These are images of the Tamiya F4F-4 Wildcat that I built to represent the VMF-223 mount of Maj. John L. Smith, USMC.  Major Smith took his squadron to Guadalcanal in August of 1942 as soon as the japanese airfield under construction near Lunga Point had been taken by the Marines and was nearing completion by Navy SeaBees.  Under constant attack by japanese naval ships, aircraft and ground forces, the 1st MarDiv and Smith's Wildcats fought a furious campaign against the finest and most experienced navy fliers that Japan could muster. Smith was credited with 19 victories in the fight to secure the island, and was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his exploits.

Only at Henderson for a few days and already showing wear & tear...

The effects of coral gravel and mud are becoming evident.

Another Wildcat, this time in the markings of AM1 Donald E. Runyon of VF-6 aboard the USS Enterprise, Fall 1942.  Don Runyon achieved several victories as an enlisted pilot to achieve acedom prior to the Navy's decision to commission all enlisted fliers.  Credited with 10 victories, he also fought in the battle to control the seas and skies of the Solomons when Guadalcanal was the focus of the War in the Pacific.

VF-6 Wildcats wore tombstones with the squadron score on their tails in 1942.

Below:  Hasegawa's 1/48th Hellcat in the markings of LCDR. James H. Flatley, CVAG-5, USS Yorktown, Fall 1943.  This poor model has been partially disassembled, stripped, and repainted about three times, so it was a natural choice for finishing in the oversprayed 3-color scheme.  Flatley's plane was an early dash-3 (note the fairings over the gun barrels) shipped out in the intermediate blue over US light grey scheme with early insignia.  The specifications for both Navy camoflage and US insignia changed, so the plane received a darker non-specular sea blue, and red trim was painted on the insignia.

Photos of this aircraft during the Marcus Island raids show ragged overpainting.

Guns #2,3,4,& 5 were shrouded on the early production Hellcats.

Same kit, done as an early dash-5 in the markings of CDR. David S. McCampbell, CAG-15 aboard USS Essex in the summer of 1944.  Modelers please note that through an error in my research I used the wrong windscreen on this kit- it should be the later flat-faced variety.  So, don't make the same mistake that I did.  Entire aircraft is in US Navy Dark Sea Blue, semi-gloss.  Of the planes operated by US forces in WW2, the Hellcat produced more aces than any other type.  It was also the mount of the highest number of US "Aces-in-a-Day" and McCampbell was the archetype among them having knocked down 5 or more enemy aircraft in a single day on more than one occassion.  His biggest one-day bag was 9.

The heavy exhaust stains were painted in thinned RLM02 Grau

The cowling tape was an attempt by groundcrews to control chronic leaks from the fuselage fuel tank

I used the Techmod sheet for the markings- very impressed with the quality

More mud courtesy of the rainy Solomons Islands...