heh bossman-I'm Just getting to read these older backlogged threads---great stuff....-I see you're out by chino---great place. heh---i have the zero also, as well as the cmp f6f the zero is my dad's --80 incher wingspan --nice one..
ORIGINAL: bosssman
ORIGINAL: Richard L.
ORIGINAL: bosssman
I plan on using a 4 inch Robart tire but NOT the aluminum ones that Richard is using (around 60 bucks a PIECE!!). I am also slightly wet sanding the current finish, repainting with accurate Model Master paints, applying the very nice markings included with the kit and then covering the entire model with PPG 2060 flat clear to completely fuel proof it.
Randy, if you plan to use the regular Robart 4" scale wheels, then you might want to consider ordering foam inserts for those tires. Those 4" tires are mushy and don't support very much weight, and if you take a sharp corner, they will roll of the rim.
The factory supplied decals are for the overall glossy sea blue color scheme since the star and bar decals don't have any blue background in them. The white star and bar decals look strange on the bottom of the gray wing. You can barely pick them out.
Richard,
The more and more I get into this Hellcat (and the P-47), the more I am inclined to modify several areas. I never thought about the "hollow" Robart tires being able to support the weight - maybe I will spring for the aluminum hubbed Robarts that you have....
As far as the the Hellcat's supplied paint scheme and markings - I live very close to the Chino, CA "Planes of Fame" museum that has a nice tricolor Hellcat on display. I will more than likely use that as the basis for this Hellcat. Using some old Top Flite Corsair stars and bars with the red outline as a guide, I think I will end up enlarging them to make my own stars and bars that jive with the tricolor paint scheme. I like using the Model Master paints as they are very accurate and actually, dont require a lot of paint to achieve full coverage. As stated before, the entire plane will be covered with PPG 2060 flat clear (its urethane based) to fuel proof the plane(s)....
I am still trying to decide which way to go for the cockpit - doing as much modifying as I am doing, it seems a shame to neglect the cockpit - we'll see....
As a sidenote, I went ahead and ordered the CMP Zero from Chief Aircraft as Jet Hobbies emailed me that they are out of stock of the Zero. This will bring the total CMP ARF's to 4 - the P-47, Hellcat, Zero and my beloved P-26 Peashooter. Its hard to believe - I have been a kit builder since a kid - goes to show you CAN teach an old dog new tricks!!!
----that's the second one to work on---really want to get going on the cmp hellcat first---- ed sarkisian---dog fight city!!