Curtiss SB2C-4 Helldiver - FINISHED

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December 4, 2015
two right wings
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December 4, 2015
Picture from Wikimedia - creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
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June 26, 2017
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August 1, 2017
Ammunition boxes "removed" ...
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September 10, 2017
The seat is from Ultracast, some small parts homemade
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September 10, 2017
I painted the bottle in the rear cockpit green for oxygen - have no clue whether this is correct
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September 11, 2017
Instruments are hand painted - no decals used
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October 24, 2017
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October 24, 2017
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October 24, 2017
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October 24, 2017
trying to fit the Revell outer wing to the Wolfpack inner part
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April 1, 2018
three times right wing: full resinwing, resingwing with cut out for slats, mixed inner wing resin and outer wingpanel from Revellkitwing
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April 1, 2018
insert was vacformed over resinwing and glued into place with Bondic
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April 1, 2018
primed
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May 5, 2018
For whatever reason I seem to be the only one where the kit part does not fit (left). Luckily I could vacform a replacement using the kit part (right).
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May 5, 2018
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May 5, 2018
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May 5, 2018
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May 5, 2018
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May 6, 2018
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May 10, 2018
Building an inflatable dinghy ...
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May 10, 2018
inflatable dinghy and where it's stored
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May 10, 2018
almost there ...
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May 10, 2018
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May 10, 2018
de-arming the wing cannons - before and after
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May 17, 2018
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May 17, 2018
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May 17, 2018
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May 17, 2018
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May 17, 2018
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May 19, 2018
working on the looks of the airflow deflector - left original, right reworked
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June 1, 2018
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June 1, 2018
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June 1, 2018
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June 1, 2018
the Montex masks didn't stick well enough so I had to replace some with Tamiya tape
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June 1, 2018
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June 1, 2018
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June 26, 2018
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June 26, 2018
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June 26, 2018
Masking for the yellow Rescue Strip
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June 26, 2018
Yellow painted ...
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June 26, 2018
the usual home cut masks .. resized from the Catalina project
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June 26, 2018
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June 26, 2018
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June 26, 2018
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July 31, 2018
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December 2, 2018
first landing leg is ready for paintjob
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December 2, 2018
gunner seat from Ultracast
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December 2, 2018
Ultracast seat is a huge improvement
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December 2, 2018
Maketar masks for the wings
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December 2, 2018
obviously Helldivers had one frame painted red ...
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December 3, 2018
final clear coat missing othersiwe finished
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December 27, 2018
unmasking tore off some paint - sanded with Tamiya 1200 grit
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December 27, 2018
black primer
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December 27, 2018
Vallejo intermediate blue 71.299
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December 27, 2018
Thin layer of Vallejo Sea Blue 71.300
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December 27, 2018
... fixed!
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December 27, 2018
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December 27, 2018
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December 27, 2018
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December 27, 2018
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December 27, 2018
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January 13, 2019
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January 13, 2019
Missed to add the red "escape hatch" decal - now it's too bright and needs some gentle toning down
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January 13, 2019
Wing is now ready for the final semi gloss coat
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January 13, 2019
I think the fuel tank filler cap should be red
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January 13, 2019
Propeller finished - decals are from Kora
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January 13, 2019
had to drill away a mounting rod - now have to restore the paint
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January 13, 2019
ready for painiting
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January 13, 2019
rear gunner seat is in - I also added the missing blue teardrop shaped light
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January 13, 2019
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January 13, 2019
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January 13, 2019
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January 13, 2019
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January 13, 2019
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January 13, 2019
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February 6, 2019
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February 9, 2019
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February 9, 2019
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February 9, 2019
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February 16, 2019
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February 16, 2019
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February 16, 2019
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February 16, 2019
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February 16, 2019
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February 16, 2019
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February 16, 2019
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February 16, 2019
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February 16, 2019
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February 16, 2019
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February 16, 2019
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February 16, 2019
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February 16, 2019
The scratch built Fairchild camera has found it's place also
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February 16, 2019
the Yagi antenna come from the Accurate Miniatures TBM kit as they are more detailed than the Revell parts
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February 16, 2019
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February 16, 2019
Struts made out of 0.8mm brass tube with 0.6mm inserts which held the final 0.4mm alu tubes. Painting: primed, two coats of different reds, gloss coat, wash and semi closs coat
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February 16, 2019
It is possible to thread EZ wire twice into a 0.4mm brass tube!

Comments

11 4 December 2015, 19:51

Thomas Bischoff
I want to express my sincere thanks to Wolfpack.
I bought the Helldiver Wingfold set which contained two right wings.
On my email they sent me without charge a complete replacement set from Korea.

4 December 2015, 19:55

Thomas Bischoff
Now I can slowly start - maybe during Christmas Holidays?

4 December 2015, 19:56

Torben
A good start on a very interesting subject. I´m in.

1 August 2017, 16:43

Jens
Hallo Thomas und Glückwunsch zu dem Set 👍 der macht wirklich Spaß, was ich auf den Bildern vermisse sind die Ätzteile ! Ich habe das ja schon verbaut und schaue dann gern zu 👍 zumal eine wirklich ausgefallene Lackierung ansteht 🙂

1 August 2017, 17:00

Thomas Bischoff
You're all welcome!
Jens: du hast recht, ich hätte mir einige Arbeit sparen können mit den richtigen Ätzteilsets! Eigentlich wollte ich auch nicht viel investieren ("OOB"😢 aber dann kam alles wieder anders. Bis jetzt macht der Bau aber Spass, bin gespannt wie sich das Wingfoldset einbauen lässt.

3 August 2017, 18:07

Jens
Ich war zufrieden, nur habe ich oft nicht den Anspruch auf das perfekte Modell gestellt, zu dem habe ich noch den Eduard Set verbaut, was den Fahrwerkschacht praktisch neu entstehen lässt. Ich schau aber weiter zu 👍

3 August 2017, 19:20

David Thor
Schöner Start, bin gespannt auf das Ergebnis! Wird es die Maschine auf dem Foto mit dem Rescue Schriftzug?

4 August 2017, 07:01

Thomas Bischoff
@David: zu meiner Überraschung gibt's von Victory Productions einen Decalsatz mit genau dieser Maschine.

6 August 2017, 08:02

David Thor
Klasse, die ist doch wirklich was besonderes.

6 August 2017, 08:22

Christian Bruer
Nice start👍

10 September 2017, 18:12

David Thor
Sehr schön, das Cockpit!

10 September 2017, 18:15

Hanno Kleinecke
Cool project, I like the the livery ! What colour is the Nose and the backdrop for the Rescue lettering ?
I would love it to be yellow, but more likely it was white ?

10 September 2017, 18:56

Thomas Bischoff
Thank you all for the kind words - I make only slow progress due to heavy workload in the office.
@Hanno: Background is yellow - and there are even well researched! decals available for that camo. By the way: the rudder and wingtips are also yellow. It's like early Christmas 🙂

10 September 2017, 19:27

Hanno Kleinecke
Yummie ! Checkin' in ! 😄
Just found a pile of helldiver pictures on this site axis-and-allies-pain.._viewtopic.php?523.0
especially this one :

[img1]

10 September 2017, 19:50

Thomas Bischoff
Hanno: thanks for the link! Most pictures were completely unknown to me! The picture of the Hawaiian SB2C-5's is also printed in the Detail&Scale volume.
Unfortunately it looks as if the Victory Productions decalset is currently not on sale 🙁

11 September 2017, 09:58

Jens
Bei Ultracast wohl noch zu haben 🙂
ultracast.ca/product..s/48-Scale/VPD48009/

11 September 2017, 11:53

Jens
und alles schön GELB 😄 😄 😄

11 September 2017, 11:53

Thomas Bischoff
👍

11 September 2017, 12:14

Thomas Bischoff
hm .. Wolfpack did a shortcut on the outer wings - the slats should be extended but are modelled in closed position.
It's either cutting the resin wing and replace the outer part with the kit part or leave it - there exists one picture of a SBW-4E also showing folded wings with closed slats

12 September 2017, 20:16

Stephan Ryll
Looking very good Thomas 👍

12 September 2017, 20:19

Thomas Bischoff
Thanks Stefan - I need every support 🙂

12 September 2017, 20:33

Thomas T
Sehr schöne und genaue Arbeit, Thomas. Respect

23 September 2017, 10:10

Jens
Servus Thomas, da ist mir dann doch ein Fehler passiert 😄 , ich habe den Wolfpack Set ohne Umbau verarbeitet, aber wie es ausschaut , echt klasse Arbeit 👍 👍 👍 die sich wohl lohnt 🙂

24 October 2017, 09:55

Thomas Bischoff
Danke Jens! Hoffe es klappt - zum Glück hab ich drei rechte Flügel, wenn's nicht funktioniert verbau ich einfach eine der Reserven 🙂

24 October 2017, 09:59

Thomas Bischoff
after a "short" break I have taken up work on the Helldiver again. My first try with cutting the resin wing apart to glue on the outer wing from the kit was not very satisfying so I tried with the second wing to cut out the slat and add a vacformed insert. This worked now quite well.

1 April 2018, 13:19

Tim Heimer
Great to hear that.!

1 April 2018, 13:21

Jens
Hallo Thomas, schön das es weiter geht 👍 wusstest Du das es für die Helldiver auch Vacuhauben gibt ?? , Ich warte auf meine, wie die sich dann am Modell macht, werde ich berichten 🙂

5 May 2018, 21:38

Thomas Bischoff
Hallo Jens, ich weiss, dass es im Falcon Set 7 eine gibt, die sei aber nicht verwendbar, weil für den alten Monogram Bausatz gedacht (Zitat Bernhard Schrock aus Jet&Prop 4/98). Alle anderen Klarsichtteile passen bei mir nicht schlecht, das Frontteil sogar hervorragend! Die Klarsichtteile sind auch schon Interiorgreen gespritzt und einbaubereit.

6 May 2018, 05:47

Jens
Danke Thomas 👍 👍 👍 , das spart mir wohl Ärger, denn wenn Berhard schon schreibt, nicht verwendbar, dann muss ich doch eine komplett neue Kanzel haben 🙁, Revell hatte zwar Ersatz zugesagt, aber ich warte schon 2 Jahre .... da war die Hoffnung auf die Falcon 🙂 , Monogram ist Revell und hatte die Helldiver ja auch aus den gleichen Formen, in den USA im Angebot , nun dann bekommt meine einen Stoffbezug auf die Glasteile, einen Überzug gegen das Salzwasser auf See ..... 😄

6 May 2018, 07:00

Björn Svedberg
You have done some really nice modifications to this kit, and it shows! It looks great! 👍 Following!

6 May 2018, 07:23

Martien Lourens
This is very nice work. I am, following with great interest

6 May 2018, 15:59

Spanjaard
cockpit looks really good, and very nice extra work added to the rest.

6 May 2018, 17:02

Thomas Bischoff
Thank you all for your comments!

6 May 2018, 17:49

Erik Leijdens
Looking great Thomas! Never knew this Revell kit was that nice. Must buy me one too 🙂

10 May 2018, 20:27

Thomas Bischoff
Thanks Erik - this is a really nice kit but sold out currently, not even Evil Bay has it!

10 May 2018, 20:38

Adam Gudynowski
Excellent scratchbuilding 👍

11 May 2018, 11:52

Thomas Bischoff
Thanks Adam! Your comment gives me support to continue with scratchbuilding a K-20 camera to go into the rear cockpit 🙂

11 May 2018, 19:29

Björn Svedberg
I love the scratchbuilding! 👍

11 May 2018, 19:58

Thomas Bischoff
Thanks Björn!
Huge success today! I finished the first part for the Helldiver - it's a scratchbuilt replica of the Fairchild K-20 camera used by the US Navy which will go into the rear cockpit to fill some empty space 🙂. - see pictures 29/30

17 May 2018, 06:36

Spanjaard
camera looks great!

17 May 2018, 06:37

Thomas Bischoff
Thanks Spanjaard! I built it while preparing the Helldiver for the primer (kind of looping there and still not satisfied)

17 May 2018, 06:39

Thomas T
Thomas, looks 'pretty' nice, you see me impressed. Will she be thinned, ehm sorry primed next weekend?

17 May 2018, 19:24

Thomas Bischoff
yes Thomas - the plan is to mask and prime over the long weekend.

17 May 2018, 20:22

Gordon Sørensen
Great detail work, Thomas! Cockpit and rear pit look fantatic!

19 May 2018, 14:33

Thomas Bischoff
Thanks Gordon!
Finally finished masking the whole stuff and have started painting using black primer first 🙂

1 June 2018, 12:37

Thomas Bischoff
Fuselage is almost done 🙂

31 July 2018, 06:08

Wim van der Luijt
somehow managed to miss this so far.....It is a great looking project so far....did you spray the star as well?

31 July 2018, 06:34

Thomas T
As usual a fantastic paint job, Thomas.

31 July 2018, 06:57

Christian Bruer
Excellent progress Thomas 👍

31 July 2018, 12:49

Jeffrey Riedesel
AWESOME subject!

31 July 2018, 13:58

Norbert Steffens
What a superb model so far.

31 July 2018, 17:21

Thomas Bischoff
Thank you all for your kind comments!
Wim: the insigna is also airbrushed because the photo of the real thing shows a bleached out paintjob so I sprayed the star darker on the bottom and lighter on top. If you know this you see it in some of the pictures 🙂.

31 July 2018, 18:17

Thomas Bischoff
long time no update .. loaded some new pictures, slowly progressing to the end 🙂

2 December 2018, 10:39

Jens
Your little advances are just a WOW on the details, just awesome to see how it grows 👍 👍 👍 👍

2 December 2018, 10:59

Burkhard D
😎

2 December 2018, 12:51

Alec K
Excellent work 👍

2 December 2018, 16:52

Thomas T
Klatsch klatsch klatsch !
(Translation: clap clap clap!)

2 December 2018, 21:34

Thomas Bischoff
Thank you all! In the meantime I have finished the wheels

3 December 2018, 21:17

Thomas Bischoff
some progress... had to fix paintjob on the wings as unmasking the US stars tore off some paint.

27 December 2018, 15:15

Holger Kranich
Ui ui ui, was haben wir denn hier? Sieht klasse aus, Thomas!

27 December 2018, 15:40

Dieter Bihlmaier
Great looking model, Thomas!

27 December 2018, 15:44

Nathan Dempsey
Love the markings on this one.

27 December 2018, 16:20

Dutch
Thomas, Neato torpedo! (No pun intended!) I knew about USAAF 8th AF P-47D rescue birds in the ETO, but not USN rescue birds in the PTO, except for PBY Catalinas and OS2U Kingfishers. You're doing great, keep up the great work!

27 December 2018, 16:23

Flop_Se
Superb build so far! 👍 I'm impressed!

28 December 2018, 11:32

Daniel Klink
Georgeous Details Thomas.. The Wingfolding mechanism looks awesome 👍

8 January 2019, 19:28

Gerald
sehr gut 👍

9 January 2019, 00:24

Thomas Bischoff
Many thanks for all your kind regards. I spent Christmas and New Year to advance mostly on all remaining small and minor issues and managed that the Beast is now finally standing on its own legs!

13 January 2019, 10:22

Björn Svedberg
I love your attention to detail and the execution of it! 👍 This is going to be a real stunner!

13 January 2019, 12:57

Roberto Rocat
Impressive Beast 👍

13 January 2019, 13:42

Thomas Bischoff
After more than 3 years this is coming slowly to the end - one wing is attached now and I am test fitting the wing strut for the second wing now.

6 February 2019, 16:05

Dutch
She is looking really nice! Almost complete! I like your work jig! I need to make one as well.

6 February 2019, 17:19

Thomas Bischoff
Thanks Dutch - the Jig is from Evo EVO BI 3224 (Vertigo Miniatures VMP008, No)

6 February 2019, 17:28

Marco Gallmann
She is amazing Thomas. I hope everything will work and you will able to finish It without any problems 👍

6 February 2019, 18:48

bughunter
I missed this somehow, all the beautiful details 👍 The flaps with holes and red below looks fantastic.

6 February 2019, 19:55

Patrick Hagelstein
Amazing build! 👍 And I join in with Dutch as to like that jig.

6 February 2019, 19:57

Flop_Se
Prime time modelling at its best! 👍

6 February 2019, 22:04

Alec K
Outstanding work Thomas 👍

7 February 2019, 13:21

Holger Kranich
Krasse Arbeit Thomas! Gefällt mir unglaublich gut!

8 February 2019, 09:48

Thomas Bischoff
Thank you all!
Yesterday was a "Museum Day" with visit to the Picasso exhibition and to the Kunsthalle Aarau and no work on the Helldiver. Today I have now established the correct length for the second strut, it's painting time 🙂

8 February 2019, 15:47

Alberto Michieletto
Very nice work!

8 February 2019, 16:44

bughunter
The model is a great work 👍 - but I think the base is a bit tight. May be that is the reason to put the wings up😉

9 February 2019, 21:27

Jens
what a beauty, absolute madness, I miss the words 👍 👍 👍

9 February 2019, 22:44

ForestFan
Excellent attention to detail on a cool subject!

10 February 2019, 07:33

Martien Lourens
Amazing. Outstanding work. With attention to the smallest detail.

10 February 2019, 09:06

Daniel Klink
Wow, that is a beauty of a Helldiver... Fantastic built, Detailwork an paintjob Thomas..👍
Love it!

10 February 2019, 10:15

Marco Gallmann
I like the paint scheme very much, good choice. The work is amazing, a very clean build and an awesome paint job. I like it 👍 👍

10 February 2019, 10:30

Dieter Bihlmaier
Beautyful!

10 February 2019, 13:36

Thomas Bischoff
Many thanks for your encouraging comments!
Wanted to finish this last weekend before my wife returned from holidays but the struts required more time than anticipated but I finally managed to finish this and have uploaded the final pics 🙂

16 February 2019, 17:13

Neuling
I agree with Marco.

16 February 2019, 17:23

Jens
Hello Thomas, real model art 👍 really nice to look at, a model of the extra class, very very nice work 👍

16 February 2019, 17:45

Dutch
Thomad, beautiful Beast! Just such a joy to see it complete and enjoy the fine work. You truly are a Fine Scale Modeler! Congratulations. K/r, Dutch

16 February 2019, 19:23

Thomas Bischoff
Thank you all!

16 February 2019, 20:27

Spanjaard
well done!

16 February 2019, 23:26

Hanno Kleinecke
Beautiful work Thomas ! Great blue and yellow scheme, excellent detailing, especially on the wing folding mechanism !👍

16 February 2019, 23:33

Tim Heimer
Beautiful!

17 February 2019, 00:25