Silver Fox Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 This is half of an Eduard FAA Helcat double kit finished as the mount of Sub -Lt K A McLennan, who was the highest scoring New Zealander to fly in the FAA. The Eduard kit is a cracking build and I enjoyed every minute of it. It is almost OOB though I replaced the seat with an Ultracast one with cast on seat belts and the wheels with Ultracast wheels. The kit has markings for FN430, a Squadron mate, so all I had to do was replace the last letter of the serial and replace the kit code with a K from the spares box. The only problem I had was some crazing of the Xtracolour Slate grey over the Gunze Sanyo Sky. I've had this before when mixing the two paints on the same model but I thought I'd overcome it this time. Still no harm done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 Very nice work. Stephen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lar74 Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 Great build i have the combo kit myself.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfpack Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 Doesn't look like a Sabre Dog! W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbuna Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 looks fantastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plasticbutcher Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 Nice job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iang Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 That's a very nice build of Keith McLennan's aircraft. I had not realised tthat he was the highest scoring NZ pilot in the FAA (especially since he left the 1844 before Indomitable left Sydney in March 1945). One thing - and I hate to say this - if FN439 was marked like other 1844 Hellcats, the starboard side should read 6 . K and not K . 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ c Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 Nice Hellcat ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Fox Posted September 18, 2012 Author Share Posted September 18, 2012 (edited) That's a very nice build of Keith McLennan's aircraft. I had not realised tthat he was the highest scoring NZ pilot in the FAA (especially since he left the 1844 before Indomitable left Sydney in March 1945). One thing - and I hate to say this - if FN439 was marked like other 1844 Hellcats, the starboard side should read 6 . K and not K . 6 Bother. Never mind it's not too late to change it.. I'll only display it with the port side showing for the time being. Edited September 18, 2012 by Silver Fox Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Fox Posted September 18, 2012 Author Share Posted September 18, 2012 Ok, here we have the right order of Squadron/code I don't completely trust the Osprey on RN Aces but for what it is worth it has McLennan shooting down two bombers attacking the Fleet after the 24th January raid and sharing another. "Having taken his total to 3.5 destroyed, he had become the most successful Royal new Zealand Navy pilot of the war" Pg 77 Royal Navy Aces of WWII. His machine is depicted in one of the plates but shown as a Hellcat II which doesn't square off with the seial batch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iang Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 The Osprey quoted score for McLennan corresponds with Shores' in Those Other Eagles (companion to Aces High for 2-4 kills), though not all were in FN439. The Osprey colour art looks correct for the port side. Obviously just ignore the Hellcat II description. I've photos of 3 or 4 1844 squadron Hellcats during Sumatra operations and they are all maked 6.x on the starboard side. HTH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Fox Posted September 21, 2012 Author Share Posted September 21, 2012 Thanks for all the kind comments guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpc7676 Posted September 21, 2012 Share Posted September 21, 2012 Nice build, well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldhouse Posted September 21, 2012 Share Posted September 21, 2012 Very nice looking Hellcat !! well done !!! Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belle Posted September 22, 2012 Share Posted September 22, 2012 Great build !! Great attention to detail too. Belle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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