Enzo Matrix wrote:
> 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?
>
....actually, it depends on a bit more than that. If the surfaces were
spring-compensated, it was probably to offset airloading in addition to
the the anti-servo tab and manage stick forces - so they probably
wouldn't have held the full weight of the surface.
Secondly, was the elevator driven by mechanical linkage, or hydraulic
power? That could make a difference.
Thirdly...a simple Google image search located a number of pictures of
Hellcats with elevators pointing trailing edge skyward when parked -
indicating to me that they were parked in some sort of gust-locked
condition...even if it was as simple as to hold the stick aft with the
belt/harness strap. Common practice with light planes even today.
Bottom line - find a picture you like, and go that way.
--
- Rufus
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