[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by Hornchurch

Hi Ara; I took these (various) shots this morning.... (JUST 15/20 mins before it started raining !!!!!!!!).


So, basically it's High-Winds whipping in off the North-Sea

(don't I just wish my F.6-F had it's own R.2800 )


I Don't have a speed-dial on my "point & snap", so it's just "pot-luck" as & when....

I'll put some more shot's out, cause Elmer' might just chime in on the next-page later tonight & miss the originals

I'll check to see if I can find some ('erm) "Engine-Power" shots; LOL

Was gonna keep these seperate (except the 'Elmer' shot) & put them in their own seperate-F.M.thread.

That's cause I feel each (B.11) issue deserves it's own 'slot'... so M.H.II folks can decide if it's worth buying (or not ?)

Kinda-like it's own "road-test"


But the temptation's TOO great for now ... so, till I pull the "plug"

Originally Posted by Ara1

Hornchurch,

Thanks for showing the pics! Hey, how did you get the prop a turnin'? Did yours come with an engine? (Like Pappy's all seem to do? ).

[Ara1]

Originally Posted by Hornchurch

Was gonna keep these seperate (except the 'Elmer' shot) & put them in their own seperate-F.M.thread.

That's cause I feel each (B.11) issue deserves it's own 'slot'... so M.H.II folks can decide if it's worth buying (or not ?)

Kinda-like it's own "road-test"


But the temptation's TOO great for now ... so, till I pull the "plug"

Do what you want Hornchurch, but you are always welcome to post your pics on any of my threads...

That last Hellcat shot of yours looks fan-tastic with the North Sea wind prop action--- gets the heart racing!

[Ara1]

One of the F6F schemes I was considering was a ship from VF-84, USS BUNKER HILL, ca April 1945.


(photo: National Archives)

The showstopper for moving forward with this model is I don't want a Hellcat with a front cowl stripe, yellow, white or otherwise; I want a glossy sea blue ship with an unadorned nose. We have photographic evidence that the Corsairs from this air group operated without this cowl marking:


(photo: National Archives)

These Corsairs have the look I want, but I cannot find any evidence the Hellcats followed suit. (At some point in time they probably did, but I want proof...) So unless anyone has a photo that can help me out, I have selected the scheme of my F6F-5 (keeping it a secret until showtime) and am now in the process of choosing the scheme for the 2nd Franklin Mint conversion, an F6F-5N (or maybe a 3N).

[STARMAN 352ND]

If they made a Corsair like that i get it too...I like the all dark navy blue look myself.
This is the only one i have it's a SpecCast Corsair.
I would love to find a Hellcat like this in Bunker Hill markings.

JP

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by Hornchurch

Was gonna keep these seperate (except the 'Elmer' shot) & put them in their own seperate-F.M.thread.

That's cause I feel each (B.11) issue deserves it's own 'slot'... so M.H.II folks can decide if it's worth buying (or not ?)

Kinda-like it's own "road-test"


But the temptation's TOO great for now ... so, till I pull the "plug"

Neat shots of the Hellcat!

[Ara1]

Originally Posted by STARMAN 352ND

would love to find a Hellcat like this in Bunker Hill markings.

JP

Yes- find me one photo and I would make the Hellcat. I already have the decals for the BUNKER HILL tail and wing markings, as well as a set of white number stencils.

[Elmer]

Originally Posted by Hornchurch

I'll put some more shot's out, cause Elmer' might just chime in on the next-page later tonight & miss the originals

You bust me up, HC! Too funny! I tell you what... you just box up that little ole' Cat with my name on it and send it my way!

[Ara1]

My "raw material" Hellcats have arrived, here are two pics.





I learned the prop spinning trick from Hornchurch; it's not digital trickery nor is my beast motorized; I just spun the prop and shot the picture. (No North Sea wind but y' know...) Neat, huh? Makes us all want to buy little motors and pull out the wheel chocks...

This is McCampbell's Minsi III F6F-5 Hellcat, of which I bought two for refinishing into two unique models. Good news: models are sound, and beautiful! Bad news: glossy sea blue color is too light and too Ultramarine Blue. Good news: I've decided to repaint the model with FS15042. Bad news: I'll need to take the model apart and strip the old paint off (paint will look too thick otherwise).

To quote the movie Animal House: oh boy is this great!

More later. Enjoy the Hellcat; she's a beaut!

If anyone has extra drop tanks from their modeling days, give me a shout.

[Ara1]

Here's how the Hellcat looks cracked open. You'll need to do this to sand it clean, and to remove the bulletproof screen Franklin Mint mounted in front of the pilot (the F6F-5 did not have this item as it was built into the new -5 windscreen). You can see this separate clear piece in the fuselage photo below, just inside the front windscreen.





Note the aquamarine blue color; looks a little too light to me. I ran a test spot of glossy sea blue and the difference was obvious. Next step is to sand down to bare metal and perhaps rescribe a few key lines, such as the wing fold and flaps. Then, prime and paint.

Will post progress results here.

[Ara1]

I've done some initial sanding, results look good.







Of note: the panel lines are faint, barely scribed. Also, I am going to try an automotive brake solution to see if this will loosen the paint around the ailerons.