Just wondering if anyone else has noticed an error in this kit - or maybe I’m just thick headed. I am building this Italeri Hellcat and the engine construction just doesn’t look right.
The engine has two rows of cylinders, but if I put them together so that the pins and holes are in the correct locations, the push rods face one another in the space between the two cylinder rows. I’m thinking this can’t be right. I thought they should be just the opposite - with the push rods for the front row facing toward the prop and the back row facing toward the pilot.
Paul Boyer covered that particular snag in his workbench review of the kit. He says:
The full review can be found by clicking on “Aircraft” in the green border to the left, under “Browse by Subject.” Then click on “Fighters,” and then “F6F.” [:)]
It sounds like an okay kit, but it also sounds like a lot of work. The decals look awesome, however. Keep us posted on your build.
From this I would assume that both banks of cylinders have the pushrods facing forward toward the prop (?) I’ll have to sift through the reviews section to find that one - it must have been written before I subscribed.
The kit has some really nice qualities - and some strange idiosyncracies (that are not that big a deal). For the most part, the detail is great. The engine, landing gear, and gear bays are molded with really nice detail. The engraved surface details are crisp and well done - all except for the trailing surfaces of the rudder. They have a weird, dented kinda look to them. I can’t figure out what that’s all about. If I had a dremel tool (I’d dremel in the mornin’…) I’d probably work on cleaning it up a bit.
The appearance of the cockpit is “genericized” a little compared to some of the cockpit photos I’ve seen - but its better than alot of other kits I’ve built.
I didn’t have the same problems that Mr. Boyer did with the fit of the wing. The fuselage halves and the wing assembly went together like a dream. No putty required ! The seams are invisible and the panel lines line up well.
I’m glad the kit is working out well for you. I finally saw a real Hellcat at the Reading Pennsylvania WWII Weekend air show last year. It’s hard not to fall in love with the plane. [:)]
I really like the cat mouth markings that come with the Italeri kit. I really wish the Navy had been more open to the idea of nose art.
Keep us posted on your build, and good luck with it!
Yeah - the cat-mouth artwork was one of the reasons I bought the kit - . I’ve already got a few “carnivores” (a P-38 & a P-40 Sharkmouth) on the shelf.
Sorry for the late reply, but today at 11:30 a.m. in Peru, I’ve brought the Italeri F6F-5N… I think it is from the same mould… and you’re right… but if you are an average modeller, you can correct it, with a lot of pacience, it seems like the first row of cylinders is wrong, the push rods face backwards… I have some work to do in this kit…