F6F Hellcat / Practice Build
11-01-2005, 11:35 PM
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F6F Hellcat / Practice Build
I am planning on building my # 2 plane from a kit. It won't be my second plane, but hopefully it will be the one I'll be able to fly after my Trainer. I've decided on the Venture 60 over the 4*60.
I haven't built anything but ARFs lately, last kit build I did was over 30 yrs. ago, and that wasn't much more than a wing with an elevator hanging off of it, for control line flying.
I have a 3yr. old nephew named Tyler that absolutely loves airplanes, so I decided I would build him a little free-flight kit to hang in his bedroom. So, a few weeks ago I picked up a Guillow's model of the F6F Hellcat for him. Thinking this would be a good way to get my feet wet again, with a practice build. Last nite he came to the house to trick or treat me, and proceeded to give me a good scolding for not building his plane yet. So I went out and got a foam core sheet to build it on, and after the kids had stopped knocking at the door for Halloween I layed everything out so I could get started on his airplane today. Pics 1 thru 4. After cutting out, trimming, notching, & sanding every piece this morning, I did manage to get the fuselage framed up. Since this isn't a real build, and just a toy build for me to practice on I won't be doing a full build thread, just thought I'd post some pics of my progress on Tyler's Hellcat If anyone's interesed. Thanks for looking.
Mark
I haven't built anything but ARFs lately, last kit build I did was over 30 yrs. ago, and that wasn't much more than a wing with an elevator hanging off of it, for control line flying.
I have a 3yr. old nephew named Tyler that absolutely loves airplanes, so I decided I would build him a little free-flight kit to hang in his bedroom. So, a few weeks ago I picked up a Guillow's model of the F6F Hellcat for him. Thinking this would be a good way to get my feet wet again, with a practice build. Last nite he came to the house to trick or treat me, and proceeded to give me a good scolding for not building his plane yet. So I went out and got a foam core sheet to build it on, and after the kids had stopped knocking at the door for Halloween I layed everything out so I could get started on his airplane today. Pics 1 thru 4. After cutting out, trimming, notching, & sanding every piece this morning, I did manage to get the fuselage framed up. Since this isn't a real build, and just a toy build for me to practice on I won't be doing a full build thread, just thought I'd post some pics of my progress on Tyler's Hellcat If anyone's interesed. Thanks for looking.
Mark
11-02-2005, 04:33 PM
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RE: F6F Hellcat / Practice Build
Well I thought I had notched everything yesterday morning but I apparently forgot to do the wing ribs which I didn't noticed until they glued in place. So now I get to notch them the hard way, oh well.
Mark
Mark
11-04-2005, 06:57 PM
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RE: F6F Hellcat / Practice Build
I bought the Gullows P-51 for my four-year-old son. Luckily he hasn't been on me to get started on it. Hopefully it will get built this winter. Keep the pictures coming!
11-08-2005, 12:09 PM
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RE: F6F Hellcat / Practice Build
Well I finally got the thing done. It certainly could have come out better! I'm still having a hard time covering very cleaning, but that's what it was for, practice!
Mark
Mark
11-08-2005, 01:16 PM
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RE: F6F Hellcat / Practice Build
How did you do the covering? Did you spray it down with water to shrink it, or just dope it? Also, the stars and bars should have been applied out almost at the wingtip, with the right wing's being on the bottom, not the top
11-08-2005, 03:05 PM
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RE: F6F Hellcat / Practice Build
Geez Hydro, he said this build was for a kid's free flight toy, not a scale masterpiece, so what difference does it make where the stars and bars are placed! I dont think the purpose was to go compete in the scale masters with it. 
ANYWAY, nice build there, Mark. I built the Guillow's Stearman cropduster a couple of years ago. All of their kits that I've seen build up pretty nice. I bet you nephew will be PLENTY satisfied with his new Hellcat!
ANYWAY, nice build there, Mark. I built the Guillow's Stearman cropduster a couple of years ago. All of their kits that I've seen build up pretty nice. I bet you nephew will be PLENTY satisfied with his new Hellcat!
11-08-2005, 03:34 PM
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RE: F6F Hellcat / Practice Build
LOL Lowlevlflyer, a Master Builder I aint!!
. Tyler's only criteria was that it have Blue & Stars on it, so that's what he got.[sm=spinnyeyes.gif]
Mark
. Tyler's only criteria was that it have Blue & Stars on it, so that's what he got.[sm=spinnyeyes.gif]Mark
11-08-2005, 10:29 PM
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RE: F6F Hellcat / Practice Build
Dont worry Hydro, I agree with you. 
Not saying your plane is bad (Guillows models are so much fun to build), as you did a great job, and as stated its just a practice model. But I'm a sucker for scale, and I cant stand it when the Stars-and-Bars (or any other national insignia for that matter) is place incorrectly. For me, its a cardinal sin!
Not saying your plane is bad (Guillows models are so much fun to build), as you did a great job, and as stated its just a practice model. But I'm a sucker for scale, and I cant stand it when the Stars-and-Bars (or any other national insignia for that matter) is place incorrectly. For me, its a cardinal sin!
11-16-2005, 02:14 PM
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RE: F6F Hellcat / Practice Build
Elenasgrumpy, what size plane is the Hellcat you built? I've got a 32.75" spanned Hellcat kit that has been in my garage for over 6 years and am wondering if it's the same one as you built. At this point, I'm still debating on R/C and nitro power for this bird, though with a .09 and micro radio gear, I "could" do a 4 channel setup. Come to think about it, I've got a 36" spanned 172 kit out there as well. I might have to go get two .09s and micro radio sets. Can you just hear my house blowing up when she learns what I "might" be building?
11-18-2005, 08:39 AM
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RE: F6F Hellcat / Practice Build
No Hydro the kit you have is about twice the size of this one. This is just a little one for kids, a rubber-band powered free-flight kit. The span is around 16-17 in, I don't remember exactly off the top of my head, but it's just a little guy.
Mark
Mark
07-03-2008, 04:09 PM
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RE: F6F Hellcat / Practice Build
Hi Elenasgrum,
Like you the I build conrtol like aiplanes 30 years ago, I bought the F6F Hellcat a couple of months ago to get a little experence building again. Thanks for all the pictures. The instructions says it takes about 30 hours to build, How long did it take you to build this plane?
Thanks.
bobtaily2k
Like you the I build conrtol like aiplanes 30 years ago, I bought the F6F Hellcat a couple of months ago to get a little experence building again. Thanks for all the pictures. The instructions says it takes about 30 hours to build, How long did it take you to build this plane?
Thanks.
bobtaily2k
