A pair of Fleet Air Arm Hellcats

[Grey Beema]

 

Built as part of the Grumman Hellcat Single Type Group Build but fitting in with my overall build theme of aircraft of FAA Aces, I though you might want to have a quick look at these..

 

The kit used was the 1/48 Eduard MkI / MkII Combo boxing.  The models were painted using Xtracrylics for the base camouflage.  Anti corrosion treatment / new paint was using Hataka Acrylics (slight difference in colours).  Tamiya / Life colour for weathering.  Box / Xtradecal generic marking sets for the markings..

 

The two aircraft I chose to build were:-

 

Hellcat MkI FN411/5°E 1839 NAS HMS Indomitable Oct 1944, Operation Millet.  Flown by Sub Lieutenant Edward “Tug” Wilson.

 

Wilson’s family heralded from Co. Meath and emigrated to South Africa between the wars.  Tug Wilson volunteered for the South African Naval forced and served as a member of the Fleet Air Arm

 

On 19.10.44 (1010) SLt Wilson destroyed 2 x Ki-43 ‘Oscar’ 3m S of Car Nicobar flying Hellcat I FN411/5*E

 

“In the meantime the enemy made an appearance over the fleet, but were met by our Hellcats and Vics’s Corsairs.  The Corsairs shot down four and the Hellcats three, all Oscars.  Tug Wilson destroyed two and (John) Smithwick one.  They were flying with Bing (John Hawkins) and Claude (Lt RC Westfield), who was just about to press the ‘tit’ when Tug nipped in before him and shot it down.  Bing got on a Jap, but his electrics failed so his guns failed to fire”.  SLt R McKenzie

 

 

Hellcat I FN411/5*E

 

This is the effect I was after

 

 

This is how it turned out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hellcat MkII JW867/W116 1844 NAS HMS Indomitable May 1945 Operation Iceberg Oolong, flown by Sub Lieutenant William “Bill” Atkinson.

 

On 21st May The one success had been when Hellcats from Indomitable on a CAP, had been vectored out to investigate a radar plot at about 30,000 feet, 36 miles from the fleet.  They found a Myrt shadowing the task force and after a brief fight it was shot down.

21.05.45 Nakajima C6N ‘Myrt’ Shared destroyed Grumman Hellcat II JW867/W116

 

Here is (I think) the real aircraft in April when the CO had an encounter with the barrier.

 

 

 

This is my interpretation one month later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Couple of slides from my Aces pack (where I keep pictures of my models)

 

 

 

 

Hope you enjoyed them

 

Thanks for stopping by..

 

[billn53]

Excellent! I do like how your weathering turned out. 

[stevej60]

Stunning builds GB,some of the beast paint and weathering I've had the pleasure of seeing.

[noelh]

That's great work, great photos too. The weathering is spot on. Dare I say it  the Hellcat looks better in FAA colours than USN.

[Dunny]

Superb work GB - I think you have perfectly captured the weathering on both aircraft. Two of the best FAA Hellcats I've seen,

 

Cheers,

 

Roger

[binbrook87]

Wow! They are 2 absolutely stunning builds. The paintwork and weathering are really outstanding 👍

[tonyot]

Oh mate you have cracked both of these,...... they are both superb and I love the weathering,..... perfect,..... just perfect.

Cheers

          Tony

[Madmaks]

Simply awesome 👍

[Grey Beema]

Thanks for all of your kind comments.  It is really appreciated.. 

[bigbadbadge]

What a cracking pair of models, with some wonderful backround  information too.  The paintwork and weathering looks lovely, I love the areas over the wings where people have walked. Congratulations on a superb finish on both.

Chris

[russ c]

Really nice pair of Hellcats, weathered to perfection

[mahavelona]

That really is fantastic weathering. It's unusual to see such a realistic finish pulled off. Can I ask about your techniques?

[wellsprop]

Superb models, you've really captured the look of BPF Hellcats! 

[Murewa]

Wow! Those are awesome! Love the heavy weathered effect, really captures the effect like the photos. 

[Grey Beema]

20 hours ago, mahavelona said:

That really is fantastic weathering. It's unusual to see such a realistic finish pulled off. Can I ask about your techniques?

Thank you for your kind comments.

 

For the weathering I plan it from the start of painting.  The aircraft was sprayed all over with aluminium from Halfords and left for at least 24 hrs ( probably until next session next weekend).  Next overall coat was to represent chromate yellow primer, again overall (I used a Tamiya paint here - again leave to harden.  

 

TSS was next using Xtracrylics paints which are quite soft so they get a coat of Klear and left for a few days.  Markings, coat of Klear.  I then do a light mist of medium or light grey from a height to tone down the colours (inc Roundels).

 

Then for the worn areas it’s a case of fine emery paper and wet & dry and abraded away paint in high traffic areas, going down to the Primer (zinc chromate) and Aluminium.  I then used a small piece of foam to ‘dry dab’ the colour representing hand prints and stains, in line with the first photo.  I made good any areas where I went too far using Hataka TSS Colours (slightly different shade).  Airbrushed the exhaust to finish.

 

Overall satin varnish, then Matt in the stained areas...

 

Quite straight forward but plan ahead.  If you think you need more - stop and walk away.  Don’t be scared to wash off paint you have put on..

 

Hope that helps..

 

 

 

[Rob Sutto]

I really like the effect that you have achieved with those cool cats. Thanks for sharing your techniques too, most helpful.

[MFargher]

I’m one of Tug’s grandchildren, this was cool to stumble upon. He didn’t talk much about his war experience with his family. In fact we didn’t know about his history as an ace until a decade after he died. I was doing some research for a school project and came across some stuff online. Very cool way to connect to a grandparent I never met. 
 

Many years later I was able to read his log book. Never read anything about him someone else had written, thanks! Also if you have any interest I do have a photo of him with a few other pilots on what I am fairly certain is the Indomitable. 

Edited August 31, 2024 by MFargher

[Grey Beema]

2 hours ago, MFargher said:

I’m one of Tug’s grandchildren, this was cool to stumble upon. He didn’t talk much about his war experience with his family. In fact we didn’t know about his history as an ace until a decade after he died. I was doing some research for a school project and came across some stuff online. Very cool way to connect to a grandparent I never met. 
 

Many years later I was able to read his log book. Never read anything about him someone else had written, thanks! Also if you have any interest I do have a photo of him with a few other pilots on what I am fairly certain is the Indomitable. 

Hi,

 

Thank you for getting in touch.   It is always fantastic to get a response from someone who knew or is related to the pilot of the aircraft I am trying to represent.  To me the pilots and the research are an important part of the model and something Iove doing.  You are actually the second of Teds Grandchildren who has been in contact, unfortunately I cannot find the email from the first, it'll turn up as soon as I submit this reply.  I have had a reply from another pilots family as well in the past.  Again they did not know the role their Grandfather had played nor their history.  It was a pleasure to give them the information I had.  If you are interested in Tug's experiences in 5th Naval Fighter Wing on HMS Indomitable there is a very readable book worth having a look at "Heaven High, Ocean Deep :Naval Fighter Wing at War" Tim Hillier-Graves (Author).  Well worth the read.

 

Send on to me the picture - I would love to see it.  If the other pilots were named please add those.  If not we'll see if we can name them..

 

If you are interested I do have another couple of Hellcats in build at the moment. 

 

The first is of a distant cousin of mine, Bill Atkinson, 1844 NAS, HMS Indomitable who your Grandfather would have known well (also the pilot of W/116 in the top post above).  Bill was detached with five other pilots to HMS Formidable when HMS Indomitable returned to Australia for refit at the beginning of July. 

 

On 25th July Bill became an Ace flying the aircraft below.

 

 

But more interestingly with your connection I am working on Hellcat 

Grumman Hellcat II JW731/R6°L.  1839 NAS HMS Indomitable. 

Operation Meridian Jan 1945

24.01.45 0815 Ki-45‘Nick’ shared destroyed with Flight Leader (Lt AB Macrea FN431/R5°H), Ki44 ‘Tojo’ Destroyed. ‘out of control vertically smoking, Palembang’.  Flown by SLt E Wilson

 

 

Which might (depending on my dubious skills), might have the figure of your grandfather standing on the wing.

 

I do hope you find this interesting and continue to research your Grandfathers wartime career.

 

Thanks for your reply

 

Phil Atkinson

AKA Grey Beema.

[georgeusa]

I'm glad this thread reappeared as I missed it the first time.  The two Hellcats are finished so well and nicely.  Can't imagine the finish could have been better.  And the pictures of your other two Hellcats are an added bonus.  Thanks for sharing all four builds and the back stories for them.