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Showing results for tags 'HMS Emperor'.
Found 3 results
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Hi folks, this my latest rendition of the well established Eduard kit built from the FAA Dual Combo kit. As usually with my builds, I implemented some aftermarkets that in my opinion improve certain details; this time I went for HGW raised rivets and Res-Im extented flaps. The kit was painted with Gunze Aqueous and AK Real Colors. The full build will be described, along with my other build, in already announced Valiant Wings book on the HELLCAT. Cheers Libor
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Hi folks, I started building the old - but still good - Airfix Hellcat a while ago, but it's just in the last few weeks that I've had the mojo to finish it (well, apart from the wingtip nav lights, but pshaw!). So, this Hellcat dates from the '70s and I have observed people on this very forum saying that it's accurate in outline, but lacking up-to-date levels of detail. I can't comment on the former, but the latter is fair. Having said that, I like the detail on the prop and the undercarriage; the cockpit and engine are, however, less good. So I thought I'd use some AM to bring the kit up to a more modern standard. This included: Quickboost F6F-5 engine (Shhhhh! If you don't tell anyone, neither will I!); Quickboost exhaust pipes; Airwaves etched cockpit interior and straps; Techmod decals for E-L, JV131 of 800 Sqn, FAA, during Operation Dragoon, the invasion of Southern France in September 1944. I also added some etched mesh over the intakes beneath the engine intake, removed the guns and replaced them with 1.5mm diameter brass tubing. Anyway, enough of the blah. How does it look? Only top views, I'm afraid, as there's a slot in the underside to take the ventral tank. I realised after painting and decalling that I didn't think it was used (and I didn't like the moulding anyway). Still, noone will pick it up and look, will they? Comments welcome. regards, Martin- 10 replies
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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
