Grumman E-2C Hawkeye [1/72 Hasegawa]

[Rémi]

Hi all

 

This time I propose to follow a build of the E-2C Hawkeye from Hasegawa at 1/72 scale

 

The Grumman E-2C is a iconic plane for the 70 area like the F-14 Tomcat frequently associeted to it

But if the Tomcat is now out of service, the E-2C always fly and is the "eye of the fleet"

 

I started this buils several weeks ago but I really start the paint job only this week because I must wait that my F-104 dry

 

I start with this kit

 

 

Initially, I wanted to use a decals sheet with a plane with a "stars and stripes" flag on the nose. But this sheet is now unavable
I decided to make the artbox scheme who is attractive.

 

For this, I make a mask for the bird on the radome radar.

 

 

This week I attacked the cockpit paint

The Hasegawa cockpit is very well detailled for the scale

It need only a good job paint and the add of the seatbelts

I paint the two screen on the central consol with a drop of transparent green from AK

 

 

 

For the dashboard, I made a mask with a Silhouette printer after to have scanne the decals sheet

 

 

After I painted in black the dashboard, masked the panels instrument and spray the grey

One drybrush later and some buttons in red, the dashboard finished

 

 

On a E-2C there are buttons all around the cockpit even on the ceilling

Like I wish a clean interior, I decided to paint the interior of the transparent piece
I made the mask for this job and paint the upper console

 

 

 

 

Like my Silhouette printer is warm, I decided to make the propeller mask
Hasegawa give the white and aluminium part of the blade in decals

I scanned it and made a new mask.

 

[TheyJammedKenny!]

Beautiful work on this so far!  

[Rémi]

The work night

I painted the front wheel bay.
This part need only a white paint and brown accent panel line
 

 

Now I can close the fuselage

Don't forget to drill all the holes and glue the 3 windows on the rear right fuselage

You need too a weight of 30 grammes. Hasegawa indicates to place this weight under the cockpit floor. It is impossible to place a such weight in this place !

I place it behind the rear cockpit partition.

 

 

 

Now we can see the global line of the plane

 

 

 

For the next step, I decided to take care of the engines and specially the air intake of the Allison T56 Turboprop

Hasegawa has been lazy at this place
We have only a straight piece behind the air intake.

To correct this, I decided to dig it and create a printer 3D pieces

I wouldn't be difficult to create the air vein

 

Before that, I cut the center propeller plot from the front piece of the engine

 

 

After I drill the half engine piece with the help of a moulding line

 

 

 

The difference between a drill piece to the left and the orignal piece to the right

 

[Rémi]

The work of the day

 

At first, paint of the radome.
Before the set the mask, I painted the radome with AK paint

 

 

After, paint of the bird

 

 

The rest of the day was passing to modelise the air intake.
When you have not the experience to do it, you pass several hours for only a little piece

 

 

[TheyJammedKenny!]

That's fantastic work on this E-2!  I really love the way you masked the bird motif.  This is really a pro job.

[Rémi]

The first batch print

 

 

The external diameter could be a little more thick but it should be suffisant for a cyano glue.

 

 

[heloman1]

Excellent start, good work with the masks and 3D printing. I haven't built a Hawkeye yet but I do have a Greyhound. Vacu-formed fuselage by ID Models and mastered by me.

 

Colin

[Rémi]

This build advance at low speed but advance.

 

I decided to paint the model by element : fuselage, wings and tails were paint seperatly

 

For this, the wing-fuselage junction must be perfect.
hopefully, this junction is almost good. There are only a little space, that can be corrected by two spacer in the fuselage

 

 

 

 

I painted the lateral window in orange like we can see on some photos

 

 

The tails paint started too

 

 

And when we add all the elements, the E-2C appear

 

[dnl42]

This anything-but slow-build is quite excellent! 

 

Better still, it's Grumman! 

[stevehnz]

A nice thread to follow, I have this kit in stock & your improvements are welcome info. Not sure I'm up to 3d printing yet though, but I do like what you're doing with it.

Steve.

[heloman1]

Neat work...

 

Colin