BBI 1/18 F6F Hellcat

CW4USARMY · Post by **CW4USARMY** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 3:51 pm

BBI just keeps rolling out the surprises! The Hellcat is a great addition to the 1:18 line up. The A-10 mockup might just be to see how much attention and interest it generates at the show. Here's to hoping they bring it on!

digger · Post by **digger** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 4:17 pm

We should see what Mike says. Some things they show and it takes a year (see figures, Knights...). On the other hand Mike said they don't announce what is not already on the way

So we should get some news one way or the other, and it could be very good for the AC guys because people sure have been clamoring for one....

Quixote511 · Post by **Quixote511** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 4:23 pm

I remember a few NYC TFs ago they showed a mock up of a P-47. Then whammo, 21st comes out with it and that was that. Supposedly, the Hellcat was at this same TF as the Jug. I haven't heard squat about the bbi Jug or Hellcat since then. If I had to guess, I would say the Hellcat is a go and the Jug has been scrapped, which wouldn't be a bad thing. Duling realeses is neat, but I want new blood.
Aaron

KAGNEW · Post by **KAGNEW** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 6:22 pm

i know repaints make the companys money but new planes are what we really want

Tinman · Post by **Tinman** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 6:33 pm

Let's hope the Hellcat is out in time for Christmas! I could do with the Zero repaint also.

KAMIKAZE · Post by **KAMIKAZE** » Thu Oct 27, 2005 9:10 am

A Hellcat and a Zero! Things are definately heating up around our hobby.

Mark

Rogo · Post by **Rogo** » Thu Oct 27, 2005 9:57 am

...and in case I didn't mention it, I have a reserved spot on my ceiling to hang up a HELLCAT. Bring it on BBI !!! Corsairs, Zeros, Avengers, P-40, a Hellcat, man the Pacific war is really heating up!

Rogo

Plastic Spastic · Post by **Plastic Spastic** » Thu Oct 27, 2005 10:34 am

If BBI does bring out a good 1/18 Hellcat, I'd love to see 21st put their recent hard-earned engineering experience together on a 1/18 Wildcat. The wing fold design looks to be worked out well on the TBF and that leaves the tricky gear retraction as a puzzler on the F4F.

Quixote511 · Post by **Quixote511** » Thu Oct 27, 2005 11:58 am

I think we will see a Wildcat. I mean if 21st can pull off the gear on the 104 and the folding wing on the TBF, I think they can combine those two features into one relatively small fighter.
Aaron

Rogue · Post by **Rogue** » Thu Oct 27, 2005 1:57 pm

I would take a Wildkitty with retracted gear and a set extended for display.
Wings are easy, except for the small handles to release the pins.

I keep the gear up in mine, there the weak link in accuracy anyway.

immeww2 · Post by **immeww2** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 10:03 am

Would go nice with the Avenger.

Charlemagne · Post by **Charlemagne** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 11:00 am

While I'm still not completely convinced this will come to production, I am hoping and wishing that BBI or 21C will do it. The Hellcat deserves recognition as a major factor in the US Navys air dominance over Japan. The Hellcat shot down more aircraft and had more aces than the Corsair. Not that I'm knocking the Corsair because I love it just as much but facts are facts. I realize economic factors of production costs and is there a demand for the product come into play. From a historical stand point this plane deserves to be done in my humble opinion. I know I would certainly buy one.

Jericoeagle1 · Post by **Jericoeagle1** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 2:03 pm

I find it kind of funny. The Hellcat is a very popular plane but its been put pushed back for awhile. While I like the Avenger I just can't see it as anyone's first pick for production yet a great effort has been made to see it get done. I would much rather have seen the Dauntless get made first. I'll buy the Avenger when it comes out but I can see a dozen or more other aircraft come out that I'd rather buy then it first.

Website · Post by **Teamski** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 5:21 pm

Jericoeagle1 wrote:I find it kind of funny. The Hellcat is a very popular plane but its been put pushed back for awhile. While I like the Avenger I just can't see it as anyone's first pick for production yet a great effort has been made to see it get done. I would much rather have seen the Dauntless get made first. I'll buy the Avenger when it comes out but I can see a dozen or more other aircraft come out that I'd rather buy then it first.

I'd agree with you except that I really appreciate the shot at what is a "B" list plane (in the sexiness column). I'm kinda tired of all of the first line stuff being done. How many Spits, 109s, P-51's, P-47s, P-38, P-40s can we deal with in the multitudes that we see them in all scales??? I'm worn out! Now, the Avenger is what I call a unique choice. It's fresh and appealing in my eyes.....

-Ski

Shin Densetsu · Post by **Shin Densetsu** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 6:37 pm

Charlemagne wrote:While I'm still not completely convinced this will come to production, I am hoping and wishing that BBI or 21C will do it. The Hellcat deserves recognition as a major factor in the US Navys air dominance over Japan. The Hellcat shot down more aircraft and had more aces than the Corsair. Not that I'm knocking the Corsair because I love it just as much but facts are facts. I realize economic factors of production costs and is there a demand for the product come into play. From a historical stand point this plane deserves to be done in my humble opinion. I know I would certainly buy one.

Well it was already shown in box and all at pretoyfair, and the corsair came beneath all of our noses out of nowhere, so it would not surprise me if we see this either before x mas or a little bit afterwards. I mean if it has already made it as far as having not only a more refined physical prototype than shown years back, but also nearly final looking one unveiled at pretoyfair and a inbox sample already onhand, I definitely think this will make it!

Not to mention Mike did mention they were already working with northrop grumman on something......this is the something I think he was referring to.

Charlemagne · Post by **Charlemagne** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 7:22 pm

Well let's hope BBI pulls the trigger and produces the Hellcat. It sounds like there is ample evidence to suggest they will soon. I can understand why other types came first like the Spit, P-51, and Corsair. The "sex appeal" factor I'm sure came into the equation. Let's face it, the Hellcat is not going to win any beauty contest against those candidates. Although, I would argue the Hellcat has it's own unique appeal at least to me any way.

Shin Densetsu · Post by **Shin Densetsu** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 7:45 pm

I like it too, it was the best Iron Works cat back then, much lke the tomcat is now.

Not to mention it is historic and has much relevance in the WWII era, and for naval aviation!

JimBob55 · Post by **JimBob55** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 7:44 am

If one would take account of the WW2 U.S. A/C produced so far by 21C and BBI, it has been mostly been USAAF: P-38, P-40, P-47 (two distinct versions), and the P-51. The only Navy/Marine released so far is the Corsair. So perhaps the next logical step is for several Navy releases.

The Avenger is a pretty complex and gutsy release effort. And the Hellcat looks like a good bet soon. Maybe the Dauntless and the Wildcat will be on tap for the future. We also have the new Admiral Toys in the mix, too; perhaps they will come up with some new WW2 A/C releases!

BTW, I like Rogue's idea above about how to deal with the Wildcat landing gear: have exchangable retracted and extended sections to change out. Otherwise, making workable gear would be awfully complex to attempt.

JimBob

KAGNEW · Post by **KAGNEW** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 10:46 am

in early "60s" monogram made a geared working retract system in the 1/32 Grummann F3 biplane that i later made work in a Revell 1/32 Wildcat
i was about 12 at time. so if i could do it then, they should be able to do it now

Rogue · Post by **Rogue** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 12:24 pm

I don't want those ugly gears sticking out of my fuse!

KAGNEW · Post by **KAGNEW** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 12:36 pm

like i said that was many years ago.
they could use it as a pattern.
leave gears off and make it manual on each side.
or put a fairing over gears.
many things could be done

Small Scale Military Headquarters

BBI 1/18 F6F Hellcat

Hellcat let's see

Cat Fight

Hopeful

Re: Hopeful

Hopeful 2

r

Hellcat