U.S. NAVY Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat - Eduard 1/72

U.S. NAVY Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat

f6f hellcat, VF-27, aircraft scale model

F6F 3 Hellcat: First impressions  
            I have red quite positive reviews for Eduard's 1:72 scale F6F family, so I decided to build one of them. I chose the  F6F -3 weekend edition, kit number 7414. It represents the aircraft flown by  LT R. E. Stambook with  VF-27 Hellcats on board of the USS Princeton. While the kit does not have the photoetched goodies of the PROFIpack line it offers very good price regardless of kit quality. 
Opening the box skyrockets the value for money factor simply because inside you will find one of the best 1:72 scale kits ever made. You can (as I did) build it to 80% with some tape, and will have good joints and fit... once again no glue... just tape it here and there.
Highly recommended kit!

Construction
            The construction was quite straight forward. No issues whatsoever. I added some detail from left over PE in the cockpit, like some levers and masking tape seat belts. Also reworked the gun-sight slightly, adding clear acetate film instead of the molded clear plastic part. Furthermore I added center-line seam and some straps to the external fuel tank, brake lines to the landing gear and antennae. I also hollowed the molded in exhaust ends. I have done the recognition and formation lights (I am not sure that is what they are called) with clear plastic from the sprue.

Painting
             I started with decontamination as usual, followed by Tamiya Fine surface primer. The paints that I used here are from Mr.Color. I used number 1 (White), 14 (Navy Blue) and 72 (Intermediate blue). For preshading, painting and fading I used different mixes of those colors. All was well diluted with Mr. Leveling Thinner.


Decals


          Decals handled very good, they are thin but are not very brittle. I use AGAMA decal solutions and they reacted well. My only concern is that the blue of the insignia is quite off the dark blue color of the camo, 

Effects

     I used artists oils to do the wast. Also I applied dot filtering and some staining also using oils. 
     I wanted to obtain something I have seen in pictures - the effect of lean mixture deposits layer and on top of them rich mixture deposits layer. I applied light tan color with vertical strokes of the airbrush, fading towards the rear. Then I applied several layers of highly diluted black color for better control. At the end I added streaks from the exhaust in the direction of the airflow with oils.
     I also sanded the decals to obtain more used and beaten looks to them.

Pictures:


F6F-3, Hellcat, VF-2, scale model

F6F, Hellcat, VF-27, scale model

F6F-3 Hellcat, VF-27, scale model

F6F, Hellcat VF-27, airplane scale model

F6F-3 Hellcat, VF-27, airplane scale model

F6F-3, Hellcat, VF-27, aircraft scale model

F6F, Hellcat, VF-27, airplane scale model

F6F-3 Hellcat, VF-27, plane scale model

F6F-3, Hellcat, VF27, scale model

Grumman F6F,USS Princeton, VF27, scale model

Grumman F6F,USS Princeton, VF27, scale model

Grumman F6F,USS Princeton, VF27, scale model

Grumman F6F,USS Princeton, VF27, scale model


         10th open exhibition/competition for scale models was held in Sofia this Autumn. I was one of the exhibitor/competitors with some of my models including this one, so... I've got first place in category "Propeller driven - 1:72"

F6F-3 Hellcat - Eduard :72


I hope have enjoyed my little write up dedicated to scale model of the Grumman F6F-3 of VF27 served at USS Princeton.
Happy modeling!
Metodi

Nissan/Datsun 240 ZG 1:24 Fujimi - inbox review

Hello friends! I am happy to start one of the non working sections of my blog.
Here I present to you Fujimi's Nissan Fairlady 240 ZG. #04308

The full build article of the Fairlady 240ZG is available here


I am an automotive enthusiast but this is my first car kit. I am not familiar with other kits (besides what I have seen on the net) but IMHO this is one of the high quality kits out there!

There are two types of rims and tires, left and right hand drive options. The engine is quite nice with good detail, but the bonnet is not open. So if you want to show all that engine, a surgery will be needed.

Clear parts could have been better, at least in my copy there are some issues.
Now the pictures will do the the talking.


































Best regards and happy modeling
Metodi Metodiev

IJN Mitsubishi F1M2 "Pete" Hasegawa 1:48



IJN Mitsubishi F1M 2 Pete 

IJN Mitsubishy F1M2 Pete - Hasegawa 1:48 scale model

Hasegawa 1/48 


History
  The Mitsubishi F1M 2 "Pete" was a Japanese reconnaissance float plane of World War II. It was the last biplane type of the Imperial Japanese Navy, with 1,118 built between 1936 and 1944. The Navy designation was "Type Zero Observation Seaplane"
  The F1M 2 was powered with one 875 hp (652 kW) Mitsubishi Zuisei 13 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engine driving a three-blade metal propeller. Its operational range was about 460 miles / 740 km. It provided the IJN with a very versatile operations platform.
  The F1M was armed with a maximum of three 7.7 mm (.303 in) machine guns (two fixed forward-firing and one flexible rear-firing) with provision for two 60 kg (132 lb) bombs.
  Originally built as a catapult-launched reconnaissance float plane, specializing in gunnery spotting. The "Pete" took on a number of local roles including area-defense fighter, convoy escort, bomber, anti-submarine, maritime patrol, rescue and transport. The type fought dogfights in the Aleutians, the Solomons and several other theaters. In the New Guinea front, often used in aerial combat with the Allied bombers and Allied fighters.
source: wikipedia 

The kit
  Hasegawa 1/48 "Pete" [19196] scale model is an excellent example of superb engineering and great tooling.  Out of the box you get fine details and fine engraved panel lines. The fit is flawless and everything comes together as it should.Cockpit detail also is excellent.

Building it
   In addition I used Eduard plentiful PE set 49445. The instructions are not very clear and need attention. Decals performed excellent, they are with solid color so no see trough them. I used Agama Setting and Softening solutions wich worked well.   The colors I used were Mr.Color 126, 124, GX100; Aqueous Hobby Color 8, 63 and various Lifecolor acrylics.I can recommend this kit to everyone interested in IJN aviation.


 F1M2 Pete cockpit, scale model

IJN Mitsubishy F1M2 Pete - Hasegawa 1:48 scale model

IJN Mitsubishy F1M2 Pete - Hasegawa 1:48 scale model

IJN Mitsubishy F1M2 Pete - Hasegawa 1:48 scale model

IJN Mitsubishy F1M2 Pete - Hasegawa 1:48 scale model

IJN Mitsubishy F1M2 Pete - Hasegawa 1:48 scale model

IJN Mitsubishy F1M2 Pete - Hasegawa 1:48 scale model

IJN Mitsubishy F1M2 Pete - Hasegawa 1:48 scale model

IJN Mitsubishy F1M2 Pete - Hasegawa 1:48 scale model

IJN Mitsubishy F1M2 Pete - Hasegawa 1:48 scale model

IJN Mitsubishy F1M2 Pete - Hasegawa 1:48 scale model

IJN Mitsubishy F1M2 Pete - Hasegawa 1:48 scale model

IJN Mitsubishy F1M2 Pete - Hasegawa 1:48 scale model

IJN Mitsubishy F1M2 Pete - Hasegawa 1:48 scale model

IJN Mitsubishy F1M2 Pete - Hasegawa 1:48 scale model

IJN Mitsubishy F1M2 Pete - Hasegawa 1:48 scale model

IJN Mitsubishy F1M2 Pete - Hasegawa 1:48 scale model

IJN Mitsubishy F1M2 Pete - Hasegawa 1:48 scale model

IJN Mitsubishy F1M2 Pete - Hasegawa 1:48 scale model

IJN Mitsubishy F1M2 Pete - Hasegawa 1:48 scale model

IJN Mitsubishy F1M2 Pete - Hasegawa 1:48 scale model

IJN Mitsubishy F1M2 Pete - Hasegawa 1:48 scale model

IJN Mitsubishy F1M2 Pete - Hasegawa 1:48 scale model

IJN Mitsubishy F1M2 Pete - Hasegawa 1:48 scale model

IJN Mitsubishy F1M2 Pete - Hasegawa 1:48 scale model

IJN Mitsubishy F1M2 Pete - Hasegawa 1:48 scale model

IJN Mitsubishy F1M2 Pete - Hasegawa 1:48 scale model

IJN Mitsubishy F1M2 Pete - Hasegawa 1:48 scale model

IJN Mitsubishy F1M2 Pete - Hasegawa 1:48 scale model

IJN Mitsubishy F1M2 Pete - Hasegawa 1:48 scale model














All comments are welcome.
Best regards and happy modeling.
Metodi Metodiev