Inaccuracy in the BBi f-6 Hellcat wing fold??????

VMF115 · Post by **VMF115** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 7:22 pm

Inaccuracy in the bbi f-6 Hellcat wing fold??????

I noticed that there are hinged doors that allow the wings to have that classic Grumman wing fold signature.

Problem is the real F-6 does not have doors that open on the underside of the wing.

I think Bbi could not get around of the problem of making it durable with out this mod.

I would like mike’s input on this.

btw I still like it.

Sabrefan · Post by **Sabrefan** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:01 pm

Guys, I think we should wait until we have the new Hellcat model in our hand before we start asking a bunch of questions about it. It is really hard to see what a model has to offer by just looking at pictures.

VMF115 · Post by **VMF115** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:20 pm

Sabrefan wrote:Guys, I think we should wait until we have the new Hellcat model in our hand before we start asking a bunch of questions about it. It is really hard to see what a model has to offer by just looking at pictures.

If you look at it, it is there

Sabrefan · Post by **Sabrefan** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:28 pm

Yes I see what you mean. I think you will lose some accuracy in order to make the folding wings work. It would be awesome to have a model work just like the prototype, but that might really cost us some big bucks.

Moth · Post by **Moth** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:33 pm

The Avenger's wings work without any doors.

Well there is a little door, but I think the real one has it too. Can anyone verify that?

VMF115 · Post by **VMF115** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:34 pm

Moth wrote:The Avenger's wings work without any doors.

Well there is a little door, but I think the real one has it too. Can anyone verify that?

yes they do.

VMF115 · Post by **VMF115** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:36 pm

http://acam.ednet.ns.ca/avenger/avenger.jpg

Sabrefan · Post by **Sabrefan** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:42 pm

VMF115, do you have any good close up pictures of a Hellcat with its wings folded? Thanks.

VMF115 · Post by **VMF115** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:49 pm

Sabrefan wrote:VMF115, do you have any good close up pictures of a Hellcat with its wings folded? Thanks.

I have a few books that show them folde up, but with out the under wind door.

chunks · Post by **chunks** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:51 pm

IIRC, (if not please let me know, this is a test!!) the Avenger's wing fold mechanism folded directly back requiring the door to provide clearance. The Hellcat's wings, learning from experience, actually moved a short distance away from the wing join before folding. This might be, and likely is, a faulty memory, but it might explain the difference in the mechanism.

VMF115 · Post by **VMF115** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:52 pm

VMF115 · Post by **VMF115** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:01 pm

I also think the front landing gear door along the leading edge is a tad small.

Sabrefan · Post by **Sabrefan** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:07 pm

Man I like that Hellcat with the eyes and mouth. Great looking plane.

chunks · Post by **chunks** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:08 pm

Ahh OK. It looks like Grumman developed the geometry and layout of the wing join to simplify the whole thing. Great photos, thanks.

toyktdlgh · Post by **toyktdlgh** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 4:54 am

I'm just glad there making it. I can deal with the doors and gear.

Flak Happy · Post by **Flak Happy** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 9:33 am

toyktdlgh wrote:I'm just glad there making it. I can deal with the doors and gear.

Ditto

And now that we got our Hellcat, bring on a Helldiver!!

Sabrefan · Post by **Sabrefan** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 9:56 am

I was watching an old "wings" that I had recorded years ago on the discovery channel. They had both the F4F and the F6F. They had some real good video of a Hellcat folding and openning its wings. It does have the door that opens under the wing when the wings are extened. You could see them open really well in this video. Anyone else have any of the old "wings" videos? The Hellcat they showed had the word TEST on either side of it.

CW4USARMY · Post by **CW4USARMY** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 4:56 pm

Flak Happy wrote:
toyktdlgh wrote:I'm just glad there making it. I can deal with the doors and gear.
Ditto

And now that we got our Hellcat, bring on a Helldiver!!

Amen!

tmanthegreat · Post by **tmanthegreat** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 7:32 pm

Sabrefan wrote:I was watching an old "wings" that I had recorded years ago on the discovery channel. They had both the F4F and the F6F. They had some real good video of a Hellcat folding and openning its wings. It does have the door that opens under the wing when the wings are extened. You could see them open really well in this video. Anyone else have any of the old "wings" videos? The Hellcat they showed had the word TEST on either side of it.

Don't have the videos, but I remember that show. I loved it

The main musical theme is great too. That's from back in the day when cable TV was a bit more educational and academic. Unfortunantly the programs on Discovery and elsewhere are getting too flashy, fast-paced, and dumbed down - even on the History Channel

VMF115 · Post by **VMF115** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 7:39 pm

I also think the Bbi hellcat tires look like bicycle tires, Sorry I am being nitpick but I like to display my A/C on a self and not on the ceiling.

Sabrefan · Post by **Sabrefan** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 8:39 pm

VMF115 I agree with you that the tires are kind of narrow. I wanted to tell you how I fixed that problem with my BBI Corsair. A friend of mine had a 21st Century Avenger. His kids really did a number on it, so he gave it to me. I really love my BBI Marines Dream Corsair, but I find the tires to be to skinny. Well I took the wheels and tires off of the Avenger, painted the hubs silver and mounted them on my BBI Corsair. It took a little work, but it looks great. The Avenger tires are about the same height as the Corsairs stock tires, but they are fatter. I used Testors metallic silver for the hubs, and it was a perfect match for the BBI silver.

VMF115 · Post by **VMF115** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 8:56 pm

Sabrefan that sounds great, but I don't have any trashed Avenger's, Is there a way any one could make some molds???????

DocTodd · Post by **DocTodd** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 9:23 pm

The plane looks good in spite of the doors for the wing fold. I wonder how many schemes they will produce.
Todd