1/100 Hellcat F6F-3 by Bruno/Brent repaint

[CMDRTED]

Before the Mig build I commented on Brunos re-visiting the Hellcat series. One of the best Builder/re-painters had provided one he had done earlier, prior to my whining about Hellcat re works. This is a quick very little construction pics and the finish pics were somehow deleted from my aging camera. This Is an F6F-3 model. Pics 3 and 4 shows a small bit of confusion on my part about the front of the engine cowling. Brent gives us a small curved segment that attaches "on top of the cowling and attaches to the engine face." I played around with is and built the first on and tried to place the 2 small parts somewhere. Then it dawned on me that this was a solution build to the famous Hellcat Grin and I finally figured it out.

[CMDRTED]

I had a Homer Simpson Dulpp moment about the final build pics. Just take the finished plane off the bookshelf and re shoot it!

[Siwi]

I have not seen a Hellcat with the white painted upper rear fuselage and stabs before. You got that canopy and engine profile spot on.

[Don Boose]

Another great model, Ted. I'm glad you found the other images.

Thanks for the build notes and the useful info on the cowling construction.

Based on what I have found so far (and the photographic evidence seems strong), it is an aircraft of U.S. Navy Fighter Squadron 33 (VF-33) based on Munda, New Georgia, in the Solomon Islands in September 1943.

Caption and source of the image: U.S. Navy Photograph via Asisbiz.com “Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat VF-38 White 118 at Munda airfield New Georgia Sep 1943 01” available at
Asisbiz Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat VF-38 White 118 at Munda airfield New Georgia Sep 1943 01

Info on VF-33 in the Solomons: Barrett Tillman, Hellcat Aces of World War 2, Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 1996.

I do not recall seeing those markings before, either, Simon.

In later 1944, after the livery change to overall dark blue, the U.S.Navy introduced white tail fin markings similar to those on the model, but the white fuselage spine is different. I wonder if they were high-visibility IFF markings since the F6F was newly introduced to the South Pacific Theater in September 1943. Another image taken on Munda of a different squadron's aircraft also seems to show a white spine: Asisbiz Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat VF-38 White 121 Babes Bouncin Bastard at Munda airfield New Georgia Sep 1943 ebay 01

Contrariwise, another photo shows no such marking: Asisbiz Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat VF-38 White 14 June, 13 and 11 at Munda New Georgia Sep 1943 01


Don

[ReynoldsSlumber]

Beautifully assembled!

[gomidefilho]

Great work!

[rmks2000]

Very clean build. Never saw that color scheme before.

[Brent]

Nice build Ted. I wasn't sure if anyone would be able to figure out my modification of the nose. You did it on your second try. I guess I can finish up my Hellcats now and send them to Ecardmodels.

Thanks for sharing your build.

Brent

[CMDRTED]

Thanks Brent. Keep sending them and i'll keep buying them. And thanks to all for your kind replies.

[Butelczynski]

Excellent Hellcat.

I wonder if those markings had anything to do with white markings on Aussie aircraft. Were those Hellcats possibly stationed and flown together or in close proximity to RAAF fighter units?