Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat without uniform
1August 17, 2023Just cockpit for start 🙂
2August 17, 2023Sanded and fanned out the flaps on the engine cover
3August 17, 2023Drilled the exhaust pipes
4August 17, 2023I still haven't decided whether to make the model with atomizers or in a more interesting livery...
5August 18, 2023Cockpit assembled...
6August 18, 2023... and glued into fuselage
7August 18, 2023Halves glued and sanded - we'll see after the undercoat what needs to be corrected
8August 18, 2023Holes drilled (they were visible even after removing the atomizers) and places for armament filled and sanded
9August 20, 2023Today a little about counting... Maybe not rivets, but... ?
The tanks from RF-80F turned out to be completely wrong ? They are definitely too short ? So before I start buying more sets I decided to do a little counting ? I used a photo where the tanks are visible in full, as transverse to the camera as possible. I rotated the image to catch the level. Then, using the perspective tools, I tried to make the bottom and top edges of the tank as parallel as possible. Based on the image of the rim, I stretched the image horizontally so that it was circular.
Now it's time for measurements! I determined several lengths:
- the length of the tank pylon (blue);
- the length of the tank (orange);
- the height of the tank (yellow);
- height of the pylon at the leading edge (green).
(see next photo)
10August 20, 2023I measured the dimension of the length of the tank pylon on the model (gray). Based on the ratio formula, I calculated the remaining dimensions in 1:72 scale. These, in turn, I converted (for verification ) to "real" dimensions. The results are contained in the table
As you can see, neither of the proposed tanks fits exactly - in particular, both are too large in cross-section. I took similar measurements for yet another photo and there the maximum diameter of the tank is about 750 mm so.... still quite a bit too small (the length came out similar - about 5 m).
I'm stuck... I guess it will come to me to use the tank from the T-33A , lengthen it a bit and maybe grind it a bit in thickness....
11August 21, 2023Custom masks designed and cut with a plotter
12August 21, 2023Primed (now you can see all places for next layers of putty 🙁 )
13August 21, 2023Current status 😄
14August 26, 2023Draft on fuselage
15August 26, 2023Draft transferred to temporary mask
16August 26, 2023After scanning and redrawing the temporary mask, the target mask was cut out with a plotter
17August 26, 2023Preshading
18August 26, 2023Yellow - 4 layers. Still have a strong feeling than it needs 2-3 more... 🙁
19August 27, 2023Fuselage with a black painting - some improvements are needed, but I'm satisfied enough to do not wash a paint from model.
20August 27, 2023Time for wings and rudders - shades
21August 27, 2023Yellow. My "favourite" colour 😄
22August 28, 2023There's nothing like touch-ups on a painted part! 😉 Unfortunately I decided that I couldn't paint the imitation coloured lamp shades because there were none 😉 I cut out the space for the lamps, glued in the imitation bulbs, poured in clear resin, sanded and painted the frame.
23September 1, 2023Modification of rear wheel suspension
24September 1, 2023Thinned underbody cover (left). On the right, original
25September 1, 2023Thinned underbody cover (right). On the left, original
26September 1, 2023Engine ready for assembly
27September 2, 2023I spent a whole day trying to master a new toy - the vacuum chamber. So far the results are worse than without it, but I hope it's a matter of time before I master it.
28September 2, 2023Current status of the project (BlueTac is helping me 😉 )
29September 3, 2023I used 2 resin copies of tank from T-33A and created on, longer (as I calculated based on photos)...
30September 3, 2023Before copying it I prepared a "pylon" and tested new tank with photo. DISASTER! Tank looks as to big!
31September 3, 2023Suddenly, I decided to do a test with a tank from a T-33A and....
32September 3, 2023... looks like I've hit the jackpot. It's just a pity that I've made myself unnecessary before 😄
33September 15, 2023A new tank (above) in comparison to an old one.
34September 15, 2023Pylon is a mix: core is from PCV and a rest from Miliput (still wailing for some sanding).
35September 15, 2023Under the wing - better 🙂 Maybe the tank is a bit too forward in relation to the pylon, but... probably will stay in that position
36September 16, 2023Some changes / improvements made - time for silicone...
37September 16, 2023... as always - we have a mystery here - succeed or not ? Let's wait 24h 🙂
38September 17, 2023Resin copy of a new tank - for me quite OK 🙂
39September 17, 2023In a mean time I painted a black field on top...
40September 17, 2023... and glued undercarriage.
41September 17, 2023Now I'm still working on tank (e.g. on pipes on the back of it).
42September 23, 2023Both external tanks are in place - Hellcat looks for me rather like a racer than a fire tanker 🙂
43September 23, 2023The pressure installation (?) also installed 🙂
44September 23, 2023Decals applied
45September 24, 2023Gallery 🙂
46September 24, 2023Gallery 🙂
47September 24, 2023Gallery 🙂
48September 24, 2023Gallery 🙂
49September 24, 2023Gallery 🙂
50September 24, 2023Gallery 🙂
51September 24, 2023Gallery 🙂
52September 24, 2023Gallery 🙂
53September 24, 2023Gallery 🙂
54September 24, 2023Gallery 🙂
55September 24, 2023Gallery 🙂
56September 24, 2023Hellcat with the younger but smaller brother - Wildcat
57September 24, 2023My collection of Grumman's Navy planes - all post-war working machines 🙂
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7 June 2026, 14:13 -
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