This
build is not on the comparison of the kits paint or decals. These kits were
built OOB and have their merits and drawbacks, each build into very nice
Hellcats. The paint used on both is from Tamiya, there AS- line of military
colors: AS-19 Intermediate Blue and AS-08
Navy Blue and Testors Gloss White.
Decals for #17 come from AeroMaster 48-600, #19 from an old Microscale set
#48-0096.
Both kits were built and taped off for spraying, the Tamiya paint is
synthetic spray and the Testors are an enamel
spray. Tamiya dried fast to a very smooth finish and the Testors I let stand
overnight with equally good results. Both sets of decals went on nicely although
the older Microscale took a little longer to loosen from the paper, The
AeroMaster set also provides more information about the individual aircraft.
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Arii
Kit Series #9: F6F-3 #17 is from
the USS Princeton in the fall of 1944, flown by Lt. Richard Stambrook VF-27. He
was the units third highest scorer in there deployment, claiming his last kill a
Nick 6 days prior to the sinking of the Princeton. A seasoned pilot he had
earlier served with VS-3 in Dauntlesses and VF-6 on Wildcats.
Hasegawa
kit# JT34: F6F-3 #17 is from the
USS Intrepid in February of 1944, flown by Lt(jg) Alexander Vraciu VF-6. Vraciu
had shot down 7 aircraft in this plane, 4 on 2/17/44 that included three
Zeke’s and a Rufe. The Hellcat sported the regulation squadron markings along
with personal emblems and VF-6’s “Felix the Cat”. The fuselage of this
very aircraft somehow survived the wholesale scrapping of Hellcats after the
war, and has been married to the tail and wings of an F6F-5K and restored to
airworthy condition. It can be seen at the Fighter Collection at Duxford
England.
Information
on aircraft and pilots from the decal sheets and Osprey Aircraft of The
Aces #10 by Barret Tillmen.
Mark
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