Dermo245 Posted April 24, 2020 Share Posted April 24, 2020 (edited) Hi all and what a great idea for a Group Build! Like so many of us, Airfix and Matchbox kits (and the odd Esci) in the 70s & early 80s were my gateway to the hobby. Built with great enthusiasm at the kitchen table, my choice of kits were inspired by the comics I read and the movies I watched. I also remember 'The World At War' TV documentary, I think on Sunday afternoons. It was probably the first time I saw real footage of WW2 and especially film of the war in the air. So this will be my build, bought on auction a few years back in a moment of mad-nostalgia for those model-building weekend adventures of my youth. Looks like everything is in there.. In all it's rivet-glory. I can't wait to get started. Thanks for looking and enjoy your builds. Dermot Edited May 24, 2020 by Dermo245 Fixing photo links 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hewy Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 Hello dermo,good to have you join the gb, the hellcats a great plane, the pacific theatres best at shooting down japs, and surface detail galore on this early bird from the 60s 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 Great choice Dermot of a classic aircraft and kit, if I remember right this one comes with the option of folded wings doesn't it? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hewy Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 2 hours ago, modelling minion said: remember right this one comes with the option of folded wings doesn't it? And it had the biggest wing area of all ww2 fighters (History channel this morning ) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GREG DESTEC Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 (edited) Good one! Loved this one as a boy cos it was it was big and had lots of rockets 😀 Edited April 25, 2020 by GREG DESTEC Spelling 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 1 hour ago, GREG DESTEC said: Good one! Loved this one as a boy cos it was it was big and had lots of rockets 😀 .. .and it was moulded in dark blue, which saved on the paint 😃 John 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dansk Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 Welcome to the group build Dermot. The decals look really fresh judging by that corner. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dermo245 Posted April 26, 2020 Author Share Posted April 26, 2020 So not much to this kit so getting along with it.. Engine is just painted up with some black oil wash. I know the interior colour is wrong (should be Zinc Chromate)... Airfix Hellcat_Engine_1 by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr Airfix Hellcat_Engine_2 by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr Added belts from tape to the seat and put the fuselage together last night. The fit was mostly ok, just a few areas need fixing. I also decided to sand down the rivets.. Airfix Hellcat_fuselage_1 by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr Then the wings! From what I've read, these were the largest of any single-engine WW2 fighter. Airfix included the neat option to have these folded, like this. Airfix Hellcat_wing_2 by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr But to be honest, the join didn't look very secure and the inner detail is basic/non-existent. So will go with normal wings Airfix Hellcat_wing by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr Much sanding and filling ahead, but looking forward to it! Cheers, Dermot 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackAck Posted April 26, 2020 Share Posted April 26, 2020 A nice entry to this gb. I'm almost positive I built this kit too when I was young. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hewy Posted April 27, 2020 Share Posted April 27, 2020 Smashing dermo, a tone down of the rivets hasn't hurt either 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted April 27, 2020 Share Posted April 27, 2020 Great work Dermot, almost a complete airframe already! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Beema Posted April 27, 2020 Share Posted April 27, 2020 Welcome to Navy Aviation, welcome to the dark side Dermot.... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Beema Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 Which colour scheme are you doing @Dermo245? It’s just that some MkIIs were Gloss Sea Blue like the one in the box art but later MkIIs did not have the rear cockpit windows. Some early MkIIs did have the window but would have been delivered in TSS and I’m not sure we’re wired for RPs. I don’t think I have seen a combination of GSB and windows but have no doubt someone will prove me wrong.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dermo245 Posted April 28, 2020 Author Share Posted April 28, 2020 4 hours ago, Grey Beema said: Which colour scheme are you doing @Dermo245? It’s just that some MkIIs were Gloss Sea Blue like the one in the box art but later MkIIs did not have the rear cockpit windows. Some early MkIIs did have the window but would have been delivered in TSS and I’m not sure we’re wired for RPs. I don’t think I have seen a combination of GSB and windows but have no doubt someone will prove me wrong.. Cheers Phil! 👍 Sorry to say but the scheme will US Navy, three-colour of Cdr James Flatley, CAG aboard USS Yorktown, August 1943. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Beema Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 6 hours ago, Dermo245 said: Cheers Phil! 👍 Sorry to say but the scheme will US Navy, three-colour of Cdr James Flatley, CAG aboard USS Yorktown, August 1943. Sharp intake of breath - Big frown, Rolls his eyes... Well it’s still Navy Aviation.... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dermo245 Posted April 29, 2020 Author Share Posted April 29, 2020 Morning all, Fuselage all done, ready for primer after I've sorted out those wing roots. Airfix Hellcat_fuselage_2 by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr And back from the primer shop - not bad for a kit that dates to 1967! Airfix Hellcat_fuselage_3 by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr Start of three-tone US Navy paint (sorry @Grey Beema) later today. Take care, stay home and build models. Cheers, Dermot 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GREG DESTEC Posted April 29, 2020 Share Posted April 29, 2020 Great job on the wing fold join Dermot 👍 looking good. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted April 29, 2020 Share Posted April 29, 2020 This Hellcat belongs to a great era of plastic kit. You’ve doing a great job of this and it’s all looking splendid in primer. Well done so far Dermot. Cheers.. Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dermo245 Posted May 16, 2020 Author Share Posted May 16, 2020 So finally some paint on this one. White already on the underside and my best effort at Medium Blue on the fuselage.....could be a little bluer I think. Masked up and then hit with Navy Blue. Airfix Hellcat_fuselage_4 by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr Airfix Hellcat_fuselage_5 by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr And masking removed. Not 100% accurate but happy enough! Airfix Hellcat_fuselage_6 by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr Cheers! Dermot 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 That is some very nice painting Dermot, very nice indeed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinxman Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 That looks great - the paint scheme has really lifted it - nice one. 😀 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 This is coming together beautifully Dermo,I can't recall ever building this kit at all. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dermo245 Posted May 17, 2020 Author Share Posted May 17, 2020 Thanks all and now with added decals - just the seven of them! Airfix Hellcat_fuselage_7 by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr Some weathering next. Thanks for looking. Dermot 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted May 18, 2020 Share Posted May 18, 2020 Looks great Dermot, the red bordered markings contrast nicely with the camouflage scheme. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyW Posted May 18, 2020 Share Posted May 18, 2020 What a great looking model. I've never built one of these (!) best I do something about that. Regarding your comment on the World at War series, I've not long ago bought the box set. It cost very little indeed. It can still hold its own against a great many newer documentaries. A first class series. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now