Italeri 1/72 Hellcat.

[Stikpusher]

Actually Carlos that photo is interesting - it's not a three-tone camo but only tow like the Wildcats?

Yes the earliest production Hellcats were built before the three color scheme came along in mid 1943. So they were painted in the early war Blue Gray over Light Gray.

In 1/48, aside from Eduard, there are also F6F kits by Hasegawa, Hobbyboss, and the old Otaki kit that has been reboxed by AMT, Airfix, ARII, and who knows who else… plus the old Fujimi and Monogram kits.

This is the Otaki kit that I built about 15 years ago…

[BlackSheep214]

Looks great Stuart! I generally hate Italeri kits. I've never had a good experience with them.

Yup… everything looked all wrong. The belly tank looked out of proportion on one of my Viper kits. Not a fan of them either.

[Stuart]

Looks good Stuart, paintwork excellent!!

Eduards Hellcat is though an outstanding kit, both the 1/48 and 1/72. Recommended!

- Kari

Despite the issues, you did a magnificent job on that little cat. I like it.

Thanks Gents!

[Stuart]

I generally hate Italeri kits. I've never had a good experience with them.

Looks great Stuart! I generally hate Italeri kits. I've never had a good experience with them.

Yup… everything looked all wrong. The belly tank looked out of proportion on one of my Viper kits. Not a fan of them either.

Agreed - I seem to have far far more misses than hits with Italeri - generally I try to avoid them were possible, along with Revell.

[Stuart]

Actually Carlos that photo is interesting - it's not a three-tone camo but only tow like the Wildcats?

Yes the earliest production Hellcats were built before the three color scheme came along in mid 1943. So they were painted in the early war Blue Gray over Light Gray.

In 1/48, aside from Eduard, there are also F6F kits by Hasegawa, Hobbyboss, and the old Otaki kit that has been reboxed by AMT, Airfix, ARII, and who knows who else… plus the old Fujimi and Monogram kits.

This is the Otaki kit that I built about 15 years ago…

That's an excellent looking build Carlos!

Yes I must get another one - anything would have been better then this kit.

[BlackSheep214]

Stuart, Revell aircraft are not that great- especially after they bought out Monogram and banging out re-releases of vintage Monogram kits. Most of the Monogram kit molds are very old. I’d rather buy vintage Monogram kits than Revellogram kits.

Revell auto kits aren’t too bad though.

[keavdog]

Looks like a Hellcat Stuart. I like the 3 color birds. Some kits you just have to beat into submission

I've had good luck with Italeri kits. I have 6 on the shelf that were all pleasant builds:
ATR 42-500
Hawk T Mk.1
OH-13
Osprey
Macchi Veltro
And a 1/35 commando car.
Another 8 in the stash

Revell Germany stuff is nice. The new car kits are great.

[Gary Brantley]

Your Hellcat looks great to me, Stuart! I think they're cool looking warbirds and I was fortunate to see, and hear and feel, one taxi past, maybe 50 feet away several years ago at an airshow. It was following the only P-47 I've ever seen too. Man, talk about good vibrations and moving some air!

I built this Monogram Hellcat in 1/48 back in the summer of 1989 and photographed her in a rare indoor setting:

[Stikpusher]

Gary I hear ya! Ive never seen a F6F or P-47 up close and personal with the motor running... seen a F8F and a few F4Us in typical flybys at airshows... but one time I was reallllllyyy close to a Hawker Sea Fury for start engine and warm up at a local small air show that my friend was flying his SNJ in... damn if I didn't fall in love with the Sea Fury right then and there. Such pure raw power from that radial...

[Gary Brantley]

Carlos, I had never seen either type until that day in Temple, Texas. I had taken my father-in-law with me and we were walking up from the parking lot when we had to stop and wait for those two to taxi past. The 'Bolt went by first, followed closely by the Hellcat and the sound was just wonderful! It was such a full-throated growl that one could feel it in their chest. Well, you know of course, after that experience with the Sea Fury. Raw power is a good term to use for those brutes! I was also impressed by their sheer size with the Hellcat being much bigger than expected.