gengriz Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 It seems I just can't get away from those invasion stripes. The latest addition to my collection is this Hasegawa Hellcat built as supplied in the box, wearing the markings of 800 Sqn, flying from HMS EMPEROR 70 years ago today (15 Aug 1944), during the second D-Day - the Allied invasion of Southern France, Operation Dragoon. The forces landed in the Nice/Hyeres area during Dragoon were almost entirely US and French, however the immediate air cover came from Allied Task Force 88, the air component of which was almost entirely provided by the RN's Escort Carrier force. Dragoon was immensely successful, building on the experience of Normandy to conduct a textbook (partly) opposed amphibious landing. Within a month the Axis defences had collapsed and the southern French ports were in Allied hands, receiving much needed supplies directly from the US (making up for the problems capturing the port of Cherbourg in the North). There isn't much you can say about the Hasegawa kit; OK so it has lightly raised panel lines and the wheels have some awkward ejector pin indentations, but in all other respects this was one of the kits that earned Hasegawa their superb reputation for precision and buildability. As with pretty well every WW2 Fleet Air Arm aircraft, the markings are open to some discussion; in theory the invasion stripes should have gone by August, but it has been suggested 800 kept them to avoid the Hellcats (not used before in the Mediterranean) being mistaken for Fw-190s. The red cowling was a Mediterranean Theatre recognition marking (think red spinners on Spitfires, Hurricanes and Mustangs), but not seen on all aircraft. Hasegawa have also chosen to model this aircraft as she appears in a well known photo thought to have been taken in the Aegean a month or so later, with part of the stbd side invasion stripes painted over by what looks like a repair job. In this photo she appears well weathered, but most of the pictures of Dragoon show the aircraft in remarkably pristine condition - in light of the partial stbd invasion stripes I chose to reflect the well weathered look. I also painted behind the Royal Navy titles and serial numbers; as per the photo. FredT 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beard Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 That's really nice. Could you tell me what paints you used? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gengriz Posted August 15, 2014 Author Share Posted August 15, 2014 (edited) That's really nice. Could you tell me what paints you used? Hi Beard, I used Humbrol enamels for the topsides: 123 and 224. The undersides are Revell enamel Matt 39. It has 2 Klear topcoats to aid decalling, then 2 Winsor & Newton Matt Acrylic Varnish finishing coats. All applied by brush. FredT Edited August 15, 2014 by gengriz 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pascal JMW Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 Hello very nice hellcat !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ c Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 Great job on the Hellcat, Really nice work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batcode Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 nice job, looks great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 Great job on this one,a well known scheme nicely done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomastmcc Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 Stunning mate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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