JohnB

I've seen the 1st photo before and the other three also but had never put 2 and 2 together that they are all the same Hellcat (as near as I can tell). He landed on the USS Cowpens on fire. The fire crews had their work cut out for them. You can see in the 1st photo the a/c number on the fuselage is #3. The 2nd photo is a/c #3 also as is the 3rd photo (and you can see in the background the stacks of the carrier which shows it's a light carrier which Cowpens was). Can't see any numbers on the last photo but it obviously is the same a/c. Very interesting I think! It would be great to see other photos of this incident.

Coming along on the weathering but still a bit to do.

Thank you!

Thanks Peter. We'll see how it goes with the weathering as it's easy to overdo it, etc. The RNZAF birds were usually very weathered and ratty looking. 🙄

Just finished applying the base camo. Now I can begin to add some faded/weathering, etc.

Thank you! The seat is Dull Dk. Green.

Thanks!

😂

I think the Testor's gets more stringy as it ages. I guess Testor's made it that way so we'd buy new tubes LOL.

At least they aren't stringy. That drives me nuts!

Thanks Peter. If that's the one in the little blue bottle with a brush I've been using it instead of tube glue lately. Just brush a little on where you want to put the part (or on the part itself). It works well but you have to be careful not to use too much as it will run even though it's not thin. And NO stringyness!!!

I use some Testor's tube glue and some Revell Contacta tube glue. Both are very stringy and it has gotten to be such a aggrivation I need to find out if any of you know of a tube glue that is NOT stringy (or minimally stringy). I use a lot of liquid cement also but those are not stringy. Tube glue has a lot of uses but the stringiness is driving me up the wall! LOL Any help is appreciated!

The older I get the clumsier! I knocked over a bottle of Testor's OD a couple of days ago. Thankfully it just spilled on the instructions sheet and was easily cleaned up. 🤪

Agreed Carl! I just ordered another -1A to keep my -1D company in my stash. LOL

I don't know when you looked last Gaz. 🙃 But I guess this IS another Corsair. Last one was a birdcage, this one is a bubble top RNZAF bird.

Making some good progress. Work on the wings is next.

Looking good Peter.

I've always liked the Nick as it's a cool looking airplane (so is the Frances). I built a 1/48 Nichimo kit something like 25 years ago and still have it. Your model, I'm sure, will be a beauty Bill!

Your '38 is looking good! Hard to beat Tamiya kits.

Thanks Carl! It will have to really be weathered for sure.

Couple more cockpit shots.

Thank you Kevin!

Cockpit about done.

Thanks. Didn't have to anneal them as they were very bendable unlike other steel belts I've used and had to anneal.