Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/32 PREMIUM COLLECTION Air Power Series HA0301 Grumann F6F-5 Hellcat “MINSI III” Cdr. David McCampbell, USS Essex, US Navy, 1944

Features Folding wings Rotating metal propeller Sliding canopy Interchangeable undercarriage Rolling wheels Removable center-line fuel tank 2 Bombs under fuselage, one on each side of fuel tank 6 Rockets, 3 under each wing Realistic looking pilot Dimensions Length - 12.4 in (315.5 mm) Open Wingspan - 16 in (410 mm) Width When Wings Folded - 6.6 in (168.8 mm) Height - 4.43 in (112.5 mm) Height To Top Of Folded Wings - 4.6 in (116.5 mm)

Weight - 2.8 lb (1.28 kg)

In 1942-43 the F4U program was bogged down with delays and the USN needed a top notched carrier-based fighter. The Grumman F6F-5 was exactly what they were looking for with the first production model flying in October 1942 and 12,274 Hellcats built by the end of the war. In terms of size, the Hellcat was the second largest single engine fighter of the war, being just slightly smaller than the Republic P-47 “Thunderbolt”.

In February 1944 Cdr. David McCampbell was promoted to CAG (Commander - Air Group) Air Group 15. On board the USS Essex CV-9 the VF-15 were given the name “Satan’s Playmates”. With 34 victories McCampbell became the USN top ace of all time and along with the actions of the other members of VF-15 the unit became known as “The Fabled Fifteen”. On October 24, 1944 McCampbell and another pilot took on overwhelming numbers of Japanese aircraft and managed to make them retreat but not before McCampbell claimed 9 of his 34 victories.

Specifications (F6F-5): Engine: 2000hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10W Double Wasp 18-cylinder radial piston engine Weight: Empty 9150 lbs., Max Takeoff 15,410 lbs. Dimensions: Wing Span: 42ft. 10in. Length: 33ft. 7in. Height: 13ft. 6in. Performance: Maximum Speed at 23,500 ft: 380mph Cruising Speed at 6,000 ft: 168mph Ceiling: 37,300 ft Range: 1,530 miles with 150-gallon drop tank Armament: Six 12.7mm (0.5 inch) wing-mounted machine guns Two 1,000-lb bombs, or six 127mm (5-inch) rockets

THIS IS THE INITIAL RELEASE OF THE HOBBY MASTER 1/32 SCALE F6F HELLCAT

There seems to be some concern by a few people about the dihedral. Hobby Master has confirmed the model has the correct dihedral of 7.5 degrees.