Airfix 1/72 Grumman F6F-3/5 Hellcat

AIRFIX 1:72 GRUMMAN F6F-3/5 HELLCAT

Reviewer: Simon Skinner (rec.models.scale)
Kit Review submitted: 3 January 2003

Kit Details:

Airfix Grumman F6F-3/5 Hellcat; # 02023

Aircraft History:

The Hellcat was Grumman's and the US Navy's most successful carrier-based fighter of WW2 achieving over 6,000 air victories (from all operators) and was essentially a progressive development of the F4F Wildcat. The F6F Hellcat was also said to have derived from combat testing of a captured Zero, yet its history is much in the shadow of the Vough F4U Corsair, similar to that of the Hurricane in the shadow of the more glamorous Spitfire. The main production version initially was the F6F-3 Hellcat which was then replaced by the F6F-5 Hellcat which had minor improvements and the ability to carry underwing stores although both versions differed very little externally.

The Kit:

There are only a few dozen parts in the kit, mainly floating loosely and medium thickness clear parts. All the detail is raised, including excessive amount of rivets (yes the phantom riveter has been at this kit!) suggesting this classic plastic heralds from the "Golden Age of Airfix". There is some flash, ejector pin marks and a couple of sink holes on the light grey plastic, but still relatively plain sailing in cleaning up.

Instructions:

Typically Airfix with short history, symbols and model information, quite clear to follow construction steps and painting information provided from Humbrol range, numbers only. The decal placement and markings guide at the back are also easy to follow with the four view diagrams provided.

Construction:

In most areas this is typically a simple Airfix kit to put together, although filler is definitely needed in the joins for flush fits and parts to blend with each other, particularly in the wing roots and along the fuselage join.

The cockpit is very sparse with a seat on a locating pin and a crude example for a pilot figure the only relief provided. Not much can be seen through the thick canopy anyway, but I omitted the figure and added in seat belts from tape, an instrument panel from the spares box, cut to shape, and stretched sprue for some sidewall detail along with a control column.

Flash needs to be removed from the wing edges and once you get sanding anywhere on this kit you will be removing rivets and panel lines, so I suggest removing them all and rescribing. The wings are in halves but have a join at the root which allows them to be displayed in the folded position. I followed this on my kit and found the assembly quite a bit of work, getting everything to fit and sit correctly, as well as adding in hinges and hydraulic detail from stretched sprue. On testing the wing in normal position, the join line is quite visible and will need a lot of work to remove. The kit provides a generous amount of underwing stores which includes rockets, fuel tanks and bombs.

The cowling and canopy are both okay fits but need dry runs first to work out the small problems and trim accordingly. The undercarriage is thick and simplistic and need a bit of cleaning up and sprucing to look better than what the kit provides, but otherwise fit okay.

Colour Schemes/Decals:

The decal sheet provides for two schemes to choose from which are a standard F6F-3 USN 3-tone blue example from USS Yorktown and a FAA F6F-5 overall sea blue from 800 Sqn. The decals are thin, matt and easy to apply and generally the register of the colours is okay. There is some bleed through of the white backing of the deal at the edges of some of the decals. If one wants a perfectly decaled aircraft, then an aftermarket sheet is recommended.

Overall Recommendation:

I cannot recommend this kit when you have superior Italeri, Academy and Hasegawa Hellcats in this scale on the market for not much more in price. But for what it provides, the Airfix kit is reasonable, needs a fair bit of work to really get up to scratch, but is relatively easy to build. With all those rivets, this is an old Airfix kit, and you know basically what you are getting!

Related Reviews:-

Related INBOX Reviews:-

Italeri 1/72 F6F-3 & Revell 1/72 F6F-5 Grumman Hellcats

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