|
Grumman F6F-5N Hellcat static model aircraft kit
A look at the nightfighter Hellcat model carrier plane as kitted by Italeri.
This is Italeri's 1/72nd scale model of the famous US carrier based fighter of WW2. The model represented is the F6F-5N, this being the night-fighter variant of the Grumman Hellcat.
In the box you get two main sprues of parts (dark blue in my example) and a further clear sprue for the canopy. A decal sheet with four planes depicted (all very similar in colour and markings is also provided).
On inspecting all the parts no major problem areas were encountered, the mouldings being of great quality with minimal flash and only a couple of minor sink areas on the separate flaps. A good amount of detail is represented on the surface of the various model sections and the panel lines are finely recessed.
|
The two main sprues.
Click for larger images here and to the right.
|
|
I've built one of these Hellcats before and was very impressed by both the fit of parts and the kit's design. The lower wing is moulded in one piece and incorporates a section of the barrel shaped fuselage, this makes it very easy to achieve the correct dihedral and provides a strong little model. When I built mine the fuslage fitted very nicely to the wing just needing a little filler at the rear to blend things in. The fuselage halves themselves on this Hellcat line up superbly together.
As mentioned above the flaps are separate parts and can be positioned either up or down. The engine is moulded in two rows but the pattern makers made the small error of having the cylinders pointing the wrong way for the front row. Any modeller with a bit of experience can remedy this or just ignore it.
The cockpit area is reasonable for the scale, a small floor piece is fitted with an instrument panel, joystick and seat. Decals are provided for the panel and side consoles.
The wheels are one part where a little improvement could be made, they are not bad but a little lacklustre when compared to the rest of the model kit.
The clear parts are good and enable the canopy to be displayed open or closed.
In general I like this Grumman F6F-5N Hellcat model a lot, the shape of the finished model looks right, capturing the bulky barrel like lines of this poweful aircraft. It's easily constructed and I would recommend it to all aircraft enthusiasts.
|
|
