Richard's Academy/Airfix Hellcat for Simon

[Tim Marlow]

Looking better and better.

[Jim R]

Hi Richard
The mantle cover looks good. Is it solid putty or is it covering something giving a rough shape? I have seen tissue soaked in PVA used for mantle covers but this looks a really nice, natural shape.
Jim

[adt70hk]

Great work Richard and duty for getting behind.

ATB.

Andrew

[rtfoe]

Thanks guys, Jim the cover is flattened putty draped over the mantlet and teased with a wet tooth pick. I used to do it with tissue before.

Cheers,
Richard

[rtfoe]

Okay, I've tidied up the mantlet cover by rubbing the the cracks down and producing new folds.



Still needs a further rub down with Scotchbrite and finer grit sandpaper.



Hellcats always look nice at this angle when the turret is traversed to the sides...



Cheers,
Richard

[Tim Marlow]

Good work on the mantlet cover.

[JR]

Simon would be thrilled to see this Richard, well done .

[rtfoe]

Thank you gentlemen, am late with the replies due to being glued to the TV on the happenings across the Pacific and Atlantic. Looking forward to better days to finish the Hellcat.

Cheers,
Richard

[Andy Belsey]

Coming on very nicely Richard.
Andy

[rtfoe]

Thanks Andy.

Cheers,
Richard

[rtfoe]

I got stalled but am picking up ever since I got an idea of the layout to display the Hellcat. I was thinking a row of two Hellcats along a rail track next to the riverbank shelling the opposite side of the river. It occurred when I arranged the tanks by accident like this...



Cheers,
Richard

[minitnkr]

Firing hulldown over RR roadbed alongside riverbank? Very cool.

[rtfoe]

Firing hulldown over RR roadbed alongside riverbank? Very cool.

Yeh...how cool was that with the sudden bling of inspiration.

Cheers,
Richard

[Jim R]

Sounds like a plan :smiling2: :thumb2:
Jim

[rtfoe]

Oh dear, plans for me can be shelved for long periods. While I was preparing some paint for my current Spitfire build, I mixed some Nato black and neutralised all the different mediums that were on the Hellcat that I corrected with a coat of the mix. This was done after carefully masking the exposed turret interior with masking tape and wet tissue.

And this is a slightly better angle...

But I've run out of backing backdrop paper. :smiling6:

Cheers,
Richard