It’s easy to see why some modellers turn to 1/144 scale aircraft, when they’re as good as Platz Hobby’s Grumman Hellcats. Here CHRIS CLIFFORD inspects the firm’s F6F-3K ‘Dawn of Drone’ release.
I’ve always been quite partial to Grumman’s Hellcat, with its stocky stature and impressive combat record, but any of my builds have firmly been in 1/72 and 1/48. However, the 1/144 Hellcats from Japan’s Platz Hobby could well tempt me and many modellers, on seeing the absolutely stunning moulding and overall quality. It’s like someone sprinkled magic powder on a good 1/72 kit, and simply shrunk it.
Here we focus on Platz’s F6F-3K ‘Dawn of Drone’ release which, via two whole kits, depicts airframes converted for trials purposes, including the mostly red-painted machines involved in the 1946 Operation Crossroads nuclear tests. There is also an overall yellow trainer. In this scale, the basic cockpit floor, with seat, rear bulkhead, head armour and instrument panel with dial decal are more than enough for a decent representation. One of the most impressive aspects of this kit is its rendition of the Pratt & Whitney engine which, even at this small size, has cylinder cooling fins and a convincing reduction gear housing.
However, there’…
