #365 Gloss Sea Blue with 20% Black plus a small amount of Red; I don't like greenish blue of #365. Then a small amount of flat base is added to aim for 1/4 satin flat.
The gap between cowling and fuselage stood out. It was repaired with plastic sheet and CA glue.


The orange peel surface and the step at white/blue border was polished with Mr. Laplos #6000. Then the basic paint work was finished.



The gap is fixed.
Too much polish is retouched.



Marking

 The number of score marks is 21 on my model. It represents the early morning of "Battle of Layte Gulf" on Oct. 24th, 1944. On this morning, Commander McCampbell fought against Japanese aircraft and recorded 9 victories.



The lettering of "MinsiIII" and white boxes of score mark were custom-made dry decal from Maxlabo.
Dry decals are applied.

The red suns are Aero Master Decals. The size of the decal is a little large, so each mark is cut out and applied one by one.
The propeller blade is painted Semi Gross Black with 20% White. The logo of Hamilton is a decal.



Caution stencils

 Caution stencils were custom-ordered dry decals as well. There are some mistakes with existing decals or references and I checked them with against photos for authenticity.



See the caution stencil behind the cockpit.
This is the close up of the left pics. Wow! I can read the words.

The correct cautions on the fuselage fuel access panel are "MAIN / FUEL", "RESERVE / FUEL" but the references made a mistake.
The serial is 2 inches height in the actual A/C.

It can be confirmed with the photo that this "NO STEP" is larger size.
The cautions on the wing are "GUNS", "AMMUNITION / BOXES".


Dry decals are easy to remove. So, 1/4 flat satin clear of the half and half of Gaianotes Clear and Semi Gloss Clear was over sprayed to coat decal and dry decal. The next day I polished the surface with Laplos #6000.


Finishing works



The seat is from Aires and the frame is from the kit. The belt is made of thin lead sheet and Aires's etched hardware.
The shape and mounting angle of bulletproof plate is different from the late -5 model.

The rear view mirror and the gun sight were added. There is no reflective glass in Minsi III. It's reflected directly on the front windscreen.
Lights and antenna are added.

The tail light and arrester hook are added. Note the position of the caution on the elevator.
Three identification lights are aluminum sheet and vinyl chloride sheet.

The linkage rod of the landing gear is from Aires. Weathering of the landing gear and gear bay is Tamiya Weathering Master (Brown and Black) with soapy water.
The outer wing is assembled. Short brass rod pins are inserted from the gap of upper and lower hinges.

The pitot tube are soldering work of brass rod. The small one is for my 1/72 Wildcat.

The formation light is made the same as the other lights.
Exhaust stain (Tamiya Acrylic Color) and medium gray chipping is applied.


The surface is polished with a rather worn-out Laplos #6000 and nothing is done after that. See its natural satin gloss luster.













Completion




After almost one year of construction period, finally the Hellcat is completed.

As for the gimick of wing folding, I'm not completely satisfied regarding the accuracy for this scale model. Although, the stiffness , precision and smooth motion of folding mechanism I am absolutely satisfied with. This is the result of using metal hinges and the pin that connects the pieces.

As for the main theme; "complete replication of Hellcat's true outline," I am 100% satisfied. The wide and massive cowling, vicious cat grin, sharp wind shield and canopy, etc.. I fall in love all over again with her.




This angle is the best shot.



Photo page

movie












References


Books


1 The Famous Airplane of the World No.71 Grumman F6F Hellcat ISBN 4-89319-068-7 Bunrindo
2 The Famous Airplane of the World No.35 Grumman F4F,F6F,F8F Bunrindo
3 The Famous Airplane of the World (old edition) Feb. 1972 Grumman F6F Hellcat Bunrindo
4 Koku-fun Aircombat No.6 Bunrindo
5 Aerodetail 17 Grumman F6F Hellcat ISBN 4-499-22663-5 Dainippon-kaiga
6 Aircraft Of The Aces 19 Hellcat Aces of World War 2 ISBN 4-499-22777-1 Dainippon-kaiga
7 F6F Hellcat / F4U Corsair ISBN 4-7698-0639-6 Kojinsha
8 F6F Hellcat In Action ISBN 978-0-89747-576-1 Squadron/Signal Publications
9 F6F Hellcat In Action Aircraft No.36 Squadron/Signal Publications
10 Walk Around 9 F6F Hellcat ISBN 0-89747-362-0 Squadron/Signal Publications
11 D&S vol.49 F6F Hellcat ISBN 1-888974-00-1 Squadron/Signal Publications
12 Night Wings USMC Night Fighters, 1942-1953 Squadron/Signal Publications
13 Golden Wings 1941-1945 (USN/USMC Aircraft of World War II) ISBN 0-89747-294-2 Squadron/Signal Publications
14 Fleet Air Arm British Carrier Aviation, 1939-1945 ISBN 0-89747-432-5 Squadron/Signal Publications
15 Aircraft of the Aces 10 Hellcat Aces of World War 2 ISBN 1-85532-596-9 Osprey
15-2 Osprey Aircraft of the Aces 84 American Nightfighter Aces of World War 2 ISBN 978-1-84603-306-3 Osprey Publishing
15-3 Osprey Aircraft of the Aces 109 American Aces Against the Kamikaze ISBN 978-1-84908-745-2 Osprey Publishing
15-4 Osprey Aircraft of the Aces 119 F6F Hellcat Aces of VF-9 ISBN 978-1-78200-335-9 Osprey Publishing
15-5 Osprey Aircraft of the Aces 125 F4F Wildcat and F6F Hellcat Aces of VF-2 ISBN 978-1-4728-0558-4 Osprey Publishing
15-6 Osprey Duel 62 F6F Hellcat vs A6M Zero ISBN 978-1-78200-813-2 Osprey Publishing
16 Osprey Aviation Elite Units 36 VF-11/111 'Sundowners' 1942-95 ISBN 978-1-84603-484-8 Osprey
17 Monografie Lotnicze 15 F6F Hellcat ISBN 83-86208-05-8 AJ-Press
18 Monografie 10 Grumman F6F Hellcat ISBN 83-89088-49-5 Kagero
19 F6F Hellcat At War ISBN 978-0-7603-3306-8 Zenith Press
20 U.S.Navy Fighters Of WWII ISBN 0-7603-0559-5 MBI Publishing Company
21 Carrier Air War In Original WWII Color ISBN 0-87938-983-4 Motorbooks International
22 Eyes for the Phoenix Allied Aerial Photo Reconnaissance Operation in South-East Asia 1941-45 ISBN 0951989944 Hikoki Publications
23 Britain's Fleet Air Arm In World War II ISBN 0-7643-2131-5 Schiffer Military History
24 Warpaint Series No.84 Grumman F6F Hellcat Warpaint Books



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