Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat NAKED - 1:48 Jasmine Model

[bgire]

Hello All

I'd like to share my last and current build of a 1:48 scale Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat from Jasmine Model.

 

This is a naked aircraft, as it includes only its skeleton, made of high quality stainless photo etching, with a few injected plastic parts for complex volume shapes.

The bulk of the build is the assembly of 300+ PE parts. Their fit is excellent but the whole stuff is quite challenging... needs a lot of self control and adrenaline.

 

 

Let's begin with the tools used, which are rather simple. Cutter, scalpel, tweezers, polishing pad, flat ruler and bending plates, gluing pads and braided kleenex to pump out the excess glue.

I used super glue throughout.

 

 

Let's start with the cockpit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gluing the side consoles... quite challenging as you've to bend them so they can be fitted in place and then make both flat again:

 

 

 

Cockpit almost finished. Then goes the aft fuselage:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fitting the tail hook assembly:

 

 

 

The tail wheel. This is a plastic part:

 

 

Longitudinal beams are now added (lower fuselage only, upper will come later):

 

 

 

Then goes the complex and intricate central wing section:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adding the two inner flaps, which are moveable:

 

 

 

Fitting the wing to the fuselage:

 

 

 

 

Assembling the main gear:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quite challenging, but well worth the effort.

 

To be continued...

_Bruno

 

[bgire]

Continued.

Now going back to the tail assembly:

 

 

 

 

Surfaces are moveable:

 

 

 

Fore fuselage now. Assembling the radiator:

 

 

 

 

 

... and finishing the cockpit with wind shield and canopy:

 

 

The two folding parts of the wings:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arming the aircraft:

 

 

 

 

to be continued...

_Bruno

 

[Scimitar F1]

Wow 

 

I do not know ow where e to start 

 

What did you use for glue? 

[clive_t]

Nice work! 

[shortCummins]

this looks amazing, what an interesting idea for a kit

[bgire]

1 hour ago, Scimitar F1 said:

Wow 

 

I do not know ow where e to start 

 

What did you use for glue? 

Hello.

I use cyano-acrylate glue (or super glue). Slow dry, i.e. which sets in about twenty seconds (I can accelerate just by breathing humid air on it).

_Bruno

[Duncan B]

Stunning, that is very eye catching.

 

Duncan B

[Ex-FAAWAFU]

Wonderful!

[Yeoman1942]

Amazing kit, and amazing skill

[Red Dot]

Even though i don't normally like models like this, i have to say that's it is incredible work and interesting to see how it all goes together. Very well done indeed

 

Andy

[mickcpl]

Masterful

[CJP]

Wow Bruno this is really complicated modelling project and you are doing such a neat job - I've seen this kit once before on BM by modeller Lesthegringo but unfortunately Photobucket has robbed us of his photos

CJP

[bgire]

End of the project.

Adding flaps and ailerons to both wings:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now it's time to fit the wings to the central box. Lot of suspense... and if this didn't go well ?

 

 

 

 

And YES! It WORKS!

 

 

 

Completing the wings root:

 

 

Last chapter: the engine. More classic: most of it is made of cast resin parts. Good ones, although some after-market detail sets are better, but this is visually good.

 

 

(Nostalgia) The last PE part of this assembly:

 

 

 

This assembly is now complete:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Hellcat is now complete. A very good kit, well designed. Sustained assembly with some thrilling moments but very exciting at the end. Highly recommended for those PE addicts who want to try something unusual.

 

Thank you for your attention and comments.

_Bruno

 

 

Edited April 14, 2018 by bgire

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Excellent work Im not sure i could do it without learning to solder. Combining this and an eduard hellcat one could make one heck of a cut-away build.

Edited April 15, 2018 by Corsairfoxfouruncle

[thorfinn]

Jaw-droppingly impressive!

[CJP]

Wow - You have demonstrated some amazing modelling skills assembling this etched Hellcat kit - very well done

CJP

[Bandsaw Steve]

WOW! That’s really something! 👍

[dnl42]

Bravo!

 

You've demonstrated some outstanding building skills! The result is quite unique and fascinating. 

 

 

[dominique17]

Hello,

 

I am living in La Rochelle : interesting to see this Hellcat :-)

 

[Mike]

That's rather impressive I wanted one really badly until I saw the price on eBay!

[lesthegringo]

On 4/14/2018 at 9:26 AM, CJP said:

Wow Bruno this is really complicated modelling project and you are doing such a neat job - I've seen this kit once before on BM by modeller Lesthegringo but unfortunately Photobucket has robbed us of his photos

CJP

Bloody Photobucket! My first and only WIP wiped out! To rub salt into the wound, my move to Hungary resulted in mine being broken into a few pieces. I've fixed most of it but have to steel myself to get it back to being complete

 

Nice to see another being built, out of the box they make impressive models, great job Bruno!

 

Cheers

 

Les