Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted November 21, 2017 Share Posted November 21, 2017 (edited) So here is my Hellcat build. With a replacement canopy on the way from @Rabbit Leader (Dave), I can now continue with the build. Here is where is all started. It is a Revell (G) boxing of the kit with no PK number in sight! The 'Made in England' tags on the sprues have been obliterated just to read 'Made in ...................' With not many parts the goes together quickly (like most Matchbox kits I expect). A dodgy picture of the dodgy canopy included in my kit and when the penny dropped something was not quite right But onward and upward with the assembly Just waiting for a canopy in post now Edited December 21, 2017 by Romeo Alpha Yankee Finished! 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted November 21, 2017 Share Posted November 21, 2017 Great start Ray, she'll be in the paint shop next to the Helldiver in no time... let's hope the canopies fit! Cheers.. Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted November 22, 2017 Share Posted November 22, 2017 Rapid progress Ray,I like the look of this kit too,any thought's on the scheme? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted November 23, 2017 Author Share Posted November 23, 2017 It will be the USN scheme from the box Steve, if the decals are still OK. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 That looks like its coming on nicely, I've one of these in stock but with Eduard, Academy, Hasegawa & Hobby Boss ones in stock, I figured on mine going to someone who would like it mint in box & all. I've long thought it was covered with trenches but yours doesn't look too bad in that respect Ray. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted November 25, 2017 Author Share Posted November 25, 2017 Its funny Steve, both this one and the Helldiver have raised detail on the fuselages and recessed detail on the wings. The Helldivier wing engraving is more trench-like. The Hellcat is not too bad. More assemble waiting for the replacement canopy to arrive. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted November 27, 2017 Author Share Posted November 27, 2017 Canopies have arrived and I am currently attempting to install one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted December 1, 2017 Author Share Posted December 1, 2017 Installation proceeding with a little modification (read hack, slash, cut, putty, file, sand..... ) 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted December 1, 2017 Share Posted December 1, 2017 Not quite the fit we had both hoped there Ray! Looks like your persevering on like any good modeller should. I wonder if you would have had more luck cracking one open and displaying the canopy slid back? Anyway - let’s hope you win this fight. Cheers.. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted December 2, 2017 Author Share Posted December 2, 2017 I thought about opening one up but then just forgot and glued it all together! I shall persevere! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted December 2, 2017 Share Posted December 2, 2017 Looking good Ray,....brings back lots of memories this kit! Nice to see it being built properly rather than being stuck together by sticky fingers on a wet Saturday afternoon (when the footie team was playing away of course!). Cheers Tony 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted December 13, 2017 Author Share Posted December 13, 2017 I have been fighting this build for a couple of weeks, hope to have some update pictures this weekend. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted December 15, 2017 Author Share Posted December 15, 2017 I got the canopy faired in with some collateral damage, still needs some polishing. I tried to make the rear windows from Testors clear cement but it looks like it is not drying clear anymore. So off to the shop to buy a new bottle, this one has lasted me coming on 20 years! Once I get the clear parts sorted it will be into the paint booth. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted December 15, 2017 Share Posted December 15, 2017 Good to see this one progressing somewhat Ray. It’ll all look the goods once a good slap of paint is applied. Keep up the good fight. Cheers.. Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted December 20, 2017 Author Share Posted December 20, 2017 Good news everybody! Some progress. After sorting out the canopy to an acceptable standard I added some paint Not bad I thought and it was time for the decals. I thought that since the Helldiver decals worked so well these would be a piece of cake as well. Never assume Kaboom! I thought at this stage I would not finish it as my spare decals a limited to more modern US decals. I was lucky to find some stars and bars from a couple of old B-29 sheets and the destroyed numbers came from my Privateer decals. I saved the tail markings by painting liquid decal film on them. Unfortunately, someone in their wisdom supplied the two of the same tail markings when creating the decal sheet and not reversing it. Oh well, I just slapped it on as it was. So all that is left to do is to paint the prop tips, add the wheels and a final flat coat. Stay tuned..... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted December 20, 2017 Share Posted December 20, 2017 Good save 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted December 21, 2017 Author Share Posted December 21, 2017 And done... 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arniec Posted December 21, 2017 Share Posted December 21, 2017 Good job Ray. Cheers, 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted December 21, 2017 Share Posted December 21, 2017 Look's just how I remembered it Ray,nice one! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted December 21, 2017 Author Share Posted December 21, 2017 Yep, not a bad result, the Testors clear cement was still drying in the windows behind the canopy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted December 21, 2017 Share Posted December 21, 2017 Nicely done Ray, it looks the goods. i really like your paint feathering. Steve. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Well played Ray. You have fought this one to the very end and have come out a winner - perserverance is always the key. A quick dark wash around the wheel hubs would certainly improve the final look, however I'm a fan of clean builds so it works for me. Cheers.. Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme H Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Well you have more stamina than me, I would have given up on that a long time ago, but the end result is really great, well done 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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