Eduard Hellcat Weekend Edition 1/48

[No.1]

Perfect match to the Blue Grey color

[Second Air Force]

This color is something of a mystery to me, actually. Many years ago I built an early war SBD in this scheme with Acrylic paints (my first attempt with that material, and it worked well) but my paints no longer are useable. So....... I was forced to find an alternative. I did considerable research and consulted the IPMS Stockholm tables. Testors does have a pretty good match but I darkened it just a tiny bit. However, now I wonder if I should have done the darkening as I'm afraid it will get even darker when gloss varnish is applied. Also, notice that in my photo of the brand-new #1 on the Essex that the paint was originally just a bit semi-gloss. Well, we will just have to see as it is assembled.

[No.1]

I will upload late image of this color from Wildcat which was dumped for six month and then pilot took panel and bring it to home. Even after long exposure it still kept its dark shade....

[Sall]

Great job mate!

[No.1]

I have updated Wildcat topic and there is very good color sample of Blue Grey

[Second Air Force]

After going through several different kits and decal sheets I finally found the national insignia needed for this very early F6F:

Eduard Hellcat Weekend Edition 1/48

[Second Air Force]

The next step on this was to apply the many stencils. Eduard supplies a complete sheet of these decals but my instruction sheed had no proper key as to their location. This was not a problem--I simply downloaded the decal placement instructions from a ProfiPack kit. That led to my second problem, the white stencils were unreadable until the backing paper was made wet. All went well after identifying the stencils and they applied quite nicely. After all stencils were applied it was time for the numeral and national insignia, then a final coat of flat clear.

Eduard Hellcat Weekend Edition 1/48

I really, really like being able to assemble, paint and decal the components in this way before final assembly!

[No.1]

Hellcat have no much stencils so this will be easy job

[Second Air Force]

Yep, just a few--nothing like a MiG-21!!!!!!!  I think the MiG I built has more stencils on just the weapons pylons than this whole machine.

[Sall]

I like how it looks!

[Second Air Force]

Another relaxing Hellcat build is done--I can't recommend this kit too highly, it really is beautiful to construct.

The aircraft depicted is a very early production F6F-3 of VF-1. The machine was being used for carrier qualifications and training in May of 1943 on board the U.S.S. Yorktown (CV-10) during her shakedown cruise.

Eduard Hellcat Weekend Edition 1/48

Eduard Hellcat Weekend Edition 1/48

Eduard Hellcat Weekend Edition 1/48

Eduard Hellcat Weekend Edition 1/48

Eduard Hellcat Weekend Edition 1/48

[No.1]

I like it mate

[Sall]

Me too!