Living up to my screen name, I just completed Hasegawa’s 1/48 F6F-3.
The model is OOB except for decals and Eduard’s photo-etch cockpit set. I used MM Acryl paints, except for Tamiya flat white.
To try something a little different, I chose my subject from a well known WW 2 photo.
I didn’t try to match the weathering, and I had to guess on all the markings. There are several photos of CV 10 Hellcats that show the number on the starboard wing and the “K” on the tail. I’m not sure they were on this bird, but I went ahead and put 'em there.
The interesting thing was the port side cowl. Grumman spray painted the last digits of the Bureau number, on the cowl, when the aircraft was delivered. I suppose they were painted over with intermediate blue when they got to the squadrons. At least, most of the time.
If you look closely on the original you can see a rough 096. Using Aero Master decals for a different Yorktown plane that had a “090” on the starboard cowling, I changed the zero to a six and then faded the black decal with an intermediate blue and gray wash.
I believe I got an approximate look. My airbrush edge feathering technique was rusty. Too many ships and foil covered Lunar Modules. Weathering was washes, dry brushing and using a Prismacolor silver pencil for fastener paint chipping, etc.
It was a fun project and a little different selection for a Hellcat
Nicely done Mike! That is a great photo, and it is on the cover of my WWII coffee table book. Good job on the Bu.No. on the cowl, excellent little add-on. Overall, looks like a good, solid build. [tup]
Nice job! I love models of an interesting subject.
That’s interesting that Grumman would so crudely paint the aircraft number on the cowl like that. I’ve seen pictures of that before in some of my references. You’d think they would have at least used a stencil to do it.
Funny too how everyone comes out to watch aircraft launch. The bridge of that carrier is packed with spectators.
