Another yellow warbird - Platz F6F-3 Hellcat trainer (2024)

I returned from my recent Prague visit with a great plan for a build in the Ukrainian GB theme but, and this is the amazing part, I didn’t have the necessary kit in-stock. So, as I waited for that delivery I needed another build to fill the gap, hence, here is another ‘easy’ build in my ‘Yellow WWII Fighters’ theme. And it doesn’t get much easier than this, a Platz F6F Hellcat with an out-of-the-box trainer aircraft color scheme.
On the plus side, I did try to improve my technique in a number of ways in this build including some subtle (perhaps too subtle!) washing of panel lines, a deliberate attempt to do a ‘dirty’ plain yellow scheme with exhaust staining and gun smoke streaking and, a first for me, addition of an aerial wire using EZline stretchy thread.
The yellow finish is once again Tamiya spray can, although I did try to deliberately hold this to several very light coats and avoid the odd build up at edges that I have experienced previously, I think successfully. Panel line wash used Vallejo sienna wash and exhaust and gun stains from my usual chalks.
The Platz kit includes the anti-glare panel as decals but I couldn’t get this to fit well so I resorted to masking and hand painting. Also, not entirely sure that this panel should be dark green but it’s a great color alongside the yellow so I didn’t challenge it too much.
Enjoy:-

Andy

Nice!

Ian

After our discussion on yellow planes at Telford, you definitely came out with another beautiful model here, you make it look so easy!

The weathering is particularly well done.

Thanks to all for the kind words.

“As you say, a difficult shade and with rattle cans. I always end up flooding things” - Yeah, me too usually. This time I tried really hard to apply lighter coats and build up the coverage gradually and I somehow avoided the usual odd effect where the yellow pulls away from sharp edges.

“Good tips for when I do mine too on the decals.” - I had an odd experience with the decals on the prop blades where half of them disappeared against the black background and then all of them went totally white when I oversprayed varnish. Perhaps they weren’t properly dry.

Andy

“I believe your panel line wash is just spot on, more may look good on the model, but on the real aircraft they are hardly so pronounced.” - Thanks. You actually inspired me to try this and the Platz Hellcat is a prime candidate with nice, sharp panel lines and control surfaces. I glossed Future over the decals to protect them and intended to buy a MiG product for the wash but then couldn’t wait to go buy this and used an available Vallejo burnt sienna acrylic wash.

Andy

Just last week I was observing how membership of this group was helping to improve my modeling skills, however, I now find when I’m cleaning up the bench ready for the next project that none of you, absolutely no-one, noticed that I had left off the small auxiliary undercarriage doors that go ahead of the wheel legs. It wouldn’t matter so much but I’d actually used the tiny number decals on these doors, something I don’t always do. Or maybe you all noticed but we’re too polite to point it out? Anyway, here’s one more picture with the extra doors added.

Andy