SPA Modeler

Hey Bruce, here is a separate Thread dedicated to your commission build that you sent to me. I'm going to try and have this done by Orangecon so I can 1) enter it and 2) deliver it to you if you come. I recommend coming so you can take it home and not risk breakage during postal delivery.

I started with the cockpit first, naturally:



There are still some side walls to add to this but only after painting. Next I assembled the engine and mount. There is quiet a bit of detail in here:



Finally, since Bruce told me he wants this to be the night fighter version; I assembled the three parts for the radar dome:




So, one question Bruce: Do you want a full weapons load-out on this or just clean? Lemme know.

Thanks for looking in, I hope you enjoy this.

GRUMMAN F6F-5N HELLCAT NIGHTFIGHTER "White 13"

• Length: 33 ft 7 in (10.24 m)
  Wingspan: 42 ft 10 in (13.06 m)
  Height: 13 ft 1 in (3.99 m)
  Wing area: 334 ft² (31 m²)
  Airfoil: NACA 23015.6 mod root; NACA 23009 tip
  Empty weight: 9,238 lb (4,190 kg)
  Loaded weight: 12,598 lb (5,714 kg)
  Max. takeoff weight: 15,415 lb (6,990 kg)
  *Fuel capacity: 250 US gal (950 l) internal; up to 3 × 150 US gal (570 l) external drop tanks
  Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0211
  Drag area: 7.05 sq ft (0.655 m2)
  Aspect ratio: 5.5
  Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10W "Double Wasp" two-row radial engine with a two-speed two-stage supercharger, 2,200 hp (1,491 kW[93])
  Propellers: 3-blade Hamilton Standard
  Propeller diameter: 13 ft 1 in (4.0 m)
  Guns:
  6× 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns, with 400 rounds per gun, (All F6F-3, and most F6F-5) or
  2 × 0.79 in (20 mm) AN/M2 cannon, with 225 rounds per gun and 4 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) Browning machine guns with 400 rounds per gun
  Rockets:
  6 × 5 in (127 mm) HVARs or
  2 × 11 3⁄4 in (298 mm) Tiny Tim unguided rockets
  Bombs: up to 4,000 lb (1,800 kg) full load, including:
  Bombs or Torpedoes: (Fuselage mounted on centerline rack)
  1 × 2,000 lb (910 kg) bomb or
  1 × Mk.13-3 torpedo;
  Underwing bombs: (F6F-5 had two additional weapons racks either side of fuselage on wing center-section)
  2 × 1,000 lb (450 kg) or
  4 × 500 lb (230 kg)
  8 × 250 lb (110 kg)

I am excited. I would like you to do "White 13." I pulled the pdf of the Eduard decal sheet as it has the same aircraft, but may have differences noted and may be useful to you. I always feel we can never have enough information.



Should I order the Master Models Armament set?

Excellent. "White 13" it is. I don't see any real differences in the two paint diagrams, except one has the entire radar pod all white and the other has it only white at the rounded end with the rest blue. I'll do it blue and white; I think that looks better.

As for the Master Models armament set, it's your model my friend. I'll leave that up to you. However, let me know soon since I'm ready to close up the wings and the guns are sandwiched in between the wing halves. If you are sending it, I'll hold off doing that until it arrives.

BTW, do you want me to hang the bombs and rockets under the wings? I'm not sure they did that when the wings were folded given the extra strain on the folding mechanism. so I guess I'll leave them off.

Stay tuned, more to come.

Ordering Armament will require a delay for me to order, then to have the pieces shipped. Originally I thought of this as out of the box, so I defer to your evaluations of the weapons as molded. Alternately I could send you a small selection of Brass Tubing for experiments—perhaps replacing the pitot tube with brass? Let me know.

I was wondering if the radar was fitted permanently or this was removed before the wings were folded. Considering space restrictions on carriers, I have a hunch the wing surfaces were entirely kept free. Will need to research, as quickly as possible. Alternately does anyone here at SPA Modeler know?

Stikpusher wrote:

I'm not sure if they would have removed the pod routinely just to fold the wings. It's possible I guess but I would imagine (having removed similar things myself) that unless it was quick release it would be a massive PITA.

Thanks for your reply, Stuart. That sounds absolutely right! Without seeing any photo evidence, though, the mind starts to play tricks, shake the foundations of rational thought!