Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat without uniform
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/2/2/6/1531226-37811-70-720.jpg)
Just cockpit for start 🙂
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/2/2/7/1531227-37811-26-720.jpg)
Sanded and fanned out the flaps on the engine cover
![Album image #3 Album image #3](/albums/img/2/2/8/1531228-37811-56-720.jpg)
Drilled the exhaust pipes
![Album image #4 Album image #4](/albums/img/2/2/9/1531229-37811-47-720.jpg)
I still haven't decided whether to make the model with atomizers or in a more interesting livery...
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/3/6/1/1531361-37811-70-720.jpg)
Cockpit assembled...
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/3/6/0/1531360-37811-57-720.jpg)
... and glued into fuselage
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/5/3/6/1531536-37811-91-720.jpg)
Halves glued and sanded - we'll see after the undercoat what needs to be corrected
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/5/3/7/1531537-37811-11-720.jpg)
Holes drilled (they were visible even after removing the atomizers) and places for armament filled and sanded
![Album image #9 Album image #9](/albums/img/7/2/8/1532728-37811-92-720.jpg)
Today 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)
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)
![Album image #10 Album image #10](/albums/img/7/2/7/1532727-37811-30-720.jpg)
I 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....
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....
![Album image #11 Album image #11](/albums/img/4/7/9/1533479-37811-29-720.jpg)
Custom masks designed and cut with a plotter
![Album image #12 Album image #12](/albums/img/4/7/7/1533477-37811-90-720.jpg)
Primed (now you can see all places for next layers of putty 🙁 )
![Album image #13 Album image #13](/albums/img/4/7/8/1533478-37811-81-720.jpg)
Current status 😄
![Album image #14 Album image #14](/albums/img/9/0/3/1535903-37811-53-720.jpg)
Draft on fuselage
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/9/0/2/1535902-37811-94-720.jpg)
Draft transferred to temporary mask
![Album image #16 Album image #16](/albums/img/9/0/1/1535901-37811-67-720.jpg)
After scanning and redrawing the temporary mask, the target mask was cut out with a plotter
![Album image #17 Album image #17](/albums/img/0/4/4/1536044-37811-57-720.jpg)
Preshading
![Album image #18 Album image #18](/albums/img/0/4/5/1536045-37811-80-720.jpg)
Yellow - 4 layers. Still have a strong feeling than it needs 2-3 more... 🙁
![Album image #19 Album image #19](/albums/img/5/4/8/1536548-37811-99-720.jpg)
Fuselage with a black painting - some improvements are needed, but I'm satisfied enough to do not wash a paint from model.
![Album image #20 Album image #20](/albums/img/5/4/9/1536549-37811-54-720.jpg)
Time for wings and rudders - shades
![Album image #21 Album image #21](/albums/img/5/5/0/1536550-37811-89-720.jpg)
Yellow. My "favourite" colour 😄
![Album image #22 Album image #22](/albums/img/0/6/2/1537062-37811-49-720.jpg)
There'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.
![Album image #23 Album image #23](/albums/img/3/3/6/1542336-37811-99-720.jpg)
Modification of rear wheel suspension
![Album image #24 Album image #24](/albums/img/3/3/4/1542334-37811-59-720.jpg)
Thinned underbody cover (left). On the right, original
![Album image #25 Album image #25](/albums/img/3/3/5/1542335-37811-86-720.jpg)
Thinned underbody cover (right). On the left, original
![Album image #26 Album image #26](/albums/img/3/3/9/1542339-37811-50-720.jpg)
Engine ready for assembly
![Album image #27 Album image #27](/albums/img/9/2/8/1542928-37811-25-720.jpg)
I 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.
![Album image #28 Album image #28](/albums/img/9/2/9/1542929-37811-25-720.jpg)
Current status of the project (BlueTac is helping me 😉 )
![Album image #29 Album image #29](/albums/img/9/6/8/1543968-37811-34-720.jpg)
I used 2 resin copies of tank from T-33A and created on, longer (as I calculated based on photos)...
![Album image #30 Album image #30](/albums/img/9/6/9/1543969-37811-16-720.jpg)
Before copying it I prepared a "pylon" and tested new tank with photo. DISASTER! Tank looks as to big!
![Album image #31 Album image #31](/albums/img/9/7/0/1543970-37811-98-720.jpg)
Suddenly, I decided to do a test with a tank from a T-33A and....
![Album image #32 Album image #32](/albums/img/9/7/1/1543971-37811-19-720.jpg)
... looks like I've hit the jackpot. It's just a pity that I've made myself unnecessary before 😄
![Album image #33 Album image #33](/albums/img/6/5/1/1551651-37811-22-720.jpg)
A new tank (above) in comparison to an old one.
![Album image #34 Album image #34](/albums/img/6/5/2/1551652-37811-16-720.jpg)
Pylon is a mix: core is from PCV and a rest from Miliput (still wailing for some sanding).
![Album image #35 Album image #35](/albums/img/6/5/3/1551653-37811-56-720.jpg)
Under the wing - better 🙂 Maybe the tank is a bit too forward in relation to the pylon, but... probably will stay in that position
![Album image #36 Album image #36](/albums/img/9/1/2/1551912-37811-16-720.jpg)
Some changes / improvements made - time for silicone...
![Album image #37 Album image #37](/albums/img/9/1/3/1551913-37811-60-720.jpg)
... as always - we have a mystery here - succeed or not ? Let's wait 24h 🙂
![Album image #38 Album image #38](/albums/img/1/5/2/1553152-37811-57-720.jpg)
Resin copy of a new tank - for me quite OK 🙂
![Album image #39 Album image #39](/albums/img/1/5/3/1553153-37811-59-720.jpg)
In a mean time I painted a black field on top...
![Album image #40 Album image #40](/albums/img/1/5/4/1553154-37811-54-720.jpg)
... and glued undercarriage.
![Album image #41 Album image #41](/albums/img/1/5/5/1553155-37811-99-720.jpg)
Now I'm still working on tank (e.g. on pipes on the back of it).
![Album image #42 Album image #42](/albums/img/6/3/6/1556636-37811-33-720.jpg)
Both external tanks are in place - Hellcat looks for me rather like a racer than a fire tanker 🙂
![Album image #43 Album image #43](/albums/img/6/3/7/1556637-37811-17-720.jpg)
The pressure installation (?) also installed 🙂
![Album image #44 Album image #44](/albums/img/9/9/8/1556998-37811-62-720.jpg)
Decals applied
![Album image #45 Album image #45](/albums/img/6/5/2/1557652-37811-66-720.jpg)
Gallery 🙂
![Album image #46 Album image #46](/albums/img/6/5/4/1557654-37811-10-720.jpg)
Gallery 🙂
![Album image #47 Album image #47](/albums/img/6/5/3/1557653-37811-44-720.jpg)
Gallery 🙂
![Album image #48 Album image #48](/albums/img/6/5/5/1557655-37811-95-720.jpg)
Gallery 🙂
![Album image #49 Album image #49](/albums/img/6/5/6/1557656-37811-18-720.jpg)
Gallery 🙂
![Album image #50 Album image #50](/albums/img/6/5/7/1557657-37811-56-720.jpg)
Gallery 🙂
![Album image #51 Album image #51](/albums/img/6/5/8/1557658-37811-44-720.jpg)
Gallery 🙂
![Album image #52 Album image #52](/albums/img/6/5/9/1557659-37811-18-720.jpg)
Gallery 🙂
![Album image #53 Album image #53](/albums/img/6/6/0/1557660-37811-67-720.jpg)
Gallery 🙂
![Album image #54 Album image #54](/albums/img/6/6/1/1557661-37811-72-720.jpg)
Gallery 🙂
![Album image #55 Album image #55](/albums/img/6/6/2/1557662-37811-72-720.jpg)
Gallery 🙂
![Album image #56 Album image #56](/albums/img/6/6/3/1557663-37811-61-720.jpg)
Hellcat with the younger but smaller brother - Wildcat
![Album image #57 Album image #57](/albums/img/6/6/4/1557664-37811-54-720.jpg)
My collection of Grumman's Navy planes - all post-war working machines 🙂
Commentaires
50 17 August 2023, 21:16
![](/profiles/img/16661-726-s.jpg)
Very cool project in a beautiful livery, I did a cropspayer Wildcat some time ago Wildcat Groupbuild GM FM-2 Crop sprayer N1352N „Spraycat" | Album by Aquilifer (1:48).
This one has an almost identical spaying setup, so I think it might have been a cropsprayer too, rather than a firebomber ?
Never knew that Hellcats were employed in that role too.
Checkin' in, curious on your result! 👍
18 August 2023, 14:06
![](/profiles/img/37811-932-s.jpg)
Hanno - my Wildcat is here: Grumman F4F Wildcat without uniform | Album by Kon_Bar (1:72)
The Hellcats were both sprayers and firebombers (see valves on bottoms of tanks)
Robert - me too 🙂
18 August 2023, 18:00
![](/profiles/img/104687-298-s.jpg)
oh, very interesting. civilized warbirds always excite me. I'm curious how this will continue.👍
20 August 2023, 14:28
![](/profiles/img/17651-259-s.jpg)
Have you thought about 3D printing? That's how I would approach it.
20 August 2023, 16:54
![](/profiles/img/user-s.jpg)
You have all the reason to be satisfied. The paint job turned out great. I particularly like the orange and white preshading. Great effect.
27 August 2023, 18:05