VT Red Sox Fan

@giemme—thank you so much—it truly means a lot coming from you given both your inspirational/informative builds & encouragement to me to push my own limits—it truly makes the hobby fun and a community—best, Erwin

@giemme, @mark.au & @Zoran Srb, thank you so much for the compliments! Today's quick update. Leveraged @The Spadgent's Flory Wash trick over the gloss coat. I used Mission Model Clears to recreate the non-specular and specular colors--I start off with the percentages outlined in Mission Model's FAQ and then adjust PSI/percentages--for whatever reason, I find these paints finicky with ambient humidity more than temp--particularly the flat coat. FWIW, more often than not I dust the flat coat on nearly straight from the bottle while the gloss coat/semi-gloss is thinned pretty close to the manufacturers recommendations. While this sounds like a lot of dynamics to manage, it's a long way from the rattle can flat frosting I leaned how to fix from @billn53 on an F-105 years back Photo of masking off gloss/flat (or in USN WW2 lingo specular/non specular) areas with Silly Putty & Sticky Notes. I then used period photos and the link below as guide to replicate the F6F's distinctive exhaust pattern. I chose to do the exhaust on top of the clear coats to make it look less permanent than under a lacquered finish. For whatever reason engine exhausts stains under a 1/72 clear coat seem odd to me--at least given my current capabilities. As an aside, I believe the reason for the F6F's almost always present distinctive exhaust pattern vice the relatively cleaner pattern on the P-47 is due to the supercharger systems vice the very similar P&Ws used to power the 2 different aircraft. The P-47's turbocharger was a mechanical intercooler, vice the Hellcat's 2 stage turbocharger system. I am not a thermo-dynamic engineer, but this seems like a reasonable explanation for the exhaust patterns on well maintained, carrier operated and this case new F6F--always welcome to learn something new if I am off. https://modelpaintsol.com/builds/eduard-72-f6f-hellcat-night-fighter-7079 I replicated the exhausts by airbrushing a 10 - 5% Tamiya white at 10 psi for the white led exhaust outer areas (fuselage and wing), and then air brushed Alclad Jen Exhaust just after the exhaust pipes (fuselage and wing). Finally the remainder of the effect was developed with Tamiya Weathering Powders and AK Engine/Turbine effects (fuselage and wing). I am happy with the top side, but I am not sure if the underside is too aggressive for this relatively new aircraft--it is hard to determine from period photos which almost always show this area universally/starkly stained. Finally I misted a light coat of Alclad Hot Metal Sepia on the engine cowling area--I find this livens up the high heat areas of the airframe in a manner similar to period photos--to my eye anyway Next up will be the final bits and then on to the F6F-5--comments always welcome and thanks for looking! Best, Erwin

Bill, I am in--I have much to learn--have this in the stash and may need to do a jet soon after a series of props--the research and effort are up to your usual high standards! Best, Erwin

@opus999, @giemme, @mark.au, and @mark.au--thank you all for your kind remarks and gentle feedback which has made me better and for sure will continue to improve my skills. We are now at the fun part of the build--final filters (I am not going to call it painting as it keeps my paint thin). As discussed, this will be a VERY early F6F-3 but NOT as early as @pat d's remarkably well researched project in 1/48--denote the very early gun fairings on his build--looks just like the period photos in Detail and Scale and Aircraft in Miniature. Link below: I colorized the period pictures linked below and cross cued with Detail and Scale/Aircraft in Miniature books to determine that VF-8's White 8-F-14 would follow the Colourcoats call outs linked below with the following modifications when wearing red surrounds around the national insignia-- @Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies & @Dana Bell have done the modeling community a great favor with their research on US Navy WW2 schemes. The Non-Specular Sea Blue would "block" with the wings fade with the Intermediate Blue higher on the fuselage than a mid to late F6F-3 (as a rough starting rule--I am sure there were exceptions). Additionally the Intermediate Blue would be along the leading edge, roughly following the pattern later used by the Non-Specular Sea Blue (the majority of the wing is semigloss Sea Blue & again, this a rough starting rule--I am sure there were exceptions). One final note, frequently it appears the Intermediate Blue covers the the nose of the entire cowling, including the underside and top side--photos in Detail and Scale of very new F6F-3s and of 8-F-14 seem to support this judgment. Finally, since I am going to keep the red surrounds around the national insignia, there is very little weathering. As an aside, if you look at the F6F-3s painted in this scheme that made it too 1944, you will note a wide variation of the red surround being painted out and the scheme is well weathered. After viewing numerous more pictures, I decided to use @opus999's marbeling technique on the outer wings. Apparently, the outer wings were subject to a great deal of wear due to Grumman's unique folding system on the flight deck and weathered very fast--apparently this also protected the rear fuselage fuselage finish. Again, sine this a relatively new aircraft, subtly is key, so I used an off white against the light grey primer with black pre-shading on panel lines I am now going to use Johnny @The Spadgent's inspiration and say enough research, lets have fun getting this over the line! https://www.sovereignhobbies.co.uk/pages/us-navy-aircraft-colour-schemes https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:F6F-3_Hellcats_of_VF-8_in_flight_1943.jpg https://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Hellcat/F6F-3/pages/Grumman-F6F-3-Hellcat-VF-8-White-8F14-preparing-to-launch-01.html I should have taken more pictures of the filtering--falling behind G, Johnny @The Spadgent & Bill @billn53. Masking was done with Silly Putty, overall paints are the Colurcoats callouts with the mods above. I also used AK Real Colors and Mission Models for modulation on fabric areas. Paint was thinned roughly 70%, sprayed at about 10-15 psi. I then applied a gloss coat for Eduard's decals--they went on without a hitch. As an aside, I love how Colourcoates works, does anyone have thoughts on how I could make Tamiya decals work without gloss coats--given the accuracy & coverage of this paint, I really did not like clear coating to make the decals work. Next up will be applying Mission Models Gloss, Semi-Gloss and Flat. I find building up and managing Mission Models Clears is easier than other brands in achieving the complex multi-sheens on US Navy WW2 aircraft. Last up will be a Flory Wash and replicating the exhaust stains. Thank you all for looking and hope all is well! Erwin

Putting it all together--indeed some of these photos give me pause given some of the replicas put out by G @giemme, Johnny @The Spadgent (smashing large scale jet project ongoing), Bill @billn53 and @opus999--but away we go. Eduard's sub assemblies come together nicely--I did not take pictures of aligning the fuselage halves, wing haves etc. One big caution which forced me back for a correction--make sure you look closely to ensure the wing alignment is symmetrical--while I agree that Eduard's molding allows a symmetrical fit, for me it provided other options initially (keeping this polite ). Other than that the main components worked out fine. Moving on to rear windows, once I aligned the paper clip pipes against a rear bulk head and applied Eduard's reinforcements, the clear plastic windows assembled with no vices. I also used acetate for the gun sight and the scratched armor plated forward canopy went on the forward cockpit assembly with no issues. Finally I mounted the engine with kit parts as the intent is to build this with access compartments closed. Gun sight lens Engine, front canopy and rear windows mounted/prepped--note armor plated glass, water pipes for engine. Also, silver is intentional--period photos show even minimal weather here resulted in NMF, so I wanted to try for that effect on the final paint job. Gratuitous, but I felt warranted, shot of the front cockpit instrument panel--who says details cant pop on a 1/72 prop fighter I then completed the photo etch main landing gear doors--while bending and assembling/prepping 5 components per a door was tiresome, I think the result was worth it. With kit doors-- I am beginning to join the crowd that thinks the best way to replicate WW2 stamped metal is stamped metal I decided to assemble the tail gear PE on the runner. Note to all, I found the Aircraft and Miniature book VERY helpful for this step--would also recommend looking at Eduard's 1/48 F6F PE instructions/photos for this step as I found the 1/72 scale instructions a little vague. I then applied IG for canopy interior frame work (note, to explain the earlier grey interior frame work on the rear windows--the rear window area was likely Grumman Grey and not YZC or IG for most F6F-3s--at least that is what my research turned up) Finally, pre-shading--1st a big thanks to all who have made this part of the build fun--investing time in pushing your skills here truly makes the journey to great outcomes enjoyable--and the team on the website really helps one up their game at every turn. For this build I decided to forgo the very effective marbling I picked up from @opus999--I need to build my P-38 in OD/NG as I miss this trick. Instead, I went with a simpler white/black pre-shade that will be accentuated with pin washes similar to what I initially picked up from @giemme, @The Spadgent and @billn53 when I first started moving to very thinned air brush top coats--big thanks to @RidgeRunner for nudging me about paint thickness years ago. Given the F6F-3 I am building is very new, has not seen combat, and is on initial carrier ops, the goal is create a new like effect that is broken up by the natural weathering of operations at sea to assist in the model not looking toy like. Also note, that I did not pre-shade fabric areas as I thought the contrast created would be worth it on a new aircraft that had not seen much opportunity for the doped surfaces to fade based on period photos. Please note in Eduard PE gear hook locks in the wheel wells--I found these prominent items hard to find on the PE instruction sheet--again the Detail and Scale & Aircraft in Miniature books are invaluable placement resources. I also carved out the wing landing light and wing tip lights for Krystal Klear lenses at the end of the build. Up next will be the unique early F6F-3 3 color (really 4 color scheme--go to @Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies website or read one of @Dana Bell's illuminating books for further info--I found the variations/development of this scheme fascinating). Apologies to anyone I omitted in this update--everyone played a key role both in building my skills and helping a recovering perfectionist actually enjoy this hobby through community--all thoughts welcome! Best, Erwin

@opus999—incredible! I always wanted to do an A-36, but the Condor had vices and the wings on the Italeri were too D like—I now want to take the challenge—you make it look so easy (I say that knowing a lot of skill is involved)—well done! Erwin

Mark, well done—I don’t know much about the 410, but the pre-shading and cockpit look amazing! Following with interest—best, Erwin

@opus999, @mark.au & @giemme—-thanks you for the compliments—humbling coming from accomplished builders like yourselves. Reference @giemme’s F4U thoughts—have a research thread linked below based on some confusion I had on @Dana Bell’s must have books (it’s on me). @don f & @Seahawk gave some good updates on colors and mods to make Tamiya’s 1/72 F4U-1D more accurate ( @giemme, I know you are anything but a 1/72 props kinda of guy:-) , my understanding is these pointers work for their 1/48 kit as well). Regardless, thought I would ask the question here/link the thread below to help others—did Vought produced F4U-1Ds have grey struts—I wasn’t sure if @Dana Bell’s comments on F4U-1D grey gear (main/tail) were for Goodyear produced aircraft only—I am thinking the answer based on period photos for Vought made aircraft is grey MLG/tail struts with a combo of aluminum/grey wheel hubs. Back to the Hellcats—subassemblies and pre-shading coming soon—best all, Erwin

@opus999 & @giemme--thank you gents, way too kind coming from accomplished builders like yourselves. Next up is PE for the landing gear doors that were pressed using my Small Shop rollers-- I then put the center intake grill on the cowling. I will be painting the interior of the engine compartment Grumman Grey based off @Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies vectors and the Detail and Scale Book I decided to install the armor glass as the pictures of these relatively new F6F-3s assigned VF-8 while on the Intrepid's shakedown cruise seem to have them--I flattened wire and used acetate to create this omitted but apparent detail I then wired up the radial--I am really beginning to enjoy 1/72 radials, although I am not sure I am ready to make the awesome dynamic spinning props @billn53 executed in his 1/48 P-47s--colors for the are based off @Dana Bell's F4U book that I am using for my future F4U-1D build Pushrods using .010 wire cut to size on resin engine block Ignition wires/magenotos/governor Engine with basic weathering using AK Interactive Engine/Turbine effects set Looking forward to the sub-components coming together for paint--Johnny, @The Spadgent, I am still working on cleaning the desk space . Best and thanks for all for your thoughts on how to get better--Erwin

Happy 2023 everyone, I hope the holidays treated everyone well. Wanted to provide a quick update on my 1st Eduard F6F--I will be building it as an early F6F-3 from VF-8 using Eduard's decals for White 8-F-14. Beyond the kit decals, there are some good pictures linked below of the squadron with their new F6F-3 as the USS Intrepid went on her shakedown cruise. There is also a great head on of 8-F-14 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:F6F-3_Hellcats_of_VF-8_in_flight_1943.jpg https://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Hellcat/F6F-3/pages/Grumman-F6F-3-Hellcat-VF-8-White-8F14-preparing-to-launch-01.html @pat d's amazing build gives a great example of an early war F6F-3 in 1/48 As this will be a blog catch up to current status update, I will focus on areas I thought I needed to improve Eduard's base kit. I thought Eduard's cockpit was ok, but it really needs a PE set to truly make it accurate. Even in 1/72, I feel the "shelf" on the left side (throttle quadrant) is noticeable--I would highly recommend the full PE over the Zoom PE which lacks this feature. The other area I thought Eduard was weak was the landing gear doors--very thick without much detail--the PE is a value add here (or resin). I found the Small Shop's brass bending and forming rollers very helpful. Finally, many have crowed about the engine, but I opted for a Quick Boost Resin engine with wire details--while I Eduard's engine is leagues ahead of Academy's effort, I thought the fins on the cylinder heads were not convincing. I used @Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies and Mission Model Paints. This is not to say Eduard's F6F is a bad kit--I agree with @mark.au it is the best we have in 1/72-- it has a very accurate outline, panel lines match plans exactly and the fit is superb--just providing a few thoughts on how to improve the kit (not to the level of @giemme F-4 and @The Spadgent's Hind--those are amazing builds gents). 1st up is cockpit construction. Given this will be an early F6F-3, I used dull dark green for the seat and pedals as seen on a few photos of early cockpits in the Detail and Scale book, and the Aircraft in Miniature book. My understanding is that Grumman was transitioning to interior green during this time period, so there is an interesting mix cockpit greens as the company started to push Hellcats to the fleet. Cockpit with initial PE components: Initial cockpit PE painting complete. One note--I painted over Eduard's front instrument panel side plates with Tamiya German grey--period references all show these as a slightly lighter shade of black vice interior green as supplied. I used Krystal Klear for the instrument panel glass Final PE on floor area/rear bulkheads. Note floor conduit. Per Detail and Scale's book, these were unpainted aluminum color on operational aircraft--I did not paint these. Radio equipment/canopy lock. Inspired by one of @opus999's 1/72 builds, I did not removed the plastic guide parts, I will use these to guide placement of the lower side radio control/circuit breaker compartment. Also, the ejector pin marks are well hidden, so I did not fill those in. I applied a coat of Flory wash (thanks Johnny @The Spadgent) and Tamiya brown/black accents Completed cockpit subcomponents Pilot ready to go Ventral vent PE build Next up will be engine work--thank you all for looking and thoughts are always welcome. Best, Erwin

@don f & @Seahawk--thank you both so much for the info. I found some more info on the -1D from @Dana Bell on the Large scale forum. "Hi John, This is for F4U-1Ds only - Interior Green would be used in the cockpit only. All other primed surfaces would have one or two coats of yellow zinc chromate. (Vought had an exemption - they applied the first coat, then stamped it with a black marking if a second coat was to be applied. If there was a translucent yellow film over the stamp, inspectors knew that two coats had been applied.) Wheel wells and cowls used up leftover paint. The wells were generally Glossy Sea Blue, but some were Light Gray. The cowl could be Light Gray or Intermediate Blue camouflage paint. (Leftover N/S Sea Blue and Semi-gloss Sea Blue were used as the first coat for exterior camouflage, then oversprayed with Glossy Seea Blue. As you already know - no Indian Red/Salmon on F4U-1Ds. FG-1Ds were similar, but could have black cockpits above the side consoles... Cheers, Dana" Link to above: https://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?/topic/76866-corsair-f4u-1d-interior-colors/ Also I appreciate you gents helping me with -1D seat placement and other updates. Also I believe @Dana Bell book indicates the HVAAR blast reinforcements to the wings were factor installed Bu no 82500. Given the pictures @Ron D linked in part 3 during HVAAR testing it hard to believe this was not a standard mod on operational -1Ds. I cant seem to find any further info on this add in Dana' book--Vol 2, pg 41. @Ron D complete lock on the underwing fuel tank drains and the fuselage air scoop-- I would have missed these--thanks! When looking at the NSAM Air Space restored F4u-1D, I noted the interior of the interior "nose" of the cowling was the underside white color with the remaining p[ortion YZC which seems to support @Dana Bell's research. Also noted @Dana Bell remarked in the Rivet Counter book the cockpit is an earlier -1D and as you look at the photos, the HVAAR blast sheet metal is there--whether it is field mod, factory install, or later depot upgrade is different question (I apologize if I mis https://www.flugzeug-lexikon.de/Air_and_Space/Weltkrieg/Vought_F4U_Corsair/vought_f4u_corsair.html The biggest hanging chad for me is the landing gear color--I am 80% that these should be the great Jamie @Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies hobbies mentions, but @Dana Bell book has a period color photo of Marines arming a carrier based F4U-1D (Vol 2, pg 41) where the landing gear is shaded enough that it looks GSB/dark grey or that is the way it is. I think the largest part is the way @Dana Bell words it, seems Chrysler supplied struts were painted grey and these were used by Goodyear. That said, F4U-4 period photos of Vought manufactured aircraft are also grey. Here is my best hack at an interpretation based off of years of work done by @Dana Bell, Jim Sullivan, Barrett Tillman and molders like @Ron D, @Seahawk, @mark.au & @Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies Build modifications - Fill in right hand flap step - Fill in outer wing tank fuel caps - Remove outer wing fuel tank drains--add thanks to @don f - Is the dome light on the lower left wing in the fabric area the landing light--if so I believe it needs to be deleted--ugh--any thoughts on how to do this without to much damage--removal confirmed with @don f - Add HVAAR sheeting to underside--I am with @don f these were on operational F4U-1Ds--I also noted the newer Tamiya 1/32 F4U-1D has the sheeting molded - Remove fuselage cockpit vent scoop--thanks @don f - Both these aircraft retained upper recognition lights - Adjust seat placement--thanks @don f & @Seahawk Colors (lets call them best interpretations) - Overall-- ANA623--will use Jamie's @Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies--ACUS 34--is there a thought from the forum if there was a flat anti-glare are forward - Cowling interior--forward "dish pan" & cowl flaps--flat NMF aluminum--remainder YZC--leaning toward GSB cowling "nose" interior, YZY cowling/cowling flaps based on @Dana Bell's research - Cockpit--overall interior green--details picked out according to @Dana Bell Rivet Counter - Tail landing gear bay--YZC with GSB over spray - MLG Struts--80% sure I will go with grey (if so what kind--in some pics they seem light grey ACUS1 as @Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies posits, but then some seem to be almost a blue grey) or were they ANA623? (its hard to see these as grey after my 3x in a row F6Fs w/ the MLGs colors matching the surrounding cammo--period photos seem to show a lot of ANA623, but @Dana Bell's discussion in Vol 2 makes me think the ANA623 is really a shadow and these struts are actually grey ( I doubt these aircraft went through depot while in front line service) - Tail wheel/tail hook--80% sure these will be grey or blue - MLG bay interiors--I am leaning toward ANA623 - Gear Door interiors--ANA 623 - Wheels--I am thinking these were painted aluminum or ANA623 or grey--is there any thought colors could be related to Bu Nos? If missing a photo, a vibe is probably the best achievable - Weathering-- @mark.au Thank you all for the help! Best, Erwin

@don f-- a spectacular build & thanks for sharing! I really appreciate your construction photos. I wonder if the HVAR Guard sheet metal could be replicated with thick foil? Also, and I must be a little behind the curve, I am not picking up what is out of position with the seat--if willing, could you or @Seahawk help me better understand? Will be really helpful since I plan on using Eduard's PE frame. Now I better understand why @Dana Bell spent so much time on seat placement in his Aircraft Pictorial books--Happy New Year to all! Best, Erwin

@mark.au—your build is a stunner—I will be liberally copying, er I mean referencing your build especially on the weathering—best, Erwin

Forum, I am rounding around the finish line of F6F Hellcats and would like to build a 1/72 Tamiya F4U-1D out of the box. My internet research has included really great builds by @Shin, & @mark.au I also have been reading and re-reading @Dana Bell's F4U books, "Aircraft Pictorial, Volumes 7 & 8", "Rivet Counter, Corsair Cockpits", alongwith the FunDekals awesome sheets, "Corsair, KD431, Preserving the Time Capsule Fighter Revisited" and John Sullivan's "Corsair in Action." For this build I would like to use the kit decals and I am gravitating toward VF-84/White 167/Bu No 57803 or VMF-112/White No1/Bu No.57089 . I have not been able to find a pic of VF-84's White 167, but there is a great pic of White 168 https://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Corsair/VF84/pages/Vought-F4U-1D-Corsair-VF-84-White-168-CV-17-USS-Bunker-Hill-1945-01.html and I also found a great picture of VMF-112's no1 flown by USMC Maj "Hap" Hansen https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/threads/corsair-f4u-1d-maj-hap-hansen-uss-bennington-aircraft-of-the-aces-gb.30229/ Based off @Dana Bell's excellent research, I believe both of these aircraft are Vought built F4U-1D's and not Goodyear built FG1-1Ds, although it is Goodyear build aircraft, I believe the KD431 book will provide valuable references/insights for its Vought built cousins. As you can see I have been F4U'd by access to info based on 21st century access and am going a bit str crazy-- in a good way Given this, I wanted socialize my thoughts on how to update/paint my aircraft. Thank you all for the assist and input--the Corsair is definitely an important aircraft with a complex technical heritage. Build modifications - Fill in right hand flap step - Fill in outer wing tank fuel caps - Is the dome light on the lower left wing in the fabric area the landing light--if so I believe it needs to be deleted--ugh--any thoughts on how to do this without to much damage - Both these aircraft retained upper recognition lights Colors (lets call them best interpretations) - Overall-- ANA623--will use Jamie's @Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies--ACUS 34--is there a thought from the forum if there was a flat anti-glare are forward - Cowling interior--forward "dish pan" & cowl flaps--flat NMF aluminum--remainder YZC - Cockpit--overall interior green--details picked out according to @Dana Bell's Rivet Counter - Tail landing gear bay--YZC - MLG Struts--grey (if so what kind--in some pics they seem light grey ACUS1 as @Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies, but then some seem to be almost a blue grey) or were they ANA623? (its hard to see these as grey after my 3x in a row F6Fs w/ the MLGs colors matching the surrounding cammo--period photos seem to show a lot of ANA623, but @Dana Bell's discussion in Vol 2 makes me think the ANA623 is really a shadow and these struts are actually grey ( I doubt these aircraft went through depot while in front line service) - Tail wheel/tail hook--grey or blue - MLG bay interiors--I am leaning toward ANA623, but wanted to see if others had a better sense on interior green vice YZC/ANA623 - Gear Door interiors--ANA 623 - Wheels--I am thinking these were painted aluminum or ANA623 or grey Thank you all for looking or for any thoughts you have to assist my project--best and thanks to all Erwin

So it has been a while and the Academy Hellcat was completed at a glacial pace--it took significantly less time to build the real thing. VF-1's White K21 was a relatively new aircraft during the part of its career I wish to depict so weather will be an attempt to make this aircraft not look like a toy. Just to re-cage folks, here is the link to a photo of this mid-production F6F-3 getting onboard the USS Yorktown CV-10. https://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Hellcat/VF1/pages/Grumman-F6F-3-Hellcat-VF-1-White-K21-aboard-CV-10-USS-Yorktown-II-1944-01.html Plan of attack for painting starts with painting the canopy frames interior green based on guidance from Detail and Scale & Airfame and Miniature. This will be followed by a Mission Models primer coat, pre-shading/light under coat for folded wings, marbling, Mission Models WW2 Insignia White, AK Interactive Intermediate Blue, and Mission Models Sea Blue. I will modulate the Specular and Non-Specular with flat and gloss coats after decals. Final finishing will include Flory Washes, AK Interactive engine and landing gear effects along with a mix of airbrushing/pigments for the characteristic exhaust staining. Frames Interior Green Primed Wing folded areas exposed to elements on deck lightened with light great base coat Pre-shading Initial Yellow Zinc Chromate marbling Final pre-shading/marbaling Final filters-- @giemme & @The Spadgent have changed my philosophy from coats to filters--this is the result of top filters thinned about 60% - 70%. Top filters complete now on to washes Flory and Tamiya pin washes coplete Exhausts stains created with Tamiya Buff thinned at 90%/sprayed at 12 - 15 PSI with my Badger Sotar, Alclad Exhaust, Alclad Hot Sepia (also sprayed on cowling to create subtle contrast with cooler areas of airframe. Finally used AK Exhaust effects and Tamiya weathering powders. Its hard to see, but I used a flat coat for the Insignia White and Non Specular Sea Blue areas. I attached the landing gear, used fishing line for brake lines and used aftermarket gear doors. I would say the fuel tank is a big let down in the Academy kit--I will fix this by using the tank from my Eduard F6f-3 which will be an early -3 without the tank. As I was finishing this, I wondered if the characteristic exhaust was due more the supercharges as I watched @billn53 put his P-47s together. I also used Krystal Klear for the wing lights. Overall, I am happy with Academy's Hellcat--although to be fair, this aircraft has a new cockpit, engine, gear doors and wheels. As pointed out in the Aircraft and Miniature book some of the panel lines are not accurate, but the pitot tube is spot on. As discussed, I will be replacing the tank with Eduard's tank from my early F6F-3. I would also point out the tail's trailing edges way out of scale thickness. Although these detail issues are easy to point out, I think it should be noted the ease at which this kit falls together, even with all the aftermarket. I would also like to say a word on Techmod's decals--they preformed exceptionally well and compare favorably with period photos, so I would recommend them. I would like to thank all those not already mentioned in closing this Hellcat chapter-- @Jackson Duvalier, @Corsairfoxfouruncle and @opus999 --your inspiration in various builds has sparked me to try new things. Next up will be Eduard's 1/72 F6F-3 built as VF-8's 8-F-14 on the USS Intrepid. Best to all and sorry for the delay in catching everyone up. Best and Happy Holidays! Erwin

Wow—the Turkish F-4 is incredible—I really am looking forward to seeing it by the impressive FM Phantom—I am sure the FM F-4 will be a masterpiece—cheers, Erwin

Opus, great work on the kit—it’s encouraging to see one of these older kits gone so well and the Fitter knowledge from the forum is a nice touch—best, Erwin

Johnny, this aircraft looks amazing! The cammo, shading and washes are VERY effective—best, Erwin

Opus, my Fitter knowledge is thin, but I really like the details you added in the cockpit, seat and use of wire in the wells—following a long with interest—best, Erwin

It ls an Ali build—I am so in—given your recent Zero build, I am sure this will be an incredible build—following with interest if I may—best, Erwin

An elite outcome—well done! Best, Erwin

G, amazing work—really looking fwd to how this all comes together—best, Erwin

^^^Thanks Bill—enjoying this build & I can’t wait for your 1/72 project—best, Erwin

Bill, so glad to catch up—these look tremendous! Quick question for you, how do you think the rivets would look in 1/72 for a bomber? I am thinking it might be too much for a prop fighter—I got get ahead of things and back on the bench! Best, Erwin

Amazing—this aircraft looks ready to fly! Your subtle weathering really makes this a remarkable build! Best, Erwin