In Box Review of Platz 1/144th Scale
U.S. Navy F6F-5D/K “HELLCAT”
Controller Aircraft for Drones/Target Drone
2 in 1 kit no. PDR-23-1800
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 2020
MSRP: 14.41 Yen ($13.16)
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 2020
MSRP: 14.41 Yen ($13.16)
After playing a role as a main carrier-fighter in WWII service, some F6F”Hellcats” were converted to unmanned Aero Versions in the postwar era. F6F’s basic high performance was also suitable for UAV’s. The F6F’s were even useful for target drone and/or unmanned missile launching mother-ships.
THE KIT:
Platz is a prolific model company based in Shizuoka City, Japan. They manufacture all manner or model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a end-opening type box that Is not shrink-wrapped.
I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts of the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The cover art shows a color side profile of a F6F-5D/K , that is overall dark sea-blue with yellow wings, elevators and rudder. The rudder flap is bright red. Its belly drop tank is dark sea-blue also. It has a jet black anti-glare panel in front of the windshield.
It has a white number 3 on the sides of the cowling, large star with bars insignia followed by large white NAVY on sides of fuselage, with small white VU-5 below the NAVY. It has large black UE on the rudder. (more about this marking later).
It is posed with a large illustration of the star with bars behind it and all against an all-white background Similar to how Tamiya brand also does the majority of their box arts.
There is a small color illustration of the decal sheet on the corner of the box art.
One side panel begins with a paragraph all in Japanese, followed by a color illustration showing the wings of the box art scheme that have a wide red band around them. (more on this scheme later) It says: The original sea blue scheme paint was remained on the fuselage of the drone-controlling aircraft (F6F-5).
This is followed by a repeat of the history of the aircraft (already given above) and Platz’s telephone and FAX numbers, street and web address, in English.
Platz is a prolific model company based in Shizuoka City, Japan. They manufacture all manner or model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a end-opening type box that Is not shrink-wrapped.
I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts of the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The cover art shows a color side profile of a F6F-5D/K , that is overall dark sea-blue with yellow wings, elevators and rudder. The rudder flap is bright red. Its belly drop tank is dark sea-blue also. It has a jet black anti-glare panel in front of the windshield.
It has a white number 3 on the sides of the cowling, large star with bars insignia followed by large white NAVY on sides of fuselage, with small white VU-5 below the NAVY. It has large black UE on the rudder. (more about this marking later).
It is posed with a large illustration of the star with bars behind it and all against an all-white background Similar to how Tamiya brand also does the majority of their box arts.
There is a small color illustration of the decal sheet on the corner of the box art.
One side panel begins with a paragraph all in Japanese, followed by a color illustration showing the wings of the box art scheme that have a wide red band around them. (more on this scheme later) It says: The original sea blue scheme paint was remained on the fuselage of the drone-controlling aircraft (F6F-5).
This is followed by a repeat of the history of the aircraft (already given above) and Platz’s telephone and FAX numbers, street and web address, in English.
The other side panel says the kit is: Unassembled and un-painted in 1/144th scale.2 planes included. 71mm in length when completed (almost 3”). 4 schemes of decals for 2 models. Glue and paint are not included. Some parts are extremely sharp. Handle with care. Do not use near fire while using glue or paint. Kit is intended for modelers 15 and above, in Japanese and English.
The bottom of the box serves as a marking and painting guide. It shows 4 color side profiles of F6F-5D/K’s.
These schemes are repeated as 4-views in the instructions and show:
Letter A scheme is the box art subject Outboard of the central red bands on the wings is the star with bars above the left wing and black 3 UE outboard the red band on top of the right wing. Under the wings the star with bars is outboard the red hand under the right wing and black NAVY is outboard the band under the left wing.
It was Drone Control Aircraft, VU-5, Detachment B, Naval Air Station, Naha, Okinawa 1958.
Letter B scheme is overall bright red, with a bright red bellow drop tank and yellow wing and rudder tips. It has a large white 9 on the sides of the cowling. A lot of tiny white text under the cockpit, followed by the star with bars and large white NAVY over small white VU-5 and a large white UE on the sides of its rudder. The star with bars insignia above the left top wing and below the right wing. It has white 9UE above the right wing and white NAVY 9 below the left wing.
It is a target-drone, VU-5, Detachment B, Naval Air Station Naha, Okinawa, 1958.
Letter C scheme is overall bright red, with a bright red belly drop tank. It has a small white O32 on the sides of its cowling. Fuselage code is large white O32 followed by star with bars, small white F6F-5K over 4032 and large white NAVY. On top of the left wing and below the right wing is the star with bars. On top of the right wing and below the left is white 032 NAVY
It is a target drone, Naval Air Station, Oceana, VA 1951.
The letter D scheme has a red spine and most of the rudder, over the rest of it and the wings and elevators being bright orange. Wing and elevator flaps are red. It has a large white letter B on the sides of it cowling. Fuselage code is large white 004 followed by the star with bars. Large white letter B over Point Mugu on rudder sides. Star with bars above the left wing and below the right.
It is a target drone/missile test launch aircraft, Naval Air Station Point Mugu, 1950.
Letter A scheme is the box art subject Outboard of the central red bands on the wings is the star with bars above the left wing and black 3 UE outboard the red band on top of the right wing. Under the wings the star with bars is outboard the red hand under the right wing and black NAVY is outboard the band under the left wing.
It was Drone Control Aircraft, VU-5, Detachment B, Naval Air Station, Naha, Okinawa 1958.
Letter B scheme is overall bright red, with a bright red bellow drop tank and yellow wing and rudder tips. It has a large white 9 on the sides of the cowling. A lot of tiny white text under the cockpit, followed by the star with bars and large white NAVY over small white VU-5 and a large white UE on the sides of its rudder. The star with bars insignia above the left top wing and below the right wing. It has white 9UE above the right wing and white NAVY 9 below the left wing.
It is a target-drone, VU-5, Detachment B, Naval Air Station Naha, Okinawa, 1958.
Letter C scheme is overall bright red, with a bright red belly drop tank. It has a small white O32 on the sides of its cowling. Fuselage code is large white O32 followed by star with bars, small white F6F-5K over 4032 and large white NAVY. On top of the left wing and below the right wing is the star with bars. On top of the right wing and below the left is white 032 NAVY
It is a target drone, Naval Air Station, Oceana, VA 1951.
The letter D scheme has a red spine and most of the rudder, over the rest of it and the wings and elevators being bright orange. Wing and elevator flaps are red. It has a large white letter B on the sides of it cowling. Fuselage code is large white 004 followed by the star with bars. Large white letter B over Point Mugu on rudder sides. Star with bars above the left wing and below the right.
It is a target drone/missile test launch aircraft, Naval Air Station Point Mugu, 1950.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The kit holds 4 medium-grey parts trees, 2 clear trees and the decal sheet in 3 clear cello bags. The largest bag is self-sealing the smaller bags are heat sealed shut.
The instructions consists of a single sheet printed on both sides on slick coated paper in color. It is folded in the center to create 4 pages in 5 ¾” x 8 ¼” folded again to fix the box.
Page 1 begins with a repeat of Platz’s street address and the short history of the aircraft and features, in Japanese and English.
The parts trees are illustrated and are alphabetized.
There are 2 large identical medium-grey letter A trees. They hold: the fuselage, wings, elevators, cockpit floor and alternate backrests, engine, propeller and its retainer ring, dashboard, seat, 2 bombs. Belly drop tank halves and its struts (33 parts ea.) The 2 bombs are not shown in the assembly steps, so are excess.
The kit holds 4 medium-grey parts trees, 2 clear trees and the decal sheet in 3 clear cello bags. The largest bag is self-sealing the smaller bags are heat sealed shut.
The instructions consists of a single sheet printed on both sides on slick coated paper in color. It is folded in the center to create 4 pages in 5 ¾” x 8 ¼” folded again to fix the box.
Page 1 begins with a repeat of Platz’s street address and the short history of the aircraft and features, in Japanese and English.
The parts trees are illustrated and are alphabetized.
There are 2 large identical medium-grey letter A trees. They hold: the fuselage, wings, elevators, cockpit floor and alternate backrests, engine, propeller and its retainer ring, dashboard, seat, 2 bombs. Belly drop tank halves and its struts (33 parts ea.) The 2 bombs are not shown in the assembly steps, so are excess.
There are 2 identical medium-grey letter B parts. They are the cowlings.
Clear letter G tree holds the canopy and 2 square windows. The square windows are shaded out in the parts trees illustrations as being excess.
Clear letter G tree holds the canopy and 2 square windows. The square windows are shaded out in the parts trees illustrations as being excess.
The decal sheet completes the kit.
The rest of page 1 and page 2 gives a grand total of 5 assembly steps.
The top of page 2 gives decal application instructions and instructions as to how to get service for the kit, in Japanese and English.
Page 3 and 4 gives the four 4-views of schemes over a suggested listing of GSI brand paint colors.
There are no pilot figures included in the kit. Detail is of the engraved variety.
I want to sincerely thank Platz for this review sample.
All their products can be viewed on their web-site at:
The top of page 2 gives decal application instructions and instructions as to how to get service for the kit, in Japanese and English.
Page 3 and 4 gives the four 4-views of schemes over a suggested listing of GSI brand paint colors.
There are no pilot figures included in the kit. Detail is of the engraved variety.
I want to sincerely thank Platz for this review sample.
All their products can be viewed on their web-site at:
Highly recommended.