Popular Post Alan P Posted October 17, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted October 17, 2021 Hi all, Fresh from the Hellcat STGB is the superb Airfix 1/24 F6F-5 Hellcat, converted to an FAA NF.II using Aerocraft's conversion and decal set. This is the first 1/24 kit I've ever made and it's absolutely spectacular. A really impressive piece of engineering. This is built OOB apart from the conversion and beautiful wheels from Defmodel of Korea. The fit is damn near perfect, the assemblies are complex but everything slots into place very snugly (so snugly that even a thin coat of paint can throw off the placement). The surface detail has to be seen to be believed. It's so well-rendered I decided not to do any weathering as the surface textures provide all the visual interest on their own. The kit is also very accurate, and provides different options for the instrument panel and drop tank, as well as US and British rocket stub patterns. The engine and other internals are perfectly rendered and the massive 75-page, 310-step instruction manual gives excellent clear placement details. All the cockpit placards are provided as decals, though you could also consider the Airscale replacement for additional detail. This is all OOB. Anyway...if you fancy a 1/24 scale model, this is absolutely worth the £100-odd price tag and will build up into a really impressive (and HUGE) display model. I can't recommend it enough. The very nice radar and decals conversion from Aerocraft were just the icing on the cake, it looks very smart in its Glossy Sea Blue coat and FAA roundels 😊 Here's the Hellcat STGB build thread which may help if you have our want one of these to build: Thanks for looking, Alan 75 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edge Posted October 17, 2021 Share Posted October 17, 2021 Fantastic Alan! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhutchi Posted October 17, 2021 Share Posted October 17, 2021 Fantastic build there, it looks excellent 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted October 17, 2021 Share Posted October 17, 2021 Cracking work Alan this is a real beauty, Airfix do some cracking kits . You have done a superb job on this. Great work fella. Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenko Posted October 17, 2021 Share Posted October 17, 2021 Brilliant. Just brilliant. Dick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted October 17, 2021 Share Posted October 17, 2021 Magnificent beast she is ,great work all round Alan. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binbrook87 Posted October 17, 2021 Share Posted October 17, 2021 An absolute work of art! Stunning! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viking Posted October 17, 2021 Share Posted October 17, 2021 Wow, that really does look stunning, the engine photo looks real. Beautiful finish on it too. Cheers John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted October 17, 2021 Share Posted October 17, 2021 You`ve done a brilliant job there Alan and you have got the subject off to a tee,......... great work. Cheers Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanC Posted October 17, 2021 Share Posted October 17, 2021 Fabulous! You can really sense the weight and power. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelh Posted October 17, 2021 Share Posted October 17, 2021 Absolutely brilliant. The kit is good but your execution of it is impeccable. 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted October 17, 2021 Author Share Posted October 17, 2021 Many, many thanks for commenting, especially nice to hear your thoughts @tonyot as your version of this was the original inspiration 👍 Thanks very much again, Alan 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Posted October 17, 2021 Share Posted October 17, 2021 Absolutely fantastic (as usual). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzby061 Posted October 17, 2021 Share Posted October 17, 2021 What a stunner! Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted October 17, 2021 Share Posted October 17, 2021 5 hours ago, Alan P said: Many, many thanks for commenting, especially nice to hear your thoughts @tonyot as your version of this was the original inspiration 👍 Thanks very much again, Alan 👍 No worries Alan,.... credit where it is due,..... and I`m glad that my ramblings have proved of use. I really did enjoy researching the British night fighting Hellcat`s, Cheers Tony 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David H Posted October 18, 2021 Share Posted October 18, 2021 Wow, Alan! This thing is fantastic! You picked a very interesting subject as i don't know just how extensively the -5N was used by the FAA or if it was simply evaluated. As a former instrument flying instructor, i've gravitated towards night fighters and all-weather interceptors. I need to go look at your build log now... -d- 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJP Posted October 18, 2021 Share Posted October 18, 2021 You have built an impressive model there 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunny Posted October 18, 2021 Share Posted October 18, 2021 That is seriously impressive - wonderful build & finish! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meatbox8 Posted October 18, 2021 Share Posted October 18, 2021 An amazing model. That's a beautiful paint finish you've achieved. I didn't know that the FAA had ever been issued with the night-fighter variant. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellsprop Posted October 18, 2021 Share Posted October 18, 2021 Stunning! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted October 18, 2021 Share Posted October 18, 2021 That's an exceptionally clean and tidy build of this complex kit. It looks like it should be in a museum. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted October 19, 2021 Author Share Posted October 19, 2021 Thank you very, very much, lovely comments and greatly appreciated On 10/18/2021 at 3:12 AM, David H said: You picked a very interesting subject as i don't know just how extensively the -5N was used by the FAA or if it was simply evaluated. 20 hours ago, Meatbox8 said: I didn't know that the FAA had ever been issued with the night-fighter variant. Some great history and photos of loads of these NF.IIs in this thread: 14 hours ago, Bertie Psmith said: That's an exceptionally clean and tidy build of this complex kit. It looks like it should be in a museum. Thanks, I have approached the FAA Museum about donating it, if I could just get a proper case sorted for it! Thank you again everybody who liked/commented 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seamus Posted October 19, 2021 Share Posted October 19, 2021 Glorious! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julien Posted October 20, 2021 Share Posted October 20, 2021 Now thats great! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted October 20, 2021 Author Share Posted October 20, 2021 20 hours ago, Seamus said: Glorious! Thanks, high praise from you mate 👍 2 hours ago, Julien said: Now thats great! Thanks Julien... you're up late, insomnia or timezone 🤔😂 Alan 1 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