Otaki 1/48 Grumman F6F-3K Hellcat "Operation Crossroads"

[2996 Victor]

Not that I'm starved for projects, but I thought I'd see what all the fuss over Otaki was about: @stevej60 has already banged out a couple of corkers, so to that end I've got a Hellcat on it's way.

 

This will be finished as one of the colo(u)rful drones used in the Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests. I've already got the Alley Cat decal set in stock, and I'm debating whether to get the Aires cockpit and wheel bay sets.

 

More when the kit arrives!

 

Mark

[marvinneko]

6 hours ago, 2996 Victor said:

Operation Crossroads

 

Pretty horrifying stuff, using tens of thousands of military members as nuclear radiation guinea pigs, killing fisherman by accident, and wiping out the homes of the people living on the atolls. I watched a documentary about this years ago and at the end they zoom out from their main interview subject and show what happened to his body.

 

The upside to this disaster (the bomb was far more powerful than expected and the fallout far more wide-ranging) was realizing this meant that nukes could not be used on an enemy without resulting in significant fallout on allies. No "safe use". 

[2996 Victor]

4 hours ago, marvinneko said:

 

Pretty horrifying stuff, using tens of thousands of military members as nuclear radiation guinea pigs, killing fisherman by accident, and wiping out the homes of the people living on the atolls. I watched a documentary about this years ago and at the end they zoom out from their main interview subject and show what happened to his body.

 

The upside to this disaster (the bomb was far more powerful than expected and the fallout far more wide-ranging) was realizing this meant that nukes could not be used on an enemy without resulting in significant fallout on allies. No "safe use". 

I agree, David, it was an appalling use and abuse of both servicemen in the test and civilians collaterally, and as you say the only useful lesson was that there was, and is, no safe use of atomic weapons.

 

Mark

[Snafu35]

Hello Mark,

 

And that makes two Hellcats on this GB!
This one will be nicely coloured.
The Otaki box is a Model 3 with a window behind the pilot, however there have been some used ones:  

credit:  https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2021/05/12/grumman-f6f-hellcat-color-photographs-part-ii-drones/

 

Regards,

Eric-Snafu35

[2996 Victor]

11 minutes ago, Snafu35 said:

Hello Mark,

 

And that makes two Hellcats on this GB!
This one will be nicely coloured.
The Otaki box is a Model 3 with a window behind the pilot, however there have been some used ones:  

credit:  https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2021/05/12/grumman-f6f-hellcat-color-photographs-part-ii-drones/

 

Regards,

Eric-Snafu35

Thanks, Eric, I think most of the drones were -3 with the extra window, although Alley Cat say -5 on their decal set. I'll need to carefully study some photos once I've decided which tail colour I want to go with. I think I'll need an AM drop tank as well.

 

Cheers,

Mark

[2996 Victor]

The kit turned up today. Thankfully all appears fine to a brief inspection, no obvious problems to be seen. When I have a bit more time, I'll look more closely at the interior parts to see if I want to replace them; the wheel bays I think are a must!

 

Cheers for now,

Mark

[UberDaveToo]

On 9/3/2025 at 10:58 PM, marvinneko said:

 

Pretty horrifying stuff, using tens of thousands of military members as nuclear radiation guinea pigs, killing fisherman by accident, and wiping out the homes of the people living on the atolls. I watched a documentary about this years ago and at the end they zoom out from their main interview subject and show what happened to his body.

 

The upside to this disaster (the bomb was far more powerful than expected and the fallout far more wide-ranging) was realizing this meant that nukes could not be used on an enemy without resulting in significant fallout on allies. No "safe use". 

That was the best thing about the Cold War, Mutually Assured Destruction led to SALT treaties rather than World War III...

[2996 Victor]

Obligatory box and sprue photos.

 

The rather nice box top artwork:

 

Fuselage and tailplane sprue:

 

Wing sprue:

 

The everything else sprue:

I've read that the Otaki Hellcat's "grin" is the most accurate in the scale!

 

Instructions in Japanese and English, and a nice-looking decal set (even if the colours are a bit "off"):

 

The small clear sprue, a shrivelled glue tube, and the rather nice colour profiles:

 

Lastly, the Alley Cat Operation Crossroads decal sheet:

I suspect I'll go for one of the blue empennage schemes included.

 

I've decided to go for the Aires/Quickboost wheel bay set, and probably their cockpit set, too.

 

More soon!

 

Cheers,

Mark

[2996 Victor]

While procrastinating over whether or not to detail the cockpit, I heard the whisper of an aftermarket upgrade set that had been made especially for the Otaki Hellcat kit. The manufacturer, Medallion Models, is long-since defunct, of course ..... but ..... joy of joys, much of their range is now being produced by Starfighter Models. The Hellcat set, which includes flaps (also available separately), can be found here link if anyone else is interested. Needless to say, a set has been ordered and meanwhile some Aires wheel bays are also on their way  I haven't decided about an engine upgrade yet - I heartily dislike building and detailing radials so I might see if there's a 3d printed option available.

 

Cheers for now,

Mark

[Mjwomack]

2 hours ago, 2996 Victor said:

While procrastinating over whether or not to detail the cockpit, I heard the whisper of an aftermarket upgrade set that had been made especially for the Otaki Hellcat kit. The manufacturer, Medallion Models, is long-since defunct, of course ..... but ..... joy of joys, much of their range is now being produced by Starfighter Models. The Hellcat set, which includes flaps (also available separately), can be found here link if anyone else is interested. Needless to say, a set has been ordered and meanwhile some Aires wheel bays are also on their way  I haven't decided about an engine upgrade yet - I heartily dislike building and detailing radials so I might see if there's a 3d printed option available.

 

Cheers for now,

Mark

 

I like the irony of this thought process  Can't beat a bit of mission creep🏆

[2996 Victor]

It's probably the wrong way around, but having had the kit for a while now I've finally got round to ordering a copy of the Detail & Scale book on the Hellcat.

 

And although I've got the Starfighter née Medallion AM cockpit set coming, I'm still undecided whether or not to just dress up the kit's cockpit, especially since I'm planning on a closed cockpit, and I can use the AM as a guide to help. However, I'm pretty taken with this golden oldie and I can foresee another one, so the AM set will still find a home.

 

The F6F-3 engine is a bit of an enigma for an R-2800 newbie like me. That's an area where im hoping the D&S book will help

 

Onward!

 

Cheers,

Mark

[2996 Victor]

Just a smidgen over a month left to go, and I've finally made a faltering start on this one.

 

The Aires wheelbay set arrived from Puzzlecraft yesterday; the Medallion cockpit set came today - blooming good service from Starfighter Models - one week from ordering!

 

I've begun by chopping out the moulded-in starboard side wheelbay. Not that easy. The plastic is hard and quite brittle - I've caused a small crack in the wing which I've MEK'd - hopefully it wont show. I'm thinning down the edges of the wheelbays as I go so they look a bit more "scale" thickness.

 

The Medallion cockpit set is really rather lovely, and I'm going to save it for another Otaki/Arii Hellcat. The reason for this is that the -3K Drones had reworked cockpits to suite the remote control paraphernalia, and it seems a bit daft to chop up and modify the lovely resin AM when I can scratch up additions to the kit cockpit.

 

Unfortunately, play was interrupted by a slipped scalpel and a minor laceration. I don't know, you wait all week for some bench time and then you try to slice off your fingertip!

 

Hopefully more tomorrow, maybe with a photo.....

 

Cheers,

Mark

[Mjwomack]

12 minutes ago, 2996 Victor said:

The Medallion cockpit set is really rather lovely, and I'm going to save it for another Otaki/Arii Hellcat. The reason for this is that the -3K Drones had reworked cockpits to suite the remote control paraphernalia, and it seems a bit daft to chop up and modify the lovely resin AM when I can scratch up additions to the kit cockpit.

 

A sensible decision, firstly it paths the way for another one, and secondly I was wondering how much use it would be as I assumed that there was a lot of modification for the drone stuff.

[2996 Victor]

2 minutes ago, Mjwomack said:

A sensible decision, firstly it paths the way for another one, and secondly I was wondering how much use it would be as I assumed that there was a lot of modification for the drone stuff.

Yes, I thought I was being clever, but the photos in the Detail & Scale book show the changes and it would be a waste of the Medallion cockpit set!

[2996 Victor]

A bit of an "off" day weekend has seen none of my builds move forward, and I seemed to be. However, I'm hoping to be able to snatch half an hour here and there over the coming week.

 

Cheers,

Mark