Hasegawa 1/72 Grumman F6F-5K Wildcat "Target Tow"

HASEGAWA 1:72 GRUMMAN
F6F-5K HELLCAT "TARGET TOW"

Reviewer: Carlos Giani (carlos_giani2002@yahoo.de)
Kit Review submitted: 10 February 2006

Kit Details:

Aircraft History:

While the F6F-3 was in production, Grumman worked on the improved version F6F-5, which included better aerodynamic, redesigned engine cowling, new ailerons and reinforced tail wings. The engine was the reliable P&W R-2800-10W Double Wasp, now having water injection, which supplied some 10% more power for short periods. After having its maiden flight on the 4th April 1944, it went into massive production and soon began to appear in the squadrons of the US Navy. Some 930 units were delivered to England, were it was known as „Hellcat II“. After WW“, some were converted to drone control planes, receiving the denomination F6F-5K.

The Kit:

In a classical Hasegawa top-opening box you get three sprues containing 34 mid-grey crisp molded parts in one bag, one sprue with transparencies and decal sheet bagged together. Breakdown of parts offers no surprise, panel lines being raised and extensive, with the wing-folding and control surfaces lines recessed. The mold is evidently not the newest but still in good condition, presenting very little flash. The absence of guns, a modified canopy, different aerials and covered rear cockpit windows make the difference to the F6F-5. This is a typical „new-old“ offering from Hasegawa, representing a rather unusual Hellcat.

Instructions:

Four-pages fold-out printed on both sides, with sprues diagram, history and technical data in Japanese and English, all-round recommendations and seven uncomplicated construction steps (curiously numbered 1-6 and 8, step 7 missing). Detail and overall coloring is given, as usual, for Mr. Color and Gunze, without FS equivalents.

Construction:

I won't go into too much detail here, since it is basically the same kit that Mark (SMAKR Webmaster) reviewed as F6F-3/5. I used the supplied cockpit without „scratchbuilding“ any detail, painting the interior with the rest of Humbrol 158 I still own. I just added seat belts made from Tamiya tape. After dry fitting the two fuselage halves with the cockpit inside I noticed a little gap in the rear window's area, which disappeared after sanding down a bit of the upper bulkhead. Holding the halves together was no problem, just needing a clamp in the rudder section.

Glueing the main wing was straight forward and, curiously, I had no problems with the wing-to-fuselage fit, the gaps being very narrow. The wheel wells are disappointing, even for a wheels-down model (which is what I always choose), since they are too shallow (as Mark stated). Next I glued the tail wings, which fitted well. Very few putty was needed all around, which means that the mold may has been revised before launching this product. Of course I knocked the little antenna in the tailfin off, despite the warning from Mark.

The instructions tell us to paint the wheel wells, both sides of the well doors and even the landing gear struts the same color as the wings which, according to a couple of photos I've seen, seems to be correct. This means that, against my usual way of working, I glued all this parts together before airbrushing the model. Fit of landing gear, wells doors and auxiliary tank was excellent. The only point that disappointed me was the canopy's rear frame, since its upper bow is aprox. 1 mm higher than the fuselage's backbone, undoubtedly too much.

With everything smoothed down and cleaned up, I applied a coat of flat black on the upper wing roots (walkways) and the front fuselage section (anti-glare panel). Having masked this and the canopy, I applied the recommended mixture of Gunze N°3 and N°33 (see below). After this was dry, I noticed that the areas where some flat black was underlaying had a darker shade, so that a a second coat of color was needed. After this was done, everything looked great. Since the mixed color is gloss, I decided to apply the decals directly onto it, and this worked out well. The last step was to scratchbuild two extra antennas, as it is noted in the instructions, with the help of a full-scale diagram present in the later.

Versions:

VU-1, Oahu, Hawaii September 1959, colors being „engine grey“ body, yellow wings and rudder, and reddish wing stripes; Chincoteague Naval Air Station, Virginia 1949, painted overall a reddish color, this given as a mixture of 70% gloss red (Gunze H3) and 30% gloss russet (Gunze H33).

Decals:

Conventional Hasegawa, a bit thick but of good register, presenting some microscopic stencilling which required a lot of care. No underlaying color was shinning through the white lettering, positioning was straight on, and the carrier film almost invisible.

Overall:

I'm very pleased with this kit, the model looking great and very „eye-catching“. It was easy to build and makes a real alternative to the usual Hellcats. Highly recommended.

References:

Just a couple of photos found in the Internet.

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