1/48 F6F-5, USS Randolph, May 1945 - Your Favorite Aircraft of All Time GB

[Catch22]

User Name: Catch22, Cory
Category: 3, Beginner
Entry: F6F-5, Lt. Hamilton McWhorter, VF-12, USS Randolph, May 1945
Kit: Eduard 1/48 F6F Royal Class
Accessories: Kit supplied PE and resin



Here's my second entry (though I'll likely start it before the F4U). I have never really used resin in the past so it will be interesting. For PE it comes with the coloured PE set for the engine, as well as landing gear wells AND gun bays. I will likely only use the landing gear wells on this one however.

Lt. Hamilton McWhorter was both the first Hellcat ace and Hellcat double ace. He first flew with VF-9, but was moved to VF-12 for his second tour while they were converting from F4Us to Hellcats. He finished the war with 12 kills. I like this scheme because of the elaborate G-Symbol as well as 9 being my favourite number (due to a hockey player) and the white ailerons are sharp. I've already built one of these in the past minus the resin and PE wheel wells and it went together easily, but I'll likely use Andy's excellent -3 as a guide as I go through the build. I may also build a base for it, including the Tamiya pilot set with moto-tug, but that's not a guarantee.



I unfortunately cannot find any actual photos of this aircraft. When the friend of my father's gave us the 200 models, he also gave us some books, including the Detail and Scale for the F6F so I have plenty of reference photos for Hellcats in general.

[Airframes]

Good one Cory, and it hasn't got bent wings !!

[Wurger]

[Catch22]

It kind of does Terry, and thanks for the sticky Wojtek.

[Wurger]

Really no problem for me Cory.

[Airframes]

OK, slightly bent!

[Catch22]

Forgot a on my part Terry!

[Vic Balshaw]

Good one Cory and my favourite colour as well. You'll enjoy the resin and PE, fiddly but worth the effort. With the resin though you may have to do a bit of fit and test, it's not often they will fit in without some filing and juggling.

[brucejscott]

Nice choice Cory! I have been thinking about picking up an Eduard Hellcat so do it up like a review.

[Catch22]

Thanks Vic and Bruce!

Vic, I'm HOPING that because it's all Eduard resin that it will fit fairly easily. Bruce, I'll do my best. Also, you'd be good to check out Andy's Hellcat in the D-Day GB.

[Catch22]

Thanks Vic and Bruce!

Vic, I'm HOPING that because it's all Eduard resin that it will fit fairly easily. Bruce, I'll do my best. Also, you'd be good to check out Andy's Hellcat in the D-Day GB.

[rochie]

nice one Cory, will go through the books i collected for my Hellcat you never know a pic may turn up !

[N4521U]

Don't you just love these early carrier airplanes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good choice.

[Wayne Little]

Excellent Cory. gonna do this one some day too!

[T Bolt]

Excellent Cory. gonna do this one some day too!

Me to! I have it waiting in the stash. Looks like a real nice kit.