Popular Post t15dja Posted April 2, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted April 2, 2020 (edited) Here's my attempt at the 1/24 Hellcat by Airfix. Apologies for the photos but as you'd expect this is a big beast so it's very difficult to get the whole thing in shot. It's built out of the box except for a set of HGW seatbelts and some in-wing resin fuel tanks (to avoid seeing empty space inside the wings when looking up through the undercarriage) and a resin engine core, both from Nigel's Modelling Bench. I've built it so that the upper and bottom engine panels are removable so as to see all that lovely detail that Airfix have included. If you're wondering how the unattached panels in front of the cockpit are able to stay in place you can see the complex technical solution I devised in the last photo. I really enjoyed building this kit and the detail that airfix have incorporated is amazing. I didn't use any filler other than to fix a few sink marks in a small number of parts and to smooth the joints on the propeller blades. I did a brief work-in-progress report of the latter stages of the build here: Thanks for looking....stay safe, keep calm....and build models! Next on the bench for me is Trumpeter's 1/32 A-7E Corsair Edited April 4, 2020 by t15dja 76 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Beema Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 That is a super job. Fantastic build and finish. You must be well chuffed. I was going to order one then backed out of it, but now you have me re-thinking... 1/24 Hellcat II JX772/X119.... Hmmm. (Get thee behind me Satan)... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quid100 Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 Wow!! That is a phenomenal build. Cheers Matt 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shashman Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 That's fantastic. I can almost smell the metal you've done such a good job with the weathering and effects. Beautiful! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnMcDonnell Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 Absolutely beautiful! Marvelous job indeed, testimony to why 1/24 scale exists. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickydicky210 Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 Simply stunning build of a fantastic aircraft thanks for sharing an inspiring build cheers Rich 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangor Lad Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 Fantastic! Oh how I wish I had the space to build one of these beauties! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire31 Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 A stunning tribute to 1:24th scale! Kind regards, Joachim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAT69 Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 Very very nice build. Display is proudly! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzby061 Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 Fabulous build & nicely finished & weathered. i quite fancy the French scheme myself. Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binbrook87 Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 That's wonderful. What a beast of a model that's turned out to be. Great result. Weathering is just bang on 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t15dja Posted April 2, 2020 Author Share Posted April 2, 2020 17 minutes ago, Buzby061 said: Fabulous build & nicely finished & weathered. i quite fancy the French scheme myself. Pete Many thanks, Pete. The kit is so nice I'd happily build another in a different scheme.....with wings folded next time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMCS Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 Superb 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Epeeman Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 Beautiful work, well done! I normally build WW1 aircraft, but after seeing yours built up I have to admit I might be tempted by this kit ............. Regards Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t15dja Posted April 2, 2020 Author Share Posted April 2, 2020 Just now, Epeeman said: Beautiful work, well done! I normally build WW1 aircraft, but after seeing yours built up I have to admit I might be tempted by this kit ............. Many thanks, Dave. Go for it....you definitely won't be disappointed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t15dja Posted April 2, 2020 Author Share Posted April 2, 2020 7 hours ago, Grey Beema said: That is a super job. Fantastic build and finish. You must be well chuffed. I was going to order one then backed out of it, but now you have me re-thinking... Many thanks...I am pleased with how it's turned out. The fit of the parts was excellent....Airfix have done a superb job in my opinion. I would highly recommend the kit....go for it! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Massimo Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 This scale isn't forgiving at all and you really got the best from this model! I love the way you highlighted the panel lines, usng alight grey on a dark blue finish! Outstanding! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t15dja Posted April 2, 2020 Author Share Posted April 2, 2020 Thank you very much, Massimo. Regarding the panel lines, I actually weathered the aircraft the other way round. Firstly I sprayed all the panels in dark sea blue. Then I very gently polished the paint with some very fine polishing sticks until the paint just started to wear off so I could see the grey primer through the blue, especially in what I perceived to be high wear areas. This took quite a long time! If I went too far I had to respray the blue and then polish again. Finally I used a grey panel wash to bring out the rivets and panel lines. I've used this technique before on other kits....it takes a long time but seems to work! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 It's hard to make big scale models not turn out looking like a plastic toys, but you have done an incredible job on the finish and scuffing- looks like real metal, not painted plastic. I also noticed the excellent rendition of the finish in the fabric-covered surfaces, including the flaps, that is often missed. You have every right to be proud of this one! Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeaton01 Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 Truly outstanding! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobsyouruncle Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 That's gorgeous! I've been a bit indifferent to the Airfix Hellcat as it wasn't a type that I definitely wanted to model, but I have to admit that it makes up into a fine looking model which is very pleasing on the eye. Awesome job of work you've done on it too. Nice one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t15dja Posted April 2, 2020 Author Share Posted April 2, 2020 11 minutes ago, bobsyouruncle said: That's gorgeous! I've been a bit indifferent to the Airfix Hellcat as it wasn't a type that I definitely wanted to model, but I have to admit that it makes up into a fine looking model Many thanks! If I'm honest the Hellcat probably isn't my all time favourite WW2 aircraft, but when I saw it "in the flesh" on the Airfix stand at Telford when it was first released I was so bowled over by the detail that Airfix had incorporated I knew I just had to build it, and now having done so I'm just as impressed by Airfix's engineering of the model. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t15dja Posted April 2, 2020 Author Share Posted April 2, 2020 31 minutes ago, 72modeler said: It's hard to make big scale models not turn out looking like a plastic toys, but you have done an incredible job on the finish and scuffing- looks like real metal, not painted plastic. I also noticed the excellent rendition of the finish in the fabric-covered surfaces, including the flaps, that is often missed. You have every right to be proud of this one! Mike Many thanks Mike. As I mentioned in a previous post, I attempt to polish off the paint top-coat in order to replicate wear using a very, very fine polishing stick, which, after all, is how wear happens in real life. It's time consuming but does produce an interesting and hopefully realistic effect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Beema Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 1 hour ago, t15dja said: Many thanks Mike. As I mentioned in a previous post, I attempt to polish off the paint top-coat in order to replicate wear using a very, very fine polishing stick, which, after all, is how wear happens in real life. It's time consuming but does produce an interesting and hopefully realistic effect. I do similar, I prime with Halfords aluminium, paint the camouflage over the top, then abrade it off using fine polishing pads. If the aircraft was primed with Zinc Chromate, spay that over the aluminium and camouflage over the top. You can abrade to the primer or the aluminium.. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 Stunning work! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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