What a Hell of a cat - Airfix F6F-5 in (stop) motion

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/ toms_modelling
or
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Fan of the Grumman F6F Hellcat? A 1/72 diecast scale model of a 1944 Grumman F6F Hellcat (VF31, USS Cabot) you can get here:
airmodels.net/grumman/217-gru...
After my little animation teaser in December 2019 the Airfix Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat in scale 1/24 is finished by now. The clip due to the shear amount of pieces is my longest so far and shows the stopmotion animation of assembling the beautiful kit of one of the best american fighters of world war two with some very nice additional detailing products:
- Cockpit detailing set from airscale.co.uk
- Seatbelts from hgwmodels.cz
- Rods and tubes from albion alloys
- Engine upgrade set from anyz.io
- Tyres, wheel doors and brass undercarriages from Aerocraft models
- Colours from Alclad II
Special thanks to my friend Sebastian Schollmeyer for composing the music track: gee minor seven (heavencat edit) by sebshow
please visit his site:
/ sebshow
The Grumman F6F Hellcat is an American carrier-based fighter aircraft of World War II. Designed to replace the earlier F4F Wildcat and to counter the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, it was the United States Navy's dominant fighter in the second half of the Pacific War, outdueling the faster Vought F4U Corsair, which had problems with carrier landings.

[@rossbrandolino1332]

My grandfather served in the Pacific theater during WWII as a US Navy Mechanic. My understanding is that he worked almost exclusively on Hellcats. I’m sure he’d lose his marbles, as to the accuracy and dedication put into this model if I showed him. Amazing work as always!

[@robinpopps189]

God bless him I'm sure he would love to see this he is a brave man and I respect him for his part in the war 👍

[@chrisashley6189]

AMAZING work... whoever gave this thumbs down has no concept of the work involved!!

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks a lot 😊

[@kyledesjardins4274]

I know right like this must have taken forever to a I picture ever single time you move something.

[@VirgoVirgo-eh5gf]

Menuda maravilla!!!!!!!

[@frankkleij9149]

Thhe work involved.? Give just a normal narrative and not this semi smart garbage.

[@TomGrigat]

What do you mean?

[@ikezutabunkyowa4628]

That engine you built is a museum piece all on its own...

[@jordyncollier919]

I will never understand how patient you have to be to do this. Its......impressive. well done again, Tom.

[@TomGrigat]

Thank you very much 😊

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Just watched this build Tom and I must say.. WOW!! All of the extra work really pays off. You make it all look so quick and easy, but we know that really this kit is not an easy build. I wish I'd sent you some resin fuel tanks and engine core, it could have saved you some time. You have inspired me to get back on my Hellcat asap.

[@TomGrigat]

I'm very pleased you like my clip. But my engine worked very well with sanding. As I mentioned I am very thankful for your advices you gave on your channel. Those prevented me from doing some mistakes...

[@lillebo]

THIS is what I want : A self-building, self-painting modelkit. Outstanding !! 👍🏻🤓

[@TomGrigat]

😂😂😂

[@roryvonbrutt7302]

.....IKR

[@bigchef2112]

Beautiful build! And even more impressive is your stop film technique. Absolutely stunning

[@TomGrigat]

I'm pleased to hear 😊

[@ThatGuyWhoFanDubs]

The sheer amount of extra work that went into making this stop motion blows my mind. What a fantastic craftsman. The amount of patience you have blows me away, then on top of that you went the extra five miles and made this model a work of art. Great work!

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks a lot for your kind words 😊

[@warbuzzard7167]

Words. I don't have them. I'm sitting here flabbergasted.

[@TomGrigat]

😊

[@hangar4851]

Graphics, camera setting, background, music... superb... a very appealing, instructive and even hypnotising clip. Thank you!

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks for your kind words 😊

[@meerkatblack]

the build, the paint,the ANIMATION, the edit, the whole thing! masterful.

[@TomGrigat]

Thank you very much 😊

[@del80y]

Wow the detail and build quality of that model, let alone to show it using stop motion is incredible. Amazing.

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks a lot 😊

[@joeshmoe9978]

You have the ONLY model building videos on KZbin that I watch from start to finish. On other KZbin model channels I skip to the end, just to see the completed kit. 👍

[@landsurfer66]

Same here.

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks, that is great to hear

[@lucferrari3109]

Also watch PLASMO, he is great too

[@darkwing318]

What an incredible video and built. Wow. I wonder those amazing 10 minutes how many hours in real life. Thank you for sharing this beauty with us.

[@JimmyTheBoomer]

You get better all the time, Tom - Well done! (sending this video link to a buddy whose dad was WWII fighter pilot)

[@johnwalters800]

When I was about 9 years old I was into Space exploration. I made models of the Mercury Friendship 7 and Gemini 4 space walk with floating in space Astronaut. One day I was walking home from school about maybe 200 feet from my house when I saw a box in the street. A big box with ,you guessed it Model of a Hellcat! I was so excited,I had never owned such an expensive and detailed model. I thought to myself "I bet this cost over $25!". This was in 1967. I mowed lawns with a push mower for a dollar per yard to buy my models. I knew the value of hard work. I when on to build every Star Trek ship and station K-7. I stop making models in 1973 after my mom died of cancer. I have never made one since. But you have made me now that I am retired think it is time to go back to making models. Thanks again. I saw your B-17 video and talked about my dad. I am going to start with a B-17. But my hope is to someday next year start on a Space Ship of my own design. You know the type they made in the 50's out of Mixed kits of cars,boats etc. Wish me luck.

[@sjoerdb99]

goodluck and have fun!

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks for sharing your story - have fun with your nice idea 🤩

[@rweaver9653]

Excellent!! You can do it!!!

[@MrMome1612]

All those incredible interior fuselage details that forever remains hidden... I could cry😢

[@scottmurphy4183]

Nonsense, you can always open panels.

[@TheDiesel_JLU]

Absolutely stunning work

[@thatben890]

It just amazes me that you can make a model of fantastic quality, and make it stop motion too!

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks a lot

[@user-ni2zo5zo3c]

David R Lentz, Columbus, Ohio, USA (Sunday, 30 June, 2024). This presentation went rather better than I initially had expected. You gave us a smooth, succinct assembly sequence. Thanks, TOM!

[@TomGrigat]

I'm happy you like it. You're welcome.

[@VintageSprue]

Fantastic… The quality of your building AND video is stunning. ;-)

[@TomGrigat]

I'm glad you like it

[@ShuttleFactoryScaleModels]

Tom is such a talented and great artist! He can now turn a game of Scrabble into a work of scale modeling art! Joking aside Tom's skills both as a scale modeler, & stop motion filmmaker never fails to amaze me . Brilliant job Tom cannot wait to see your next video!

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks a lot for your kind words 😊 I hope you'll like the next video...

[@DavidSmith-ss1cg]

Great video, Tom Terrific! I have always wanted to call someone that, he was a cartoon hero in a TV show that I loved in the 1960s. I wanted to see what you could do with this kit, as soon as I saw Airfix doing PR work about it's "great new kit" a few years ago. I wish I could give your work hundreds of likes. You're one of those modelers that keep the standards high, and your videos help us mere mortals see how you do your magic thing. Thanks also for the artistic presentation.

[@TomGrigat]

David Smith thanks a lot for your kind words 😊

[@silvalinan4077]

Hands down one of the most creative ways to make a build video I've seen. Pure genius!

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks

[@Twirlyhead]

I can't decide whether you are better at making models or videos. Great.

[@jcsrst]

This is art in every sense of the word! Skillfully assembled and painted, beautifully filmed! Just WOW!

[@TomGrigat]

Thank you very much

[@irreversiblyhuman]

Probably one of the most entertaining build videos ever

[@huatongleong3674]

You are building a real plane! Best model building I have seen in my seventy years of modeling experience! Excellent beyond words. Congrats!

[@henrycatt5844]

Tom, your stop-motion and video edit skills really are going form strength to strength. Obviously it goes without saying that the model itself, as ever, is masterpiece.

[@TomGrigat]

Thank you very much.

[@davidnash1220]

I'm running out of words for your astounding work when l get a ping that says TG has a new video l can't wait to see what it's going to be Hellcat simply stunning

[@ricksizemore8102]

All I can say is , Thank You!

[@StephenRansom47]

This is your SCALE... the detail is incredible, Tom. Continue to be awesome.

[@TomGrigat]

OK, thanks, I'll try

[@D00kerT]

I don't think many people appreciate how much extra work goes into the stop motion. It's one thing to put it together in real-time( like most channels), the SM probably quintuples the effort at a minimum. It really makes your channel unique Mr. TOM. Really cool approach.

[@TomGrigat]

I'm very pleased you appreciate the time I take for the filming. You're right, it's very time consuming. Currently I am working on some paint jobs without taking pictures and it's like a bit of releaf... Until I started the next animation project 😅

[@Red20RC]

That's it, I'm addicted! Not only do you build an incredibly detailed work of art but you create a mesmerising video out of the process. Can't stop watching these videos and have just come back from the model shop with my first Airfix kit in 35 years. Thank you for sharing your passion.

[@TomGrigat]

Oh, thank you, what a beautiful result. Enjoy your kit 👍

[@everythingquads]

Putting aside the complexity and the attention to detail, the videography was a masterpiece in its own right.

[@TomGrigat]

Thank you very much 😊

[@harrymarwick2529]

Beautiful work as always Tom. Must be a lot of hours gone into this, the engine alone is a model. Especially the stop motion video how many hours footage to make it.

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks a lot 😊 - this was by far the most time consuming project ever. I started the modelling and animating in July 2019... And, definitely, the engine was a topic of it's own. In fact I was in fear of it that time... I cannot count the hours.

[@philronan6929]

Every Airfix model I ever made ended up with gluey fingerprints all over the cockpit and lots of gaps where the parts just didn't want to fit together properly. This is something else altogether.

[@FullEarthWorkshop]

This may be the most entertaining model building video of all time! This is an amazing piece of work with first class building,, video and editing! Thanks for creating and sharing this opus!

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks for your kind words 😊

[@paulhillclassix7676]

Hey Tom this is Sam Hill from Arkansas you are a awesome modeling engineer you are at the highest level although I would love to see on your aircraft side panels opened up to where you could see the great amount of detail that you have done behind the cockpit it's such a shame to do all that work and then cover it up but all in all I love to watch you do that thing you do man have a super duper day looking forward for more

[@JGames85]

Such awesome detail on the model. Great job!

[@DavidOfWhitehills]

I would love to have an aircraft engineer talk us through the engineering aspects of the details being revealed here. Somebody that knows their stuff and doesn't drone about their conjectures - someone like a topgrade teacher to time-pressed students. Lovely work of homage to the art of aircraft engineering by the way.

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks a lot 😊

[@wbpsmodels3452]

The level of perfection of both your modelling and your editing are beyond reality... A thoroughly enjoyable spectacle!!! Amazing work!!

[@bobdyer422]

The pit detail is beautiful, and that was just the start to I think the best 'Cat on Utub. You've done an amazing job, Bravo! Congrats!

[@danielskomorovsky]

this belongs in a museum

[@Fisiek_Inferator]

I'm not sure what makes me amazed more. Assembling that much detailed model or setting each frame of the movie??? Great hobby and brilliant idea for the movie content. Thumb up :)

[@TomGrigat]

I'm pleased you like it 😊

[@patrickroos739]

Great build and brilliant presentation! Thanks

[@Buschwick]

wow...I can't believe I actually found a scale model build vid of outstanding quality without ridiculous amounts of weathering. THIS is how I would build stuff if I had the time, patience, skill, and patience.

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks, I'm pleased to hear 😊

[@Ronno4691]

My local model shop has one of these fully assembled and painted and it's a thing of beauty.

[@akiranakai6710]

For this kind of hyper detailed model, the manufacturers should make a transparent half of the fuselage or transparent "windows" to see the exceptional work that we can do like you!!!

[@TomGrigat]

That's why I take pictures of the process - you can still see what's in the fuselage 😅

[@Spitfiresammons]

Holy hell that is amazing job of building the 1/24 airfix hellcat. Airfix will be very pleased of your work.

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks - they were 😅

[@pfg72]

Mesmerizing!!!! This is a real treat to the eyes. Stunning work as usual! Cheers from Patagonia!

[@TomGrigat]

I'm pleased to hear - greetings from Germany

[@cfawcewos]

WOW!! Not only are you an incredible modeler, but the patience you have to make these stop motion videos is amazing. Bravo!

[@steves8482]

Hi Tom - don't want to be gross (but I will anyway) - a piece of uneaten toast fell out of my mouth while watching this, and my coffee went cold. Probably not the greatest tribute you've ever had, but it's not often i miss my breakfast. Absolutely magical (the kit, not the toast) - thanks again for sharing this with us.

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks for your nice story 😊

[@james.black981]

That is probably one of the best comments I have ever seen written on any social platform.

[@hubristicmystic]

@@james.black981 He's honest right? Too honest?

[@antonrudenham3259]

Oh Lord, that's insane. That is so good that I'm almost content to stop building kits of my own and just let you do it! You've won the modelling internet Tom, never stop!

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks a lot 😊

[@PurpleTT99]

Mind blown as ever, perfection all round. However... I know you do all the detailing in areas that become hidden forever because a) you do things properly and b) you've a filmed record and c) we all get to see it. So, whilst this inspires me to build models again after so many years absence from the hobby I can't promise if there's areas that I know will be hidden forever I'll be quite so thorough!

[@vasin7480]

Great work, Tom!!

[@rickellis1321]

Fantastic! Stop animation makes this even better to watch. Makes me want to get back to my table of my stuff and cry.

[@TomGrigat]

I'm pleased you like it 😊

[@rricos151]

Truly a work of art by a master builder and a great technique in filming this.. Awesome thank you

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks for your kind words 😊

[@johnnydep8979]

Beautiful, gorgeous, outrageous piece of master craftmanship.

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks a lot

[@sferguson1130]

This is simply UNBELIEVABLE, the amount of work that went into this! 👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@mattharrington5064]

Love your videos! The time and massive effort you put into each one is not lost on any one. Thank you so much for all you do! Truly wonderful!

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks

[@allenmueller]

I keep coming back to watch this video. This must be one of the most beautiful builds of possibly the best WWII kit ever made. I think it's funny that only now I'm realizing scrabble uses Optima as the font for their tiles. xD

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks - yes they did use the optima. I first recognized this during my art education...

[@mikedehooghblackflagracephotos]

Simply gorgeous. I've never seen such attention to detail in areas that will never be seen once it's finished and displayed. A work of art.

[@squidmuttly]

I love your videos, Tom. I've watched this one several times and the thing that strikes me is the incredible impression of weight and solidity of the engine. Something about that particular shade of grey blue, and the glossy finish. It screams of heavy engineering.

[@7RQ89]

6:00 the engine is a class act by itself always with such great attention to details that make Tom's work and video a joy to watch. Thank you Tom!

[@hiyou6501]

The 22 people who disliked the video don’t understand how much time and effort went into this video

[@fidinboca]

I think exactly the same.

[@jefftrischuk7909]

They must have been on drugs and bumped the wrong thumb emblem. There is no reason to thumbs down this. But at least they commented as this helps the creator by showing interest.

[@retepeyahaled2961]

Perfext modelling and a joy to watch your movie too.

[@MrGeoffHilton]

You have got to be the finest, best model builder in the world, period! Always a pleasure to watch your work.

[@catlady8324]

Brilliant! Bloody brilliant!

[@josephbicknell6522]

It is one thing to build an exceptional model, which you did, it is quite another to do it while taking stop motion pictures. You astound me with your skills and effort.

[@TomGrigat]

I'm pleased to hear 😊

[@hullandy23]

This model was my first model kit when I was 7. I'm now 45 and still building model kits. Love your videos

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks a lot 😊

[@zoeystewart10]

All I can say about this build is WOW! Super impressed.

[@akhalif68]

Model Building & Animation come together to create something special - Thx

[@c123bthunderpig]

Your model skills are off the chart, museum quality, and your videos are the best model building videos on KZbin- I only wish I had the Kenetic powers to actually build them that way. Congratulations and thanks for sharing your skills.

[@TomGrigat]

I'm pleased to hear you like my little experiments. Thanks for your kind words 😊

[@ketohiker7040]

Sir I am in awe. Knowing both what is involved in the Airfix kit & making engaging content. Thanks for the time taken.

[@indyjons321]

This absolute Chad painted the INSIDE of everything!!!!!

[@deltasource56]

Im staring at a 20 piece snap tite model kit going i cant make it yet here you are making this..

[@mitchellyoumans3644]

This is one of the coolest modeling videos I’ve seen. Awesome! That goes for both the modeling work itself and the photography!

[@TomGrigat]

Thank you very much 😊

[@robertgriffin662]

Well that was definitely worth the wait! Tom you are a master model builder. Thanks for sharing!

[@TomGrigat]

I'm pleased you like it 😊

[@Peter-Oxley-Modelling-Lab]

Wow! A masterpiece of model making and film making...11/10! Thanks for sharing this superb effort . 👍🏻 Just AWESOME!

[@daveashdown9904]

Excellent.Its a shame all that detail is hidden. As a modeller myself its the satisfaction you know it's there, even if it cannot be seen.Great video

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks - you're right 😂

[@aloysiusjones3985]

I agree, but he knows it is there and that is all that matters.🇦🇺

[@TomGrigat]

And: you can still see it in the video 😅

[@Lex_el_Guisante]

Its simply georgeous that details is incredible I no have words for this my little brother love the F6F Hellcat

[@mikesmart3734]

Stunning.

[@TJPenitencia]

Far and away the best model build video I've ever seen. Fantastic work on both the model and video production.

[@TomGrigat]

Thank you very much 😊

[@AbstractArmorHLF]

Wow. What a great build. Video was amazing.

[@Snootyboss]

Well, that was both impressive and entertaining. I marvel at the skill and patience from assembling as well as the film making. Really well done!

[@TomGrigat]

Thank you

[@Snootyboss]

@@TomGrigat you're more than welcome. Credit where it's due. I was fascinated looking forward to seeing more of them.

[@TheBufalo79]

So many perfect decisions in every single frame of this animation, wow!

[@syrkaros5815]

Never seen this level of detail before. Congratulations

[@TomGrigat]

Thank you very much 😊

[@joeargyle9468]

Fantastic looking aircraft, and a great attention to detail brilliant job Tom👍👌

[@michaelcarrier4374]

Wow, wow, wow!!! Excellent build!

[@bruceosborne1892]

How refreshing and innovative. Fantastic build.

[@mikecooper8462]

Awesome time-lapse build. Decent music too. A great way to inspire new modelers to the hobby as well. Thanks Tom for a superb presentation.

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks a lot - I hope I could motivate new modelers. It's a beautiful hobby...

[@larryjin3996]

Good grief. I just saw this for the first time and it completely blew my socks off. The cockpit build left me stunned. But the engine build was absolutely incredible! Kudos to you! This was the most impressive modeling video I have ever seen.

[@TomGrigat]

I'm pleased to hear 😊 thank you

[@alfnoakes392]

The engine build was flippin' gorgeous wasn't it ... 😗

[@nathanhowland196]

Absolutely staggering! Superb!!

[@gareths483]

Very nice. Great to see the close in details that other KZbin model kit makers don't include in their vids. Love the stop motion of the kit building itself, sets these vids apart from all the others. And great end product. Thumbs up.

[@goodtips8973]

Whoahhh!!!! What an artist you are... cant believed that i land on your chanell. You are so inspirational. Thank you Sir.

[@arshadhasan]

Absolutely mind blowing stuff!!!!

[@angrymediasmily9041]

JESUS... your video(s) is/ are a masterpiece.

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks

[@CharlieDeltaEchoVict]

Wonderful video of a fabulous model. Thankyou Tom. Unbelievable skill and work gone into that. I particularly like the fact that it shows the components and assembly of the real aircraft.

[@seanwelch71]

These airplane films of yours are excellent in both filmmaking and model construction. I’m awed.

[@TomGrigat]

I'm pleased to hear 😊