Badcat has production Hellcat, does review of plane.

[KAMIKAZE]

I'm still pretty jazzed about it.

Mark

[Quixote511]

Yepper--stoked!

[DocTodd]

Looks pretty nice to me even with the cockpit and other minor flaws.
Todd

[Jay]

Just a thought but - how many versions of the hellcat were there? The shape of the small landing gear door is pretty obvious to be wrong (as we have always pictured the door shape to be). But maybe this is a later version? What did later night fighter versions look like? Or maybe bbi intend to repaint this later on as a F6F-5. I'm pretty sure they had the rear glass removed (behind the sliding canopy) and where replaced with armour plate and it has been mentioned the 5 series had improved visability (enlarged windscreen?).

[jeffrowse]

I am just glad that they attempted the Apache. It is a nice display model even with it's errors IMHO.

Most of my friends and family wouldn't know the difference between an Apache and any other gunship, but those that do know their Indians from their Snakes say "Wow, that's a big Apache" (or whatever), not "Oh no, the sensors don't roll back properly", "the canopy opens the wrong side" or "that rotor head is just plain wrong"...

One day - when I can spare the time and afford the materials - I'm going to get it a bit more accurate (which, as my wife says, will probably be about the time Hell freezes over ). Till then, I'm stuck with what BBI gave me (okay, sold me but you get the idea)

[MightyMustang]

Is anyone actually happy there making this plane? Maybe I’m out of line here on this but it seems a lot of us are forgetting that these are toys (models). They are not perfect and never will be. This is a fantastic aircraft and I for one am completely siked there making it. Even if it has a few imperfections.

I'm very happy they are making the Hellcat. And yes we do forget these are toys and that includes me sometimes. The BBI Hellcat looks as thought its gonna be one of the best 1/18th planes out there. The cockpit detail is simply amazing and the overall detail of the plane itself is jaw dropping to me. The wing sag will be fixed because plans are underway by me to fix the problem when I get it. I dont care how many re-paints of the Hellcat there are because this is the only one I will need. It represents one of my all time favorite Aces of of all time and thats all I need.

Now if only one of the big 3 would make an A-10 for my starving A-10 freinds out there. I think its about time dont you?

[Charlemagne]

Guys, I'll gladly take the Hellcat minor flaws and all. I'm just thankful someone is making it. We sometimes forget these are toys and to the average customer they will look at the aircraft and never notice anything about the canopy and landing gear doors. They will see it for what it is...one cool looking bird. Bring it on BBI!!

[immeww2]

I never get to upset over the flaws of any piece. I'm just glad they are available in a scale that has a somewhat wide distribution of military weapons that I can proudly display and/or wargame with.

[aferguson]

Mike wrote:

"To All,
OK guys I have just finished reading all the complaints you have about the Hellcat so I have decided we will not ship it. We would really hate to disappoint you."

[VMF115]

Mike wrote:

"To All,
OK guys I have just finished reading all the complaints you have about the Hellcat so I have decided we will not ship it. We would really hate to disappoint you."

Hello mike are you going to fix the flaws?

[FieroDude]

Release it on schedule. as planned, for those of us want a Hellcat and are happy to have one, even if it is not 100% accurate. For those that inisist on absolute accuracy, fix the issues for the next generation, let those that aren't happy customize it until they are, or let them trade in their car on a museum piece. I think I speak for the majority on this board:

Bring on the Hellcat

[Plane Nuts]

Mike wrote:

"To All,
OK guys I have just finished reading all the complaints you have about the Hellcat so I have decided we will not ship it. We would really hate to disappoint you."

Hello mike are you going to fix the flaws?

Mike wrote:

"for VMF115,
no apologies required..... we can all be critics by nature.....however, I do like to see the real thing first, then judge it...images can be deceptive sometimes.
This is one reason I hesitate to post any early images.....hopefully...well...never mind.

VMF: Now see what you've done????

Mike: All I can say is that you better have a wicked sense of humour...That was the most deadpan I think you can get in a post!!

[VMF115]

Hello mike are you going to fix the flaws?

Mike wrote:

"for VMF115,
no apologies required..... we can all be critics by nature.....however, I do like to see the real thing first, then judge it...images can be deceptive sometimes.
This is one reason I hesitate to post any early images.....hopefully...well...never mind.

VMF: Now see what you've done????

Mike: All I can say is that you better have a wicked sense of humour...That was the most deadpan I think you can get in a post!!

Dont just blame me.

[toyktdlgh]

Mike wrote:

"To All,
OK guys I have just finished reading all the complaints you have about the Hellcat so I have decided we will not ship it. We would really hate to disappoint you."

HaHa, good for you Mike. I must say I was just talking to a good friend of mine the other day about this exact thread. I think we all forget that we aren’t the only ones who love these aircraft. Much like building a model and being super proud only to have your dad walk in and point out all the errors on it; I’m sure hearing all the little complaints can be tough to swallow for the people who worked so hard to make this plane. In reality the issues with this plane are small and can most likely be attributed to what the plane is… a model. I can’t wait to come across one of these beauties at my local TRU. Thank you Mike for bringing us this great plane!

[MightyMustang]

Mike wrote:

"To All,
OK guys I have just finished reading all the complaints you have about the Hellcat so I have decided we will not ship it. We would really hate to disappoint you."

Mike thats not even funny!!! I will take the Hellcat flaws and all buddy.

[aferguson]

Mike wrote:

"To all,
I'm not sure why any of you think I have a sense of humour....perhaps I don't?
For all of you that mentioned skinny wheels, you need to understand that the wing plastic needs to be a certain thickness to make the model. If it is too thin then the wings warp badly, so the wheel can only be as thick as what will fit in the remaining cavity....so you can have scale thickness wheels ...but they will not retract properly.

In everything you need to remember we are not building full size aircraft here.....compromise is the key word....we either do that or you get offfered something you would not want.

As for holding the shipment up...well I might sleep on it."

[MightyMustang]

Mike wrote:

"To all,
I'm not sure why any of you think I have a sense of humour....perhaps I don't?
For all of you that mentioned skinny wheels, you need to understand that the wing plastic needs to be a certain thickness to make the model. If it is too thin then the wings warp badly, so the wheel can only be as thick as what will fit in the remaining cavity....so you can have scale thickness wheels ...but they will not retract properly.

In everything you need to remember we are not building full size aircraft here.....compromise is the key word....we either do that or you get offfered something you would not want.

As for holding the shipment up...well I might sleep on it."

Mike,

Thanks for clearing up the wheel thickness issue, it makes sense now that I look at it. As for "We are not building full size aircraft" is concerned you might as well be because BBI's aircraft comes as close to the real thing as you can get. Your F4U series of planes is that damn good in my book and I'm sure the F6F will be as well.