1/48 Hasegawa Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat

Gallery Article by James Kelley on Sept 13 2003

 

VF-17 Jolly Rogers, 1944
Hasegawa Kit #JT35

Having been a member of the VF-84 Jolly Rogers (HM2, 1986-1988), I have always had a strong interest in the history of the squadron. After returning to scale modeling last year after a 20+ year hiatus, this project has been on my list for some time (along with a million others!) Anyways, combining that desire with my interest in Pacific Theatre Allied fighters, this was a fun project. For a very succinct and accurate history of the Jolly Rogers, this link http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hangar/3103/History.html will provide you with a great website on the subject.

 

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This multimedia project combined several different aftermarket resin items. The modified Hasegawa kit includes a Black Box cockpit, Cutting Edge corrected cowling, an old DangerBoy wingfold set, and True Details wheels.  A small amount of filler was required along the wing roots, even with sanding and trimming of the fuselage near the wing union. Thin copper wiring was added to the engine cylinders as well. The section of flight deck is the 1/48 scale Just Plane Stuff WWII USN deck.

The aircraft was primered with Model Master non-buffing aluminum metallizer. This was sealed with clear glosscoat lacquer, then the 'Cat was shot with Dark Sea Blue MM acrylic. Another coat of the clear gloss went on to seal the kit decals, and flat finish sealant was omitted as by March 1944, the US Navy ordered fighter aircraft painted overall Glossy Sea Blue 623.   By October 1944 the rule applied to all carrier based fighter, torpedo, and bomber aircraft.

James Kelley

      

Photos and text © by James Kelley