Airfix A19004 Grumman F6-F5 Hellcat

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So I messed it up a bit and bent a few things and I'll make a decision tonight about whether it's going on. Desperate to ensure their new aircraft was a significant improvement on their rugged little fighter and an aircraft squadron pilots could operate effectively without too much additional conversion training, they enlisted the help of some of the US Navy’s most accomplished combat pilots, asking them what they wanted from the new fighter. The kit plastic seat belts were absolutely fine, and I had already painted, weathered, and installed them on the seat.

Now I have seen a 1/24 F6F-5 from Airfix, I say again- why can't someone give us that amount of detail and features (wingfold option main interest) in 1/32?In yet another exclusive for Workbench readers, the sight of these component frames are a strong indication that the much anticipated release date of the new 1/24th scale Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat is fast approaching and we had better start thinking about clearing some space on our workstations. The exclusive selection of Hellcat frame images featured above actually represent the first set of approved tooling samples and include all the design alterations requested by Chris, the Hellcat’s project designer. I found the fit of the front bulkhead to be a bit vague, worrisome given the wealth of detail that will rely on good alignment and placement.

I went with the 1mm wire and decided to soft fit the engine then shape the lines, fir the engine then then hard wire in the lines, already pre shaped for ease. Matching the full-size Hellcat’s robustness and heft, Airfix’s 1/24 scale Grumman F6F-5 is loaded with detail and options, including four complete marking schemes. The fit was extremely tight in places and I used clamps to make sure everything was seated where it needed to be. For most modellers, we simply have no idea how complicated this design process must be for Chris and his Airfix colleagues, when we are enjoying our latest 1/24th scale build project and the sheer number of variables they must have to consider at every stage of this design work.

The Number 32 decals were going to have to be used as There was no way I could mask around all the little instruction ones near the cockpit successfully. The test frames arrive at our Head Office in a large, rather nondescript cardboard box and not as you might imagine, individually boxed like a normal kit release. One of these models was shown on the Airfix stand at the recent Shropshire Model Show at the RAF Museum Cosford and has been finished with one of the wings folded back in carrier stowage configuration, with the second having only recently been completed. It's amazing how so many parts can fit together so precisely in one half of an assembly and the other half doesn't want to fit at all. The "gizmo" Chuck refers to is part of the cooler assembly and is actually a thermostatic valve for the hot oil.