EDUARD [ MORE REVIEWS ] [ WEBSITE ] [ NEW STORIES ]

In-Box Review
148
F6F-5
Eduard F6F-5 Late ProfiPACK edition
  • move

by: Richard Tonge [ TINBANGER ]

History
The F6F-5 featured several improvements including a more powerful R-2800-10W engine, embodying a water-injection system and housed in a slightly more streamlined engine cowling, spring-loaded control tabs on the ailerons, and an improved, clear view windscreen, with a flat armored-glass front panel replacing the F6F-3's curved plexiglass panel and internal armor glass screen. In addition, the rear fuselage and tail units were strengthened, and, apart from some early production aircraft, the majority of the F6F-5's built were painted in an overall gloss sea blue finish. After the first few F6F-5s were built, the small windows behind the main canopy were deleted. The F6F-5N night fighter variant was fitted with an AN/APS-6 radar in a fairing on the outer-starboard wing. A small number of standard F6F-5s were also fitted with camera equipment for reconnaissance duties as the F6F-5P. 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.(Courtesy Wikipedia.)

Contents
The model arrived in the typical Eduard top opening box and inside we find five large sprues in two sealed plastic bags.
Canopy parts are packed separately.
Two decal sheets.
Photo Etched parts for cockpit and engine wire harness.
Eduard Mask for cockpit and wheels.
Brassin Resin wheels and hubs for the plastic wheels.
8 1/4" X 11 3/4" eight page instruction book (C 2012)
Parts are formed in dark grey plastic and free of any flash.

Instructions
Printed on glossy 8 1/4 X 11 3/4 paper.
Front cover has an Intro/history of the aircraft.
Sprue parts layout and paint colour coding are on the first side.
Eight sides have part assembly drawings
One side shows paint mask locations.
Four sides have paint colour and decal locations.
The back cover has all the stencil locations.


The Kit
The Cockpit is the starting point of this build and we have a comprehensive PE sheet to work with which has 63 painted instruments and seat belts.
We are given a choice for the instrument panel (G43 or G50).
G43 is devoid of any raised instrument bezels which allows us to use 15 multi layered PE parts with painted dials and bezels.
G50 will require painting and decaling.
The seat has painted PE lap and shoulder belts.
23 PE parts are used to upgrade the fuselage walls.
If you are going to use the fuel tank the mounting slot will need to be cut out.
The cockpit floor brings panel,rear wall,seat assembly's together and after the sidewall details are glued in the fuselage halls can be jointed together.
The canopy (2 pc) is supplied with the optional parts for open or closed and later front canopy.
All parts are nice and clear.

Fuselage
The fuselage as with the rest of the model has fine recessed panel lines and rivets.
Control surfaces are separate parts and are not possible.
A two part fuel drop tank and PE straps wraps up the fuselage.

Engine
Five plastic parts and PE wire harness will build a nice looking R 2800 ,there is a Brassin accessories kit (648056) available which would be worthwhile to have if you want to remove the cowl and show off the exhaust piping and wire harness.
The cowl is made up from three plastic parts and a PE intake grill.

Wings
Wheel well inserts and guns are installed before joining the wing halfs together.
Control surfaces will need to be modified if you want them posed.
With this release clear landing light covers are supplied along with wing tip navigation covers.
The fuselage has recessed wing shape pockets for glueing the wings into.

Oleo
We are given the choice of Resin or plastic rims and tires, the resin tires are one piece and have a moulded tread pattern while the plastic ones are made up with two halfs with no tread on them.
The oleo struts are nicely detailed with seven plastic parts and one PE part.

Armament
The model includes options for two types of rockets ( 3 per side) and two types of bombs ( 1 per side).
PE is included for the bomb tail fins and bomb mounting straps.
HVAR rockets are available from Eduard with PE mounting brackets (#648061).

Decals
One large sheet provides the main decals and a small sheet has all the stencils.
Printed by Eduard the decals have minimal film around them.
Decals for four aircraft:-

VF-12 or VBF-12 USS Randolph, May 1945

LCDR T Hugh Winters Jr. VF-19 USS Lexington, late October 1944

VF-29 USS Cabot, January-March 1945

Death and Destruction VF-83 USS Essex May 5th 1945

Please remember, when contacting retailers or manufacturers, to mention that you saw their products highlighted here - on Aeroscale.
SUMMARY
Highs: Very detailed PE for cockpit. Fine moulded surface detail. Resin wheels. Decals.
Lows: None
Verdict: Highly recommended and looking forward to doing a build blog!
Percentage Rating
95%
  Scale: 1:48
  Mfg. ID: 8224
  PUBLISHED: Feb 16, 2015
  NATIONALITY: United States
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 90.21%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 88.59%

Our Thanks to Eduard!
This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.

View Vendor Homepage  |  More Reviews  

About Richard Tonge (tinbanger)
FROM: ONTARIO, CANADA

I started building model aircraft with my brother and dad at about 7 years old(Yellow single engine float plane). Born in England so mostly built Airfix and Frog Kits! Moved over the pond in 1979. Main interest any type/era aircraft. Tinbanger call sign comes from my sheetmetal days. I am also ...

Copyright ©2021 text by Richard Tonge [ TINBANGER ]. Images also by copyright holder unless otherwise noted. Opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AeroScale. All rights reserved.



Comments

Richard, Another one of your excellent in box kit review of the Eduard F6F-5 Late ProfiPACK edition. It's on my ever growing must have list. I just started Eduard's Jugs over Italy Limited edition kit and I was just blown way with all the extras from resin, PE, and Cartograf decals. Joel
FEB 16, 2015 - 07:37 PM
Hi Joel, I've built the Jugs over Germany kit and just sent in some photos for consideration to Jessica. You will love this kit! It one of the best I've ever made. Good luck and enjoy! Take care. Jim
FEB 17, 2015 - 02:53 AM
Thank you Joel! I will try and only paint this one once LOL
FEB 17, 2015 - 04:24 PM
[quote Hi Joel, I've built the Jugs over Germany kit and just sent in some photos for consideration to Jessica. You will love this kit! It one of the best I've ever made. Good luck and enjoy! Take care. Jim [/quote] Jim, Looking forward to seeing your pictures of the Jug. I've spent the better part of 3 days so far on the cockpit adding a little more details here and there. I ended up moving the cockpit light as the maintenance manual has it on the opposite sidewall then it's molded on. I moved it and then wired it, only to find pictures with it on both walls. Go figure. Joel
FEB 17, 2015 - 07:26 PM
Rich, Looking forward to it. Joel
FEB 17, 2015 - 07:27 PM
   
ADVERTISEMENT


Photos
Click image to enlarge
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
ADVERTISEMENT