I'm just about to finish an Eduard 1/48 F6F-3 Hellcat. The model is built
pretty much out of the box, but I have dropped the flaps - something which
is very easy to do on this kit.
The kit decals provide a scheme for BuNo 66016 with red outline insignia
when with VF-16 in 1943 and also Lt Alexander Vraciu's machine when he was
with VF-6. However, it seems that during the Battle of the Phillipine
Sea,
Vraciu was serving with VF-16 and 66016 was his machine at the time. It is
possible to use the kit decals to depict the aircraft at this stage in its
history, whch is what I have done.
The control surfaces on this kit are seperate from the airframe, so it
would
be possible to depict them deflected. However, I have read that the F6F
had
spring loaded control surfaces that were held in place when the aircraft
was
parked.
My question is, how effective was this spring loading? Given that in June
1944, 66016 had been in service for over a year, most of which had been
spent being worked hard in a combat environment, is it possible that the
spring loading wasn't quite as effective as once it had been? I'm not
saying that I should show the control surfaces severley drooped, but I
wonder if showing the elevators deflected maybe five degrees or so would
be
valid.
Any ideas?
--
Enzo
I wear the cheese. It does not wear me.
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