825 Posted January 27, 2022 Share Posted January 27, 2022 As the vehicles near completion I'll weigh in with another kit from the stash. This time it's the Curtiss Helldiver. Although a three colour kit and certainly Matchbox branded I think it hails from the beginning of the Revell period. Three sprues in multicolour. Overall the moulding is fairly crisp and flash free although there's a small number of ejection marks and, I think, a small depression on one of the prop blades. Interior detail is limited, seat, of sorts, for the pilot and a, rather aneamic looking, gun for the radio op/gunner. Two clear canopies with well defined frames. Still has the Lesley branding. Transfers for two US Navy options and colours on the rear of the box. I won't be using these but going for one of the Fleet Air Arm aircraft of 1820 NAS. Ishould be able to get transfers from an Xtradecal sheet in the stash. Old style Matchbox instructions on a single fold out sheet. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted January 27, 2022 Author Share Posted January 27, 2022 (edited) Off to a start with some paint on, interior green, black and US equivalent colours on the wings. I'll paint the wings before assembly so if the fit is good I won't need to mask the leading edge demarcation which I always find a pain. I've also painted the crew as the cockpits are bare and quite big. I'll probably add a controll column for the pilot but I'll see how things are in the rear cockpit a little later. I think it was quite crowded with radio equipment if nothing else. Edited January 27, 2022 by 825 Replaced poor photo 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted January 28, 2022 Share Posted January 28, 2022 Great to see another Helldiver being built here. I've always liked Matchbox's early SB2C and although fairly basic in some areas is still one of the only 1/72 -1's going around. That 3 tone US Navy scheme always looks great on models too. Cheers, welcome aboard and best of luck.. Dave 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted January 28, 2022 Share Posted January 28, 2022 Great to have you and the Helldiver in the GB @825 It might be just my phone playing up but I can't see your pictures ? Best of luck with this one. Cheers Pat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted January 30, 2022 Author Share Posted January 30, 2022 On 1/28/2022 at 12:20 PM, Rabbit Leader said: Great to see another Helldiver being built here. I've always liked Matchbox's early SB2C and although fairly basic in some areas is still one of the only 1/72 -1's going around. That 3 tone US Navy scheme always looks great on models too. Cheers, welcome aboard and best of luck.. Dave On 1/28/2022 at 12:39 PM, JOCKNEY said: Great to have you and the Helldiver in the GB @825 It might be just my phone playing up but I can't see your pictures ? Best of luck with this one. Cheers Pat Thanks Dave and Pat, the Helldiver is a nice kit, basic but the shape is good and the fit to date is good. Pat, my photo sharing home is Village photos and there's been some issues with them. I can see them fine in the iPad. Hopefully they'll appear in good time. The fuselage closed up now, no gaps and it looks like the seam will sand and polish up without the need for any filler. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted February 17, 2022 Author Share Posted February 17, 2022 Wings painted, assembled and affixed to the fuselage As you can see I've kept the Matchbox folding wings as MB originally intended. However, the outer wings droop Nd there's big spaces which are different on both sides. I think I'll glue them on and fill the gaps. Some filler was needed on the underwing fuselage join but the upperside is really good. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 Nice progress on the Helldiver 825, I agree the wing fold mechanism on some of these kits is rather crude so filling them up is probably a good way to go. Looks like a Royal Navy camo version is in the offering here, good to see. Cheers.. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted February 19, 2022 Author Share Posted February 19, 2022 On 2/17/2022 at 8:37 PM, Rabbit Leader said: Nice progress on the Helldiver 825, I agree the wing fold mechanism on some of these kits is rather crude so filling them up is probably a good way to go. Looks like a Royal Navy camo version is in the offering here, good to see. Cheers.. Dave Thanks Dave. I've glued the wings in place and added a fair bit of DPP and gently sanded and polished it down. The wings look right but the joinnis in need of a bit of attention. You're right it's an FAA scheme. One of 1830 NAS's aircraft. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted March 6, 2022 Author Share Posted March 6, 2022 I have been working away on the Helldiver but progress has been a bit slower than anticipated, although I was away for a week. The wings needed a fair bit of filling and tidying up. The upper hinge line could be better but I'll live with it. The paint took a fair number of coats, I used Xtracrylix Olive Drab and Gunship Grey for the upper surfaces and Sky with a touch of Olive Drab in it to give the US equivalent colours. The paint was thin which was the reason it took time. The undercarriage on and the crew popped in. Then some transfers on from an Xtradecal Yanks in Roundels sheet. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted March 13, 2022 Share Posted March 13, 2022 Great work 825. those Coastal colours sure suit this Helldiver. Cheers.. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted March 13, 2022 Share Posted March 13, 2022 That is looking really good. It has reminded me I've got one of these too & no, I'm not about to start it for this GB, I'm keeping it for Matchbox Hyper GB V. Steve 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted March 19, 2022 Author Share Posted March 19, 2022 Thanks Dave @Rabbit Leader and Steve @stevehnz, the Helldiver is complete no along nicely. The canopies took a bit of time to mask but thats done and they are on. The fit was excellent. and now with some paint on, interior colour first. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 Looks the business @825 certainly that canopy masking is a labour of love ! I can't remember seeing one in FAA markings before but it really suits it Cheers Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted March 19, 2022 Author Share Posted March 19, 2022 1 hour ago, JOCKNEY said: Looks the business @825 certainly that canopy masking is a labour of love ! I can't remember seeing one in FAA markings before but it really suits it Cheers Pat Thanks Pat, only 1 Squadron was equipped with Helldivers and although operational, they never saw action. I should have used the long strips method for the masking as the windows are nearly all rectangular. But I'd started before I thought of that so kept on going 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted March 24, 2022 Author Share Posted March 24, 2022 Remaining transfers and last few bits attached. Put the Helldiver aside for everything to dry before a couple of coats of matt varnish and it'll be ready for the gallery But when getting ready for varnishing I spotted this. What on earth earth has happened? The transfers dried overnight and were there when everything was glued on, yet 4 hours later the red part of the 1 is gone. No sign if it anywhere. A rummage through spares failed to find anything suitable. And nothing in the stash of generic transfers either. Luckily i I have some coloured transfer strips Ina few colours including red so was able to get a strip of suitable width that would fit inside the white number. It's not quite finished as I don't want to move the work done so far but I should be able to add two small bits to complete the top and bottom. The colour isn't an exact match but I think once it's flattened down with matt varnish it'll hardly be noticeable. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted March 25, 2022 Share Posted March 25, 2022 Nice recovery on that decal 825. Well done. Cheers.. Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted March 25, 2022 Author Share Posted March 25, 2022 Thanks Dave @Rabbit Leader 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted March 27, 2022 Author Share Posted March 27, 2022 Varnished and just the masking to come off and any touching up done and then the Helldiver will be ready for her photo shoot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted April 7, 2022 Author Share Posted April 7, 2022 Finished and pictures taken for the gallery. Here's a taster. The Helldiver is a bit of a beast. In the gallery soon 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Slowbuild Posted April 8, 2022 Share Posted April 8, 2022 I like aircraft that are “a bit of a beast”. And in a rare scheme too. Great job! Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted April 8, 2022 Share Posted April 8, 2022 Great stuff @825 I have to say I fancy building one of these now I've seen it with roundels on ! Congratulations mate Cheers Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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