Eduard Hellcat Mk.I - Eduard 1/72 Weekend Edition

[Julien]

Hellcat Mk.I

1:72 Eduard "Weekend"

 

 

Since 1938 Grumman had been working on its successor to the F4F Wildcat. The new aircraft would feature a wider undercarriage which would retract into the wings. This was arranged with a new hydraulic system which rotated through 90°. The wing was mounted lower and a hydraulic folding mechanism was fitted.  Grumman worked closely with the US Navy to provide a fighter which would defeat the Japaneses Zero. The design was further refined using combat reports with a larger engine being fitted .

 

The British Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm would receive just over 1200 aircraft under the Lease Lend programme. Originally these were alled the Grumman Gannet Mk.I but this was changed to the Hellcat for simplicity. These would see combat in Norway, the Med and the Far East.  The FAA would eventually feild 12 Squadrons of Hellcats. After the end of WWII the aircraft were rapidly replaced in the British inventory with the last two Squadrons retiring them in 1946.

 

The Kit

The original kit was released by Eduard back in 2011, and has been re-released in different boxes periodically over this time. Now it is in a light grey plastic and the moulds are wearing well with crisp finely moulded parts. The kit featuring fine engraved panel lines. There are three main sprues of the grey plastic, and one clear sprue. Construction starts where else but in the cockpit. The rear bulkhead and right side panels are attached to the cockpit floor. The main instrument panel is made up and then attached to the cockpit floor as well, along with the control column and pilots seat. Seatbelts are provided in this kit as decals. Once the seat is on the left hand side panel can be installed and to finish of the cockpit the rudder pedals are attached. The cockpit assembly can then be inserted in to the fuselage and the main fuselage closed up. Before this is done remember to add the tail wheel part and a panel under the cockpit. The flashed over tab hole for the external tank must also be opened up at this time.

 

Construction then moves to the wings, these are of conventional upper & lower parts each side. Before they are closed u the holes in the outboard lower wings for rockets must be closed up, and the insert for the main guns must be added in. Once assembled the wings along with the one part tailplanes can be added to the main fuselage. The modeller then moves to the front of the aircraft. The engine cowling is made up as is the 5 part engine. The engine is attached to the front of the main fuselage and the cowling added.

 

 

Next up for construction are the wheels. These are of two part construction being the main wheel and separate hub. When complete these are attached to the main leg, and the main gear door is attached to the outside of the leg.

 

Lastly the canopy parts are added. These can be posed in either the open, or closed position.

 

 

Decals
Decals are from Eduard and should pose no issues, markings are provided for 2 examples;

 

• FN427 - Sub Lt. McKenzie, HMS Indomitable, Bay Of Bengal October 1944.
• JV105 - HMS Emperor, Aegean Sea, September 1944.

 

 

 

 

Conclusion
This is a welcome re-release from Eduard with markings for the Fleet Air Arm. Highly recommend.

 

 

 

Review sample courtesy of

[sroubos]

Can't believe it's five years since it was originally released. My favorite 1/72 kit of all time. It's a joy to build, no vices whatsoever.