ACADEMY 1/72 F6F-3/5 Hellcat - A Building Review (Hellcat Drone conversion)

[dickaldor]

Ah great clip! I´m have been building this exact model for three years now (!??!) After my daughter came along I dont have the time anymore, but I started again a couple of weeks ago and when I got to this model: the instructions are gone.. great. Bought a house in between so I guess it got lost then. Any chance anyone/you know how to get the instructions for this kit??

Thanks for the video and thanks for sharing!

Dave

[CPhil2405]

Hi basicmodelling!!! Love your models but I'm just asking how did you do those oil stains? I subbed you and if you don't mind sub me plz?

[CPhil2405]

@CPhil2405 nvm found the answer ub m plz!

[cooltrd]

you have the exact same model i have :D

[BasicModelling]

@cooltrd I think you can buy it as a kit these days, but mine was made using decals from my spares folder.. :) It makes the Hellcat look quite different.. :)

[rebelsatcloudnine]

Is the Revell version of this any good? This is next on my list

[BasicModelling]

@rebelsatcloudnine Yes, I'd say it's no worse than any other.. I have built it myself a few years ago and it looks like a Hellcat! Some say it is the same kit as the Italeri Hellcat, but with extra bombs and rockets instead of a drop tank.. not sure, myself! Either way you can't really go wrong with buying one.. the accurasy is ok for a kit in 1/72.. :)

[austin132010]

how did you add the oil-stain?????

[BasicModelling]

@austin132010 I think I dry-brushed some Revell No.9, plus added some Tamiya 'oil' weathering powder, from one of their 'make-up' sets.. :)

[austin132010]

@BasicModelling Thanks!

[MEU98]

Can u please tell me what are the colors for the standard version?

[BasicModelling]

@MEU98 I'm not sure about the names of the exact shades.. but I think that if you search on the internet you should come across some useful info... sorry about that and the very late reply.. Rob

[MEU98]

@BasicModelling Never mind.Thank you for your help.

[2002And]

Awesome build :) Has the engine lost a valve or something??! :) If so it needs an oil change :) Great job anyway :)

[BasicModelling]

@2002And I don't think they cleaned these things more than neccesary.. after all, they were probably all radioactive when they came down after having flown through the clouds of the atomic bombs.. I sure wouldn't volunteer to clean it up.. :)

[2002And]

@BasicModelling Same.. :) :)

[Bigsp4]

wait the paint is so shiny at 2:35 why is that is it because your using enamel paints.

let me guess enamel paints look shinier then acrylics because i use citadel colours plese reply.

[BasicModelling]

@Bigsp4 I painted this model with Xtracolor enamels, and they are always shiny as they are ready for the decalling without having to gloss varnish first... If you use Humbrol or Revell enamels you can get them in a matt finish too.. :)

[Bigsp4]

@BasicModelling so will the humbrol enamels dry shiny or not ?

[BasicModelling]

@Bigsp4 That depends.. Their matt paints will dry matt, the semimatt will dry semimatt, and the gloss ones will dry gloss! It says on the tin which are what.. I often mix matt and gloss on the same plane anyway, going by the colour shade I want rather than the finish.. it all blends in after a coat of varnish.. :)

[minimodelling]

Looking good! Academy kits usually seem to be good... By the way, what do you use for weathering? I got a tamiya weathering master set today... Also, Do you know if the humbrol filler is any good?

[BasicModelling]

@minimodelling When I weathered this I used a bit of a wash (home made) and them I used the 'oil' from the Tamiya weathering master set.. :0) They are very good, I think! I don't often weather my planes though, but mainly keep tht sort of thing for my armour models.. :0)

[BasicModelling]

@JollyRogers5150 Yes, I know of the Lindberg range of kits, but I don't know how good their Hellcat is.. but the pictures of it that I have seen on the net looks ok! :) I think the kit is quite old now, but that doesn't mean its a bad kit.. :)

[wilforange]

Ok thanks and congratulations on the model

[wilforange]

What do you mean by washing the plane?

[BasicModelling]

@wilforange I added a 'wash' to show up the panel lines.. :)

[wilforange]

How do you get the exhaust marks as I may build that kit and I have a diorama base ready so it needs to look as realistic as possible

[BasicModelling]

@wilforange In this case I used the Tamiya weathering powders, plus a bit if a wash.. It looks quite heavy, and some say it is overdone, but the photos I have seen shows the real drones to have been VERY dirty.. :)

[spanish111japan]

I'm building this RIGHT NOW :D LOVE THIS MODEL!

[BasicModelling]

@spanish111japan It's a nice kit.. :)

[MilitaryAircraft101]

aus, models are soo expensive (not really) but comparing to UK they are... Prices: Airfix $20 (12.1378 GBP) Academy $13 (7.88952 GBP) Depending what store you are at. this is my local store they also stock italeri but its nearly the same as academy prices. Other stores ive been to are like this Air $12.50 (7.58841 GBP) Aca $30 (18.2122 GBP) Hase$40-50 (24.2831-30.3539 GBP) Tam $20-40 (12.1378-24.2831 GBP) I use Aiir and Aca, but on hannants, if i mass order ($500) worth, its cheaper.

[MilitaryAircraft101]

@MilitaryAircraft101 but i dont have $500...

[BasicModelling]

@MilitaryAircraft101 That's what I would do, then.. if you have the money!! :) I find that model prizes vary a lot from time to time and country to country.. I was hugely surprised to discover that some models where even cheaper in Sweden than here in the UK, last time I was home.. but that was 3 years ago..

[MilitaryAircraft101]

where do you get the Tamiya 5mm tape, my local store, i cant find any... they said they're out.

[BasicModelling]

@MilitaryAircraft101 I think the smallest size Tamiya tape is 6 mm.. Not that it makes much difference!! I tend to only use the 10 mm tape, and I get mine from Hannants here in the UK, but I ask my localk shop to get it for me, as he gives me a rebate.. :) You can probably order it online from there, as they post worldwide.. Just google 'Hannants Lowestoft'.. :)

[BasicModelling]

@MilitaryAircraft101 Further to my earlier reply, Hannants has lots in stock.. £4.25 each, which should be about $7.00 AUD.. :) (plus postage)

[888HamilkarBarkas888]

nice model :) i never heard of those drone hellcats so it was very interesting and i have learned something new

[BasicModelling]

@888HamilkarBarkas888 Glad to hear it.... I went to a model show back in May and they were actually selling after market decal sets for these drones now, so you don't have to search through your spares box, like I did.. :) But at least I saved the money.. and had even more fun.. :)

[Ezza190]

i built the Airfix Hellcat ages ago, but really im thinking of building a red hellcat :/ 

[BasicModelling]

@Ezza190 You can buy 'after market decals' for the Hellcat Drones now.. I had to use spare decals for mine, but I may do another one later.. in 1/48 scale.. Quite like the look of them. :)

[Ezza190]

@BasicModelling thanks for telling me, ill have to look into ''after market'' stuff :)

[BasicModelling]

@Ezza190 Well, especially decals are worth looking for.. it will allow you to build so many more planes than just using the decals from the box.. :)

[JedenastyPZLP11]

Red Hellcat's? Is a interesting :) Not only Red Baron has a red aircraft :D

[BasicModelling]

@JedenastyPZLP11 It was high visibility... Probably so they could find it if it crashed somewhere! They were all drones and flew without pilots.. :)

[armor452]

Nice model, only comment I can make is the red bleeds through the US insignia, this happens whith decals and using such vibrant colors to place them on I reccomend next time painting white where the decals will be placed makes a huge difference when using decals with so much white

[BasicModelling]

@armor452 Yes, they turned a bit pink.. I'm thinking of adding another decal over the old one, as long as I have a size to fit.. :)

[BMURB]

Hi, could you possibly tell me how you made and applied the wash and oil stain please? I'd like to start adding these details to my own models, and yours look rather good.

Cheers

Ben

[BasicModelling]

The wash is home made, just some acrylic paint (a German 'braunviolett') and water, with a drop of washing up liquid.. nothing too fancy.. and the dark stain is just Revell No.9 graphite grey dry brushed on.. probably a bit overdone, but those things did get quite grubby and dirty after a while, they weren't given the care of the WWII fighters in the same way.. :)

[fehquig]

I like the "wash." It adds that bit of realism :)

[BasicModelling]

That's the idea.. even if it doesn't show as much as I'd like.. it's my own homebrewed concoction, works best on tanks.. :)

[KENOEFF]

love your footage !

interesting & to the point.

greetings !

[BasicModelling]

Thank you.. That's what I aim for.. :)

[KENOEFF]

well, mission accomplished then...

[Catattafish]

Great model again! I plan on going and buying Wings of War board game today with the figures. It will be interesting to see the quality of paint jobs they do on their figures, but with all the warhammer painting I have been doing, it will be nice to have someone ELSE paint something for once :)

Great vid,

Cat/

[BasicModelling]

Yes, I guess.. Trouble is, when it's 'mass produced, even though it's hand painted' it still doesn't tend to be as good as doing it yourself.. :) You'll have to post a video and show us what it's all about.. I'm clueless.. :)

[willsworthy]

Great job my brotha!!!!! A+ I wish I could see what happened to threse drowns.Man! I wonder what happened to them!? LOL They were prolly melted in mid-air! Good job again,and thanks for the info.i had nop idea. Outstanding! I love builds where there are or were only a few planes like the build.Very cool.!!!!

[BasicModelling]

Thank you.. and yes, that's what appealed to me.. it's a 'rare' scheme.. :)

[grummeper]

History Channel - They have done some fine websites here:

w w w . history . com / dogfights / anatomy /

[BasicModelling]

I will check it out.. :)

[grummeper]

Dogfights on History Channel is very USA-pro. I will try upload some of it later... and it is HD super..

[BasicModelling]

Well, during WWII they all worked together on the same side.. and when it comes to modelling I am neutral.. I'm building a P-47 Thunderbolt right now, that used to fly from the old US WWII airfield around the corner! Being such a famous airfield, there's no end of kits and aftermarket decals to chose from.. :) :)

[grummeper]

Agree!

[wildstar1]

One of my favorite planes!

[BasicModelling]

Probably my favourite of the Pacifics.. :) For some reason my interest in the Thunderbolts stops with the 'M; version.. probably because the later 'N' version wasn't used in Europe, even though a handful arrived in Britain at the end of the war, to be used at Boxted.. but they never made it that far, because the war came to an end and they got shipped back to the US! :)

[AlanMartinNala]

Magnificent tribute to those many Hellcats that had an unfair end of military service; even more if we remember how much did the Hellcat do for the US during the war... Sad complement on behalf of the army for such a BEAUTIFUL AND EFFECTIVE plane...

A book I´ve got on the Hellcat shows that some of these drone Hellcats were painted fully in glossy yellow. Anybody who doesn´t know about this topic would say that this plane belonged to some aerobatic team XD Nice smoke marks on the fuselage! ;)

[BasicModelling]

At least they got to see some more action before being scrapped.. I'd love to see a Hellcat restored and painted up in these colours. though...

Even if it flies with a pilot in it, of'course!! :)

[MrRandomWritings]

Reminds me of rhubarb and custard for some reason!

[BasicModelling]

Ha ha ha ha.. my favourite boiled sweets.. :)

[CapLAGOS]

a red navy fighter :-)))) looks strange.... but i like it...nood work on the plane Rob..!

[BasicModelling]

Yes, it is a bit odd.. but I guess they had to be bright so they could be tracked easily, as they were flown by remote control.. :)

[terminator363]

Boy thats neat! 5/5

[BasicModelling]

Thank you.. I had a good moment, when modelling came easy.. :) :)

[terminator363]

Hey, sorry I don't comment a lot on your vids but I sure do watch them!

[BasicModelling]

That's ok, you're not alone in doing that.. :) :) Ha ha ..

[Mecha999x]

already :) looks good!

[BasicModelling]

Already?? Thank you.. :)

[tenka45623]

not my prfrence of paint scheeme but i still liked it wery!

they did get dirty indeed xd!

looks like the colours are great no plastic showing through!

kit is good too!!!

5/5 Tenka!

[BasicModelling]

I just wanted to do something different.. and this sure is! Both the colour scheme, and what they were used for.. :)

[arkiepoo]

that oilstain on the side is way too big

[BasicModelling]

Not on the photos I have seen.. :) Well, maybe slightly too big.. but some of them got REALLY dirty, so it's not unrealistic at all.. :)

[Inky261]

wonder what u will come up with.

[BasicModelling]

Don't tell anyone, but it should be a P-47 Thunderbolt next.. :)

[thedefiantrebel]

Briliant kit, and model too!!

[BasicModelling]

Thank you.. It was good build, I can't remeber what my Revell kit was like, to compare.. it was such a long time ago I built it.. :)

[LannomFilm]

Nice.

[BasicModelling]

Thank you.. :)

[PappyStu]

I have been up close an personal with the Hellcat several times... kewl machine!

[BasicModelling]

They probably weren't a pinky red at the time though... :) :) My fav US fighter is the P-47, as you no doubt know, but the Hellcat is close.. The Brits used Hellcats (Gannets) during WWII, I may get round to build one of those too, at some point! Otherwise than that I don't think they were used in the ETO.. :)

[PappyStu]

Mine is probably the P-38 Lightening but the type got Yamamoto so that might color (or colour as Y'all say it) my opinion

[BasicModelling]

I really like the the P-38 too.. Needless to say I have a kit to build, of an ETO Lightning.. They flew them from Wormingford, about 6 miles from my house.. No offence to any Mustang fans out there, but the greatest US ace of all times flew the P-38, and the best ace in the ETO flew the Thunderbolt.. (from Boxted, of'course!!) Sorry, but I just had to say that.. again!! :)

[Inky261]

you are really busy. a good one!

[BasicModelling]

It takes my mind off other things.. and that is good!! Glad you enjoyed it.. :) I will get some more German types done later on, right now I'm working on a plane that probably flew over my house on many occasions over 60 years ago.. not that my house was built back then, mind you!! :)

[EmCSpiteri1]

A nice one, if only I had that patience.

[BasicModelling]

I'm sure you have.. :) :)

[Bikim1996]

Love hippyes music

[BasicModelling]

Jolly jolly.. :)

[Bikim1996]

aaaa nicely man :D

[BasicModelling]

Thank you.. Nice to make something different, I don't generally do the Pacific Theatre, but when I saw the magazine, I just had to drop everything else and get that Hellcat built.. :)

[OperationThrax]

hellcats are my favorite WWII naval Aircraft

[BasicModelling]

All nice, bright and colourful.. :) :)

[Blargaldalien]

Great build,in 1/72nd,those go together quickly.

Had you built it gear up,a nice diorama might have been it flying into a cloud made up of cotton batting...

[BasicModelling]

Great idea.. If I can get hold of a Hellcat or two in 1/144 scale, I may concider it.. :) :)

[Blargaldalien]

Well,just model the EDGE of the cloud...

[BasicModelling]

Bah.. does that mean I have to put all the plutonium back in the cupboard now?? Just as I had it all out... :)

[ECWoriginal95]

boss paint job

[BasicModelling]

Thank you very much.. just fancied making something 'non standard', finally getting use of my set of after market 'US Numerals' decal sheets.. :) :)

[ECWoriginal95]

over all good job im posting my chieftan 1/72 airfix up soon an im working on some terrain

[BasicModelling]

Just wait until you see the two P-47's I have planned! It's a 'M' and a 'D' version, both from Boxted.. Now I am talking MODELLING, not my usual hotchpotch, but the proper deal.. just a shame I can't airbrush.. :) Then again, some models are so easy to add things to, and make as good as possible, and the T'bolt is one of them..

[granskare]

so how did the navy modify these 'drones' to fly on their own? use condemned prisoners? lol :)

[CurtisWildebeest]

No, Finnish immigrants.. they told them they could have as many pork dumplings as they fancied, afterwards.. just as long as they flew into that nice dark cloud.. :)

[granskare]

I heard something about that....chief guy was named Sven and Toivo cooperated with him...this is explosive inforation :)

[BasicModelling]

Yes, but they had a 'fall out'.. and the project ended..

[U48]

wow, great model, i suppose the americans had to find a way of using all of there huge supply of planes near the end of the war for something... poor planes.....

[CurtisWildebeest]

Better than using human pilots.. at least this way the risk was minimised! I can only hope the drones were decontaminated properly after each use..

[U48]

they probably had so many they didnt need to and crashed them all... would of been fun..better than rc planes these days

[BasicModelling]

Yes, they had a great surplus of aircraft, but I guess not too many customers for the 2nd hand pacific fighters.. unlike the P-51's and P-47's which saw great use in many other countries after the war.. :)

[MrPainfullytrue]

Another weekend well spent.

great job as always.

G

[BasicModelling]

More like a week and a half! :) But well spent.. oh yes!! :)

Thank you!