Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/32 PREMIUM COLLECTION Air Power Series HA0307 Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat “Jolly Rogers” White 50, VF-17, USS Hornet, 1945

Features Optional see-through cowling 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”.

From March 18 - 21 1945 Grumman F6F-5 Hellcats of VF-17 “Jolly Rogers” were aboard the USS Hornet. On March 19, 1945 VF-17 Hellcats encountered and destroyed twenty Japanese Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden-kai (George) with the loss of six Hellcats. During March and April of 1945 VF-17 downed a total of 146 aircraft and was involved in supporting attacks on Iwo Jima, Okinawa and the Battleship Yamato. Fifteen VF-17 pilots became Aces, more than in any other Pacific fighter unit.

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