Beyond The Sprues

Modelling => Group and Themed Builds => Kitbash / Frankenstein GB => Topic started by: PFJN on January 31, 2025, 07:21:48 AM

Title: Vengea-Cat
Post by: PFJN on January 31, 2025, 07:21:48 AM
Hi,
I am intending to try and kit bash a 1/72 scale FROG Vultee Vengenace with a 1/72 MPC (Airfix) F6F model tomake a notionally carrier capable dive bomber,by grafting the wings from the F6F to the Vengeance engine/fuselage/tail assemblies.  I will also try and addsome dive brakes (similar to what is on the base Vengeance to the new wings, and also used the tailhook from the F6F as well.

I already have the MPC/Airfix F6F kit but only just ordered the FROG Vengeance kit last night off eBay, so it willprobably be a few days before I can get started.  However the skethes below give a general idea of what I am thinking of.  In my original plans I was considering just doing a straight swap of the wings (since with wing area of the F6F is very similar to the baseline Venegeance, ie 334 vs 332 sq ft).  This would give the kitbash the same wingspan of the F6F.  However, after thinking about it a little more I've been considering extended the wing tips a little to match the same wing span of the base Vengeance,which would increas the Wing Area by a small amount.  The figures below show the base Vengeance on the left side (or top) of the image with the base F6F on the right side (orbottom), and the Vengea-Cat (both a long wing and short winge variant) in between.

(https://www.mnvdet.com/Other/Misc/Vengea-Cat%20Plan.jpg)

(https://www.mnvdet.com/Other/Misc/Vengea-Cat%20Front.jpg)

(https://www.mnvdet.com/Other/Misc/Vengea-Cat%20Prof.jpg)

I hope to get started on the build as soon as the FROG kit arrives in the mail.   :smiley:
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: Robomog on January 31, 2025, 09:21:10 AM
Looks interesting  :smiley:

Have you decided on the colour scheme yet ?

To me it's screaming out for a gloss midnight blue. :D

Mog
>^-.-^<
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: Kerick on January 31, 2025, 01:07:15 PM
There’s always the two tone grey and white Atlantic scheme. I know it was used on Wildcats/Marlins.
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: Old Wombat on January 31, 2025, 04:33:36 PM
I keep reading Venga-Cat! :-\ :-[
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: The Big Gimper on January 31, 2025, 07:18:53 PM
There is a flying restored TBM in this scheme.

(https://vintageaviationnews.com/wp-content/uploads/tbm3e_85882_lnn_2011_001.jpg)

(https://vintageaviationnews.com/wp-content/uploads/GSM_0106-lo-res.jpg)
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: PFJN on February 01, 2025, 01:17:38 AM
Hi,
Thanks for the suggestions and images.  I was also maybe thinking of possibly an RN Fleet AirArm scheme,like the one below.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/Shoreham_Airshow_2013_%289700275620%29.jpg)
(Source: Wikipedia)

Regards

Pat
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: Robomog on February 01, 2025, 09:09:55 AM
That would work !   :smiley:

Mog
>^-.-^<
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: PFJN on February 01, 2025, 10:57:13 AM
Hi,
I like your blue idea too though  :smiley:
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: Jeffry Fontaine on February 01, 2025, 11:09:50 AM
We Like To Party (https://youtu.be/6Zbi0XmGtMw?si=UXKdK_zuEsllN5ud)

Vengea-Cat

Once you see it, it can not be unseen or unheard :smiley: 
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: Old Wombat on February 01, 2025, 11:16:02 AM
I keep reading Venga-Cat! :-\ :-[
We Like To Party (https://youtu.be/6Zbi0XmGtMw?si=UXKdK_zuEsllN5ud)

Vengea-Cat

Once you see it, it can not be unseen or unheard :smiley: 

Yep, that, unfortunately, is what went through my head. :-X
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: Kerick on February 01, 2025, 01:14:58 PM

(https://vintageaviationnews.com/wp-content/uploads/GSM_0106-lo-res.jpg)

I saw that whole line up at an airshow in Peru IL. It was last year in May. Plus a Skyraider and Corsair. Then I find out a good friend of mine was there the day before.
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: robunos on February 02, 2025, 03:22:16 AM
This is going to be interesting. If it's not too late, you could use Avenger wings . . .


cheers,
Robin.
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: Buzzbomb on February 02, 2025, 08:51:06 AM
Was looking at the drawings, which I like they way they are done and had a feeling.. I have seen something with vaguely similar lines

Of course it would be British, the Fairey Spearfish

(https://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/BARC/images/BARC_experimental_fairey_spearfish-1.jpg)
(https://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/BARC/images/BARC_experimental_fairey_spearfish_view.jpg)

Totally like the idea of this because slightly cranked wings always look cool
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: PFJN on February 02, 2025, 01:53:29 PM
Cool, that's interesting
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: PFJN on February 04, 2025, 12:43:37 PM
Hi,
I got my FROG Vengeance kit in the mail today, and did a test fit for the Hellcat Wing Roots.  As shown below they appear to fit in fairly well.  Since the chord length of the Hellcat appears to be just a little bit less than for the Vengeance, there is a little leeway in placing the new wings, and since I had read that the reason for the odd "W" shaped planform of the original wings on the Vengeance was needed to move the center of the wings back a bit, I've gone ahead and pushed the new Hellcat wing as far back in the opening in the fuselage for the original Vengeance wing as I could, leaving just a small amount of space forward that will require some filler, as shown in the second image, which hopefully won'y be too big of an issue to take care of.  :smiley:

(https://www.mnvdet.com/Other/Misc/x20250203_231930.jpg)
(https://www.mnvdet.com/Other/Misc/Filler.jpg)

I also noticed that the cowlings aren't too different in general shape, though the Hellcat one is longer.  As such I could potentially look into re-engining the plane with the Hellcat engine, but for now I think I'm going to stick with the original engine.
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: Jeffry Fontaine on February 04, 2025, 02:42:11 PM
Wikipedia > Vultee Vengeance (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vultee_A-31_Vengeance)

Wikipedia > Grumman Hellcat (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F6F_Hellcat)

Vengeance was powered by the R-2600 which was a 14-cylinder radial with a slightly larger diameter than the 18-cylinder R-2800 that powered the F6F Hellcat.  So swapping cowlings is not going to make a real difference other than the change in physical appearance.  If you can make it fit then definitely consider making the change. 
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: Old Wombat on February 04, 2025, 03:02:28 PM
Wikipedia > Vultee Vengeance (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vultee_A-31_Vengeance)

Wikipedia > Grumman Hellcat (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F6F_Hellcat)

Vengeance was powered by the R-2600 which was a 14-cylinder radial with a slightly larger diameter than the 18-cylinder R-2800 that powered the F6F Hellcat.  So swapping cowlings is not going to make a real difference other than the change in physical appearance.  If you can make it fit then definitely consider making the change.

And 400 more Pegasi to play with. ;)
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: PFJN on February 10, 2025, 12:32:13 PM
Hi,
Sorry I haven't been posting more photos of my build, but here is where I currently am at.

In the cockpit I did a little bit of modding, to round off the top of the aft crew members seat, and clean up the radio station.  I also added a few small consoles that, in the end don't really show up much.  But since I saw them in some images of the full scale plane's cockpit and in other more detailed kits I went ahead and added them.  I also tried to separate the headrest for the pilto from his seat as well.  One final thing that appears to be missing from the FROG kit is that there doesn't appear to be a control panel for the pilot.  It probably won't show much either but I may stilltry and mock something simple up.

Other than that the wing roots went in fairly easily and I filled the gaps with putty.  Other than that I am now working on the landing gear.  I also want to try and clean up some of th seem lines.  After that I need to add the engine, crew, and outer wings.  The main hang up there is that I'm still not sure what I am going to do with them.  In general I intend to have the right wing extended and the left wing folded, to show what the plane willlook like in either condition.  However, I'm still not fully sure how to approach extending the wings.

Option 1m would be to just leave them as unmodified Hellcat wings.  They are very similar in areas to the base Vengrance wings, but a little shorter in span.  Option 2 would be to just cut off the wing tips and add a small extension (of about two scale feet) but leave the ailerons as is.  Option 3 would be to stretch the ailerons along with extending the wing.

If this were a real world conversion I could see that Option 1 would be the easiest conversion, while Option 2 would also seem to be fairly doable.  However, eventhough the ailerons from the Hellcat wing appear to be a larger size (but shorter span) than the original Vengenace ailerons, for Option 2, they wouldn't be as close to the ti of the wing as possible and as such may not be as effective as they could be, I'm guessing.  As such I'm still leaning towards Option 3, but haven't fully figured out where best to make the cuts yet.

Regards

Pat

(https://www.mnvdet.com/Other/Misc/20250209_230416.jpg)
(https://www.mnvdet.com/Other/Misc/20250209_230430.jpg)
(https://www.mnvdet.com/Other/Misc/20250209_230449.jpg)
(https://www.mnvdet.com/Other/Misc/20250209_230505.jpg)
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: Kerick on February 10, 2025, 01:13:33 PM
I’d vote for option 2. I think it would look better than 1 and be less work than 3.
I’d also vote for the Atlantic scheme with British markings. The back story could be about how all the Vultee production went to the British as Lend Lease to chase U boats.
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: Old Wombat on February 10, 2025, 09:40:26 PM
The Grumman wing is, actually, 2 sq ft LARGER than the Vultee wing - I'd leave it as-is.
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: robunos on February 11, 2025, 03:17:48 AM
Well, it's your model, but I'm with Wombat, go with the wings as-as.


cheers,
Robin.
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: PFJN on February 11, 2025, 07:57:07 AM
Hi,

Thanks for the suggestions.  I guess it does make sense that if anyone ever would have considered such an idea it would make sense to look at the simplest option first.  SoI think I'll go with Option 1 for now.

Regards

Pat

PS.  Editted down from a wordier response
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: PFJN on February 11, 2025, 10:46:06 AM
Hi,
Here is an image with the right wing installed, though I am still working on trying to get the dihedral angle of this outer panel correct, so its still kind of a work in progress.

Rgards

Pat

(https://www.mnvdet.com/Other/Misc/20250210_213205.jpg)
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: PFJN on February 12, 2025, 08:11:45 AM
Hi,
I'm not good with back stories but here is a try at one for this build.

In an alterternate history/what-if WWII setting:

In mid-1941 it was realized that the Blackburn Skua was soon to be retired.  Although the Fairey Fulmar had begun replacing it in the figter role the year before, there wasn't any real suitable airframe available to replace it as a carrier borne dive bomber. 

Around this time, although the RAF had committed to purchasing several hundred Vultee Vengeance and Brewster Bermuda aircraft, developments in the war had begun to show the limits of the usefulness of single engine bombers and dive bombers in overland operations, at least in the western European theater.  Delays in the Bermuda program also would also delay the introduction of that aircraft for about another year.

As such (in this alternate world setting( since the Vultee's were now somewhat surplus to RAF requirments, alternate uses for them were contemplated (with in the real world the UK actually offering some of them up to the RAAF if they wanted them).

So (in this alternate world setting) someone within the UK Government, the RAF, the RN or perhaps the British Purchasing Commission decided to look into what it might take to make the Vultee aircraft carrrier capable to replace the Skua in the Dive Bomber role.  This would require marinizing some of the components to make them better able to handle operating in an environment with significant salt spray, the fitting of arrestor gear (with the potential modification of some of the airframe structure to handle the stresses of arrested landings and other carrier operational loads), and the potential to fold the wings to be able to fit on most carrier lifts then in service and allow the planes to be struck down in the hangar below decks.

With regards to the wings (in this alternate world setting) two main approaches were considered.  The first would be to try and make the planes existing wing foldable, and the second would be to investigate whether a foldable wing from some other aircraft could be retrofitted. 

With respect to the first option, if a simple fold was incorporated into the wing at the point of the inflection in the leading and trailing edges of the wing (as shown below) this would leave an outer wing section of about 14.6ft to be folded up and over, whcih (due to the height of the landing gear beneath the wing) would make folding and unfolding the wing within the hangar likely impossible, as shown below.

(https://www.mnvdet.com/Other/Misc/Fold1.jpg)
[Simple fold of existing Vengeance wing]

A second approach to making the existing wing foldable would be to try and do something similar to what was done on the Fulmar as shown below.  However, this would require substantial modifications to the base Vultee wing.

(https://www.mnvdet.com/Other/Misc/Fold2.jpg)

[Fulmar Style wing fold - Red section flips ontop of wing and Blue section (with red section on top) then pivots aft]

A third approach would be to try and make the wing foldable similar to the wing on the Skua, which likely wouldn't require as many mods as trying to fold the wings in a manner similar to the Fulmar.  However, both approaches would also likely require significant modifications to the running of the control cables for the ailerons and flaps, since they would have to be rerun close to the point where the inner and outer sections of the wings connected.

(https://www.mnvdet.com/Other/Misc/Fold2b.jpg)

As such (in this alternate world setting) fitting the existing wing of either the Fulmar or Skua directly to the fuselage of the Vultee was also investigated.  On paper the Fulmar had a similar wing span (46ft 4.25") to the Vultee (48ft), and a slightly greater wing area (342 sq ft) vs the Vultee (332 sq ft), while the Skua had a span of 46' 2" and an area of 319 sq ft. 

However, the wing of the Fulmar and Skua are both mounted low on the aircraft, at the bottom of the fuselage, but on the Vultee its was mounted higher to clear the bomb bay.  In addition, as shown below, the root chord length of the Fulmar wing was larger than that of the Vultee, though the root chord of the Skua appeared much closer to that of the Vultee. 

(https://www.mnvdet.com/Other/Misc/Fold4.jpg)

Additionally since the wings on both the Fulmar and Skua were mounted lower on those aircraft than the wing on the Vultee the landing gear on the two RN aircraft appear to be shorter than that in the Vultee which would require additional modifications to be suitable for use on the Vultee aircraft, as shown below

(https://www.mnvdet.com/Other/Misc/Fold2c.jpg)

As such, it would be likely that mating the Fulmar wing and landing gear, and the Vultee fuselage would likely require a degree of redesign to fit them together, while trying to fit the Skua wing could potentially require less modification but would still require changes to the landing gear (and how that gear retracts into the wing).

With this in mind then (in this alternate world scenario) aircraft from overseas were also investigated.  In general the the F4F-4  and TBF which were just getting ready for production by Grumman were both mid wing designs, but the F4F-4 wing was too small (220 sq ft) while the TBF was too large (490 sq ft), with the F4F-4 also not having any wing mounted landing gear, but the TBF having very long gear.  The then in design F6F however appeared to be a potential better fit with its 334 sq ft wing area, slightly smaller wing root chord, and similar landing gear length to the Vultee, as shown below.

(https://www.mnvdet.com/Other/Misc/Fold5.jpg)
(https://www.mnvdet.com/Other/Misc/Fold6.jpg)


As such, I've been thinking that maybe instead of painting my build in operational colors I might instead look into painting it as a prototype or experimental aircraft with a yellow bottom and a Circle P emblem on the side near the Roundal, like shown on the Gloster Meteor at this site - https://plane-crazy.k-hosting.co.uk/Aircraft/Jets/Meteor/gloster_meteor.htm (https://plane-crazy.k-hosting.co.uk/Aircraft/Jets/Meteor/gloster_meteor.htm)

Regards

Pat
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: Old Wombat on February 12, 2025, 11:03:06 AM
An additional plus to the F6F wings is that they give you 6 x .50cal forward firing machine guns with which to subdue any enemy light AA (with the potential to modify them, later, to take 2 x 20mm auto-cannon + 4 x .50cal machine guns).

Quote from: wikipedia
While all F6F-5s were capable of carrying an armament mix of one 20-mm (.79-in) M2 cannon in each of the inboard gun bays (220 rounds per gun), along with two pairs of .50-in (12.7-mm) machine guns (each with 400 rounds per gun), this configuration was only used on later F6F-5N night fighters. The F6F-5 was the most common F6F variant, with 7,870 being built.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F6F_Hellcat (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F6F_Hellcat)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/F6F-5N_NAS_Jax_1944-45.jpg/1280px-F6F-5N_NAS_Jax_1944-45.jpg)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/qrsZ-ZI9jIQDmLHIJNj-JEHnrHzIrZRFuy7kDIcy97dB3c6OLntLmtc-7dZ2Bj1xztKDjS4mDEC0Tmz_A28hDKHuURfNcqVm2Ec9KX3h_p_uoy02IRAcncRJR9MFiaknIOegll6Xj5aqMpSjZpvem3uzg1xe6qx6ZSY) (https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/8mZo01debbY8Hr0JlAPwXXYb17-6jCtRGyJnET0QAFhGM-CxhRHeXb2Ri7H26mUVSMgtmJZxwPZuvhBM3uV5OLfNPFBILV6K5iJhjUdjXw0f0Chh0kGLmAoTw4mVzWV413ezaIohmS8bHrG8PnvrfrYJahY-VQ)




[Edited to add pictures.]
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: PFJN on February 12, 2025, 01:17:33 PM
Hi,
That could make for a good added ground attack capability.  :smiley:

PS.  Sorry for getting a little wordy in some of my posts.  I guess I'm half thinking things out and trying to convince myself whether or not I'm making any sense as I go along  ???

Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: Kerick on February 12, 2025, 01:34:09 PM
The Hellcat seems to be one of the overlooked workhorses of the navy. It seem as though everyone goes from the Wildcat, skips the Hellcat and goes on to the Corsair. I may be inspired to give the Hellcat some attention in 1:48th scale. I’m sure there’s a decent kit or two out there.
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: Old Wombat on February 12, 2025, 11:23:59 PM
I may be inspired to give the Hellcat some attention in 1:48th scale. I’m sure there’s a decent kit or two out there.

There are; Eduard (https://www.bnamodelworld.com/index.php?route=product/search&search=f6f+hellcat&fc=2&fm=61&fa1=1%2F48&fa2=Scale%20Model%20Kit), Hasegawa (https://www.bnamodelworld.com/index.php?route=product/search&search=f6f+hellcat&fc=2&fm=5&fa1=1%2F48&fa2=Scale%20Model%20Kit) & Hobby Boss (https://www.bnamodelworld.com/index.php?route=product/search&search=f6f+hellcat&fc=2&fm=20&fa1=1%2F48&fa2=Scale%20Model%20Kit), for starters.

I've built the Hobby Boss F6F-3 Hellcat (Late Version) (https://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=6287.msg114151#msg114151), but I did add some after-market bits.

(https://photos.smugmug.com/RAM-F6F-3-Hellcat/i-8Wkbz3K/0/LZgqrsRDCvG584h3gJNjb6M6WrKHjvMnsVGkVTmxW/X3/DSCN3671-X3.jpg)
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: Kerick on February 13, 2025, 10:20:11 AM
Nice, thanks for the tips!
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: Buzzbomb on February 13, 2025, 05:58:07 PM
Some detailed work done with all the drawings, I like it. :smiley:
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: robunos on February 15, 2025, 02:36:49 AM
A prototype colour scheme sounds a good idea, makes a change from blues and greys . . .
Also the shorter wingspan would increase agility during attacks.

cheers,
Robin.
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: PFJN on February 18, 2025, 04:42:46 AM
Hi,
Things are progressing slowly.  One issue that I've come across though is in finding a suitable Circle-P decal for the build.  So far the only one I saw on eBay was from Australia and the postage was very high due to the long distance  :(.

(https://www.mnvdet.com/Other/Misc/20250217_153452.jpg)
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: Jeffry Fontaine on February 18, 2025, 06:24:30 AM
No way to make your own Circle P?  If that is no option why not consider an alternative role such as target tug with the yellow and black stripes on the underside? 
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: Robomog on February 18, 2025, 06:46:58 AM
I don't know where you are based but you can get prototype makings from Hannants here:-

https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/X72213?result-token=Zhfnq (https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/X72213?result-token=Zhfnq)

Mog
>^-.-^<
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: PFJN on February 18, 2025, 10:31:45 AM
Hi,
Thanks for the suggestions.  I'm in the US (DC area).

My next step now is doing a rough markup for the camoflage surfaces.

(https://www.mnvdet.com/Other/Misc/20250217_200347.jpg)
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: Kerick on February 18, 2025, 10:50:30 AM
Your build is looking awesome! The paint is coming together.
I just got back from the LHS and not a Hellcat anywhere. Mustangs, Wildcats, Corsairs, Bearcats, P-40s, you name it. I guess it’s Amazon.
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: PFJN on February 19, 2025, 03:58:39 AM
Thanks, and good luck with your search  :smiley:
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: PFJN on February 20, 2025, 08:26:21 AM
Hi,
I need to touch up the paint a little but I am happy with how it is turing out.

Pat  :smiley:

(https://www.mnvdet.com/Other/Misc/20250219_191318.jpg)
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: Dr. YoKai on February 20, 2025, 08:35:33 AM
Pretty neat paint scheme, for sure.
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: Old Wombat on February 20, 2025, 09:39:04 AM
 :smiley:
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: robunos on March 10, 2025, 02:28:28 AM
Noice . . .

cheers,
Robin.
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: PFJN on March 11, 2025, 07:58:44 AM
Hi,
I had to take a bit of a break due to some other issues and also getting sick for a bit, but hoepfully now I can get back on track. :)
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: Old Wombat on March 11, 2025, 11:30:31 AM
 :smiley:
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: robunos on April 02, 2025, 02:24:01 AM
Any further progress on this  . . . ?

cheers,
Robin.
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: PFJN on April 02, 2025, 08:17:55 AM
Hi,
Unfortunately I've only made minimal progress the last few weeks.  I inadvertantly broke one llanding gear and mispplace the other, but found a 3D file that I may be able to use to print new ones.  Unfortunately though it has taken me a bit of time to clean up the file for print, and I also need to do some maintenance on my printer.  Between that, some yard work and doing taxes, progress has been real slow  :(
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: Kerick on April 02, 2025, 11:33:43 AM
That real life stuff really gets in the way! We'll be looking forward to more of this project whenever you can get to it.
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: PFJN on April 15, 2025, 08:35:01 AM
Hi,
This last weekend was the Northern Virginia International Plastic Modellers Society big annual meeting/show and I was able to pick up an inexpensive copy of the Airfix Helcat to replace my missing parts (actually it was an MPC boxing, but its the smae basic kit).

As such, I'm going to try and finish up my build this week/weekend  :P

Regards

Pat
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: PFJN on April 22, 2025, 11:10:02 PM
Hi,
Sorry about not posting any updatesfor a while.  I have the new landing gear from the second Airfix/MPC kit that I noted above, and am in th process of painting and installing them.  In addition I have also started painting that Canopy framing and making some small mods to the aft gun mount. 

For the Dive Brakes, I've considered a couple diffrent options, including trying to 3D print something.  However, while shopping ast week I noticed that a standard "zip tie" was just about the perfect width in comparison the the brakes shown on the Vengeance mode kit, and the "ridges/ribs" on the zip tie look to be about the right distance apart to reflect the shape of the openings in the Vengenace dive brakes.  As such I trimmed up a coupe pieces of zip tie to be the same length as the dive brakes shown on the base Vengeance kit (for each wing) and then cut a slot into the Helcat wing to fit these items, as shown below.  I used some scrap plastic into the wing so that the piece of zip tie would fit mostly flush with the wing surfaces, and filled the gaps with some Perfect Plastic Putty.  After that I repainted the surfaces as shown in the second image.

(https://www.mnvdet.com/Other/Misc/20250420_005906.jpg)
(https://www.mnvdet.com/Other/Misc/20250421_222349.jpg)

I'm hoping to finish up the landing gear, canopy and gun mount soon.  After that the main remaining pieces woud be the arresting gear, painting, adding decals and then any weathering or finishing coats etc.

:)

Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: Buzzbomb on April 23, 2025, 04:43:01 PM
That is pretty substantial progress.. liking the scheme  :smiley:
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: Old Wombat on April 23, 2025, 06:38:49 PM
 :smiley:
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: PFJN on April 24, 2025, 12:43:16 AM
Thanks ya'll :)
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: Kerick on April 24, 2025, 08:59:44 AM
I'll have to remember that zip tie trick!
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: PFJN on April 30, 2025, 10:43:55 AM
Hi,
I'm almost done, but may need a couple extra days.  The main things remaining are the arrestor gear and painting the main landing gear wheels.  I tried painting the wheels today, but when I removed my masking, the paint came off with it, so I am investigating other options.  Once I finish the last couple parts I just need to clear coat the model, add decals, and maybe do some very lite wethering.  :icon_surprised:
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: robunos on April 30, 2025, 03:20:15 PM
Looking forward to seeing this finished . . .

cheers,
Robin.
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: PFJN on May 01, 2025, 08:08:53 AM
Thanks.  I've decided to replace the aft machine guns with some from an Airfix Helldiver kit since the ones that came with the FROG kit look so over sized.  Other than that I jest need to finish painting the wheels, add the arrestor gear, and then the decals etc.

Pat
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: Buzzbomb on May 01, 2025, 04:32:29 PM
Thanks.  I've decided to replace the aft machine guns with some from an Airfix Helldiver kit since the ones that came with the FROG kit look so over sized.  Other than that I jest need to finish painting the wheels, add the arrestor gear, and then the decals etc.

Pat

If I remember them rightly, the old frog Vengeance guns look more like 30mm Grenade launchers than .50 cal MG, so a good choice to pick the Airfix offerings.
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: PFJN on May 08, 2025, 10:50:02 AM
Hi,
The actual building part of my plane is done now, except for the antenna which I acidentally knocked off, and the left wing, which I am not going to attach until after I finish the gloss coat, decals and weathering, since I figure it will be easier to do that before I put the wing in its folded position.  I probably also have a little bit of touch up paint to do as well.
 :smiley:

(https://www.mnvdet.com/Other/Misc/20250507_221308.jpg)
(https://www.mnvdet.com/Other/Misc/20250507_221328.jpg)

PS.  Here also is a close up of one of the zip ties that I used next to the original Vengeance wing from the FROG kit that hopefully helps show how close the zip tie shape appeared to be to the dive brakes molded into the FROG wing.

(https://www.mnvdet.com/Other/Misc/20250425_210948.jpg)

Pat
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: PFJN on May 10, 2025, 02:37:49 AM
Hi,
I'm almost ready to start adding the decals.  Since the plane is meant to be a "Prototype" I figure I will only put on roundels on the tops and bottom of the wings and fuselage, a "Circle P" Prototype marker on each side of the fuselage, and maybe a tail flash, but won't add any other markings.  Since I'm a little short on cash right now, after having spent a bunch at a local model show, I figured I should scour my existing decal stash rather than trying to buy anything new.

The image below shows some of the existing decals that I have that might be suitable, alongside the original decals from the FROG Vengeance kit and the MPC/Airfix Hellcat kit, for reference.

(https://www.mnvdet.com/Other/Misc/20250509_140019.jpg)

The images from upper left to lower right include:

In general I am trying to go for something similar to what is shown for the lower image of the Gloster E.29/38 in this image I found in an internet search.

(https://www.mnvdet.com/Other/Misc/Gloster-Whittle-Jet-in-three-color-schemes.jpg)

Unfortunately, on alot of the decals that I have the Yelloe Rings on some of the roundels are out of register.  As such, I was thinking of using the Defiant decals, though the Blue and Red upper wing roundels appear as if they may be too big for the location where I would have to put them on my wing.  So I may end up using the Blue and Red upper wing roundels from the Matchbox Cleveland Kit with the other decals from the Defiant kit eventhough the red is just a little different between the two sets, since the Red in the Blue and Red decals from the other kits are much lighter than those for the Defiant and Matchbox kits.  And I will also probably use the larger of the two sizes of the Circle P Prototype markings since those decals were originally for 1/144 scale models.

Regards

Pat


Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: Buzzbomb on May 10, 2025, 06:31:10 AM
In the almost there category.

Coming along nicely though, I can see the dilemma on the markings to get what you want.

I think the bottom line on the British markings is the later the period during WW2,  the bigger the red dot, so all would depend a bit on development timeline backstory.
Or not.. putting on what works and looks cool wins most times as well.
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: PFJN on May 11, 2025, 10:57:12 AM
Hi,
I've started adding the decals, as shown beelow.  The setting solution is still wet, so you can still see a couple wrinkles, but for the most part the side decals and wing botton decals have gone on well.  The wing top ones are taking a bit more effort, but the left one is now looking good, so I just have to work on the right one a little more.  Other than that, the Circle P decals that I had came out too faint against the yellow I used on the fuselage, so I ended up not using them.

Hopefully if I can get the right wing top decal finished I can seal and weather/stain the build soon, before Wednesday :)

(https://www.mnvdet.com/Other/Misc/20250510_203422.jpg)
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: finsrin on May 12, 2025, 02:23:57 AM
What a build  :smiley:
So well researched, thought out, and documented  :-*
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: PFJN on May 12, 2025, 03:05:19 AM
Thanks
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: Buzzbomb on May 12, 2025, 06:45:01 AM
Working out very well
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: PFJN on May 15, 2025, 07:22:22 AM
Hi,
I finished up last nite, but the pictures that I took didn't turn out so well, so I took some more today.

(https://www.mnvdet.com/Other/Misc/20250514_190420.jpg)
(https://www.mnvdet.com/Other/Misc/20250514_190356.jpg)
(https://www.mnvdet.com/Other/Misc/20250514_190330.jpg)

It was a fun build  :smiley:
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: Old Wombat on May 15, 2025, 01:34:28 PM
 :smiley: :smiley: 8)
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: Robomog on May 16, 2025, 03:41:46 PM
Nice work, well researched and very believable but more importantly looks good  :smiley: :smiley:

Mog
>^-.-^<
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: apophenia on May 17, 2025, 05:23:52 AM
Yup. And amazing how well those Grumman wing panels suit the Vultee  :smiley:
Title: Re: Vengea-Cat
Post by: PFJN on May 17, 2025, 07:52:41 AM
Hi,

Thank you all for the kind words  :smiley: