Grumman Hellcat, Royal Navy 898 Naval Air Squadron, Ceylon, September 1945

[Paul A H]

Whilst clambering about in my loft sorting out some kits to sell off, I uncovered a half-finished 1/72 Revell Hellcat that I'd started a couple of years ago. Save for a few details she was pretty much ready for a coat of paint. Not having built an aircraft kit in what seems like ages, I thought this would be ideal for a quick fix of modelling without having to start a new kit. A couple of days later, here is the result. It's not a bad kit at all, with decent detail and fit, but moulded in a nasty hard, blue plastic rather than the usual comforting grey. Still, nice to clear one of the old stalled projects from the stash. Anyway, here are the pics.

Edited August 15, 2010 by Paul A H

[daz greenwood]

Very nice Paul you can never have enough cats

[Davec_24]

That's very nice! Love the dusty weathering. I think that's my favourite scheme for the Hellcat, those roundels and the white bands look cool.

[Shar2]

Nice paintjob Paul, she looks really good.

[Deon]

Lovely model, the weathering is superb too.

[Stéphane]

Hello,

very nice and weathering spot on for the scale, blue cats are always a treat ...

Cheers

Stef (#6)

[Paul A H]

Thanks everyone!

[Joe Hegedus]

Sorry to dredge up this topic after 3 years, but I'm working on a model of this airplane and was wondering if you had a reference for the gray codes and white prop dome. I have the Aeromaster 1/72 sheet with this scheme and they have the codes and dome, but no reference cited one way or the other. All I could find is a blurry rear quarter image that didn't show the dome and was inconclusive on the codes. While I'm at it, they also have the upper wing insignias the same size as the fuselage and lower wing ones. Given the reputation Aeromaster has regarding accuracy, I'm somewhat skeptical about their interpretation.

And if the gray codes are correct, where can I find appropriate letters and numbers?

Thanks,

Joe

[Seahawk]

Firstly nothing that follows should be taken as a criticism of a very nicely built Revell 1/72 Hellcat.

The only photo I know of showing this aircraft is on page 260 of Ray Sturtivant's FAA Aircraft 1939 to 1945. It sounds like the same one as you have found: I agree that the prop spinner is not visible and that it is difficult to deduce the colour of the codes, other than that they appear to be in a colour other than white. There is artwork rpt artwork on page 357 of the May 1984 Scale Aircraft Modelling which depicts this aircraft with red codes and spinner. Notwithstanding my usual comment about there being lies, damn lies and aircraft artwork, I am inclined to take this a little more seriously than most because it was by Mike Keep who was punctilious about his research even though, being human, he made some mistakes. It may be that Mike had access to information that I don't have. It may also be that Mike didn't know and, unable like us modellers to sit on the fence, took a punt on the colour. You alone can judge which line you prefer. Personally my presumption is to give Mike the benefit of the doubt.

When the Revell boxing of Italeri's Hellcat came out, I bought it on sight because 1/72 East Indies Fleet transfers were not common. When I opened the box, I was bitterly disappointed and have never used any of the EIF markings provided. Firstly, regardless of the colour, the stroke width of the codes looks all wrong. Secondly, the size of the roundels on EIF Hellcats should have been: upper wing: 55" dia with 6" white centres, fuselage and underwing roundels: 16" with 6" centres). In the case of Sea Blue Gloss aircraft these marking were outlined with a 2" white border. The Revell upper wing roundels scale out at 45" with borders more like 4-5". The fuselage roundels scale out at 17" (close enough for me) but again the borders look too wide. I haven't any photographic evidence of the underwing roundels on this aircraft. Some aircraft did have underwing roundels of non-standard size but the Revell ones scale out at 25" which is an odd size - and again the borders look too wide. The roundel centres are also too big, scaling out at 7" (well, maybe acceptable) on the smaller roundels and 8.5" on the upper surface ones. So, excellent choice of subject, Revell, but too bad about the execution.

But you were asking about the Aeromaster transfers, by which I assume you mean those on Aeromaster 72-009. Aeromaster seem to have followed Mike Keep faithfully, with standard-sized EIF roundels on fuselage side and underwing, red codes (with correct size and stroke width, to my eye) and red prop hub. See comments above on whether to trust Mike Keep or not. But Mike did not depict the upper surfaces of this aircraft and Aeromaster made the assumption that the upperwing roundels were the same size as the others. Such things have been known but, in the absence of firm evidence, I personally would expect the upper wing roundels to be the stipulated size of 55" with 2" border. In 1/72 a properly-sized roundel complete with white border can be found on Xtradecal sheet X72142 (item 26).

HTH

Edited September 15, 2013 by Seahawk

[russ c]

Nice Hellcat there, great job

[Stryker]

REALLY WELL DONE!!!

[Joe Hegedus]

Thanks, Seahawk. I'm a bit more comfortable with the Aeromaster markings at this point, having read your comments. I can replace the upper wing insignia with a spare set from the Eduard kit, so that's not a problem.

I do like the way the red looks on the airplane, so barring hard evidence that it's wrong I think I'll go with it.

Joe