[hworth18]

Originally Posted by lanslide

STARMAN - FM/A's Hellcat is very nice. It is one of their better models in my opinion.

I have been considering FMs Hellcats, but I more or less gave up when 21st versions were announced because once these get on the shelf, I typically don't pick them up, so it doesn't really matter whether they are metal or plastic.

[lanslide]

Originally Posted by hworth18

I have been considering FMs Hellcats, but I more or less gave up when 21st versions were announced because once these get on the shelf, I typically don't pick them up, so it doesn't really matter whether they are metal or plastic.

Pride of ownership! Don't give up on metal.

[STARMAN 352ND]

I have looked at FM's Hellcats and i don't like the decals that are used on them...
If i could find a good one without the decals i may get one of them.
JP

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by STARMAN 352ND

I have looked at FM's Hellcats and i don't like the decals that are used on them...
If i could find a good one without the decals i may get one of them.
JP

Most should be pad-printed these days... I picked up the Vraciu 4 years ago and it was all pad-printed. I sold it though, as the way the prop is attached to the cowl bugs me -- leaves a pretty glaring seam, IMHO.

Photo Album

But other than that it was pretty nice.

These plastic jobbies may be worth a look-see...

[lanslide]

Originally Posted by PappyB

Most should be pad-printed these days... I picked up the Vraciu 4 years ago and it was all pad-printed. I sold it though, as the way the prop is attached to the cowl bugs me -- leaves a pretty glaring seam, IMHO.

Photo Album

But other than that it was pretty nice.

These plastic jobbies may be worth a look-see...

Pappy - I just checked mine and there is no cowling gap like yours had. I wonder if you just needed to push it on tighter.

[dragon53]

From Badcat's blog about the new 1/48 F6F---no pilot or retractable landing gear:

"Sporting a wingspan of 11 inches and a length of nine inches, the plane feels almost the perfect size to the hand. Both schemes have excellent panel lines and paint. The prop spins but the gear is fixed in the down position. The pilotless cockpit is surprisingly detailed, as well."

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by lanslide

Pappy - I just checked mine and there is no cowling gap like yours had. I wonder if you just needed to push it on tighter.

There wasn't any movement in it. i would have had to remove it and I suppose sand it down. Looking at pics of all the Hellcats at the Mule I may have had a Friday Afternoon Special, but I wish FM had made the spinner/prop hub/cowl all one piece so the join line fell at the cowl flap area, which would look better IMHO (like with the T-bolts). But I may dip my toe back into the FM waters for this one, unless these new plastic models wow me. The trouble is, every time so far I've gone into a Toys R Us or whatever to see these in person they don't look nearly as good as the pics, so I've not pulled the trigger. Perhaps it's being in a Toys R Us, too, I dunno

[wmosner]

When did the red striping go back around the star and stripe? I see that both F6F's are from 1944 and one has the red and the other does not.

[STARMAN 352ND]

Originally Posted by wmosner

When did the red striping go back around the star and stripe? I see that both F6F's are from 1944 and one has the red and the other does not.

I kinda like the red borders on there....Why was the red removed after only being on there for a short time anyway?
JP

[wmosner]

Originally Posted by STARMAN 352ND

I kinda like the red borders on there....Why was the red removed after only being on there for a short time anyway?
JP

I seem to recall that the red was removed because they thought it might be confused with the rising sun on the Japanese planes. Not positive on that but it sticks in my mind for some reason. That's why I found it odd that both planes are from 1944 and one has the red and the other does not.