Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA1101 Grumman F6F-5, USS Essex Minsi III, David McCampbell

Hobby Master HA1101 McCampbell’s F6F-5 Of all USN planes in WWII PTO (Pacific Theater of Operation), the McCampbell F6F-5 is the most noteworthy. Cmdr. David McCampbell flew with VT-15 “Satan’s Playmates” and was an ace with 34 air and 20 ground victories, CAG (Commander Air Group) of the “Fabled Fifteen” onboard USS Essex, CV-9 and recipient of 5 of the highest honors that the U.S.A. can bestow on a pilot. Hobby Master has produced a model of his “Minsi III” with the highest quality and detail that this great aviator deserves. The fine paint, markings and quality of material that has become a hallmark of Hobby Master’s work can all be found with this master piece of die-cast. The canopy opens, detachable fuel tank, rockets and other great features await to be discovered. Even the 34 Meatballs (victory markings) as they were referred to can be seen.

History of the F6F-5 Hellcat 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”.

The Hellcat was more than up to the task of taking on the Japanese planes, it could fly about an average 55 mph faster than the Zero. When in combat at 20,000 feet it was 70 MPH faster while between 10,000 and 20,000 feet, it had a comparable rate of climb. Like so many other American fighters the F6F was heavier and more powerful than the Zero so if needed the pilot could nose over, apply max power and out dive his opponent before he became a statistic. F6Fs were credited with over three-quarters of the Navy’s air-to-air victories. The F6F Hellcat had the highest Kill/Loss ratio of any American fighter plane in Army, Navy, Marine or Air Force service during WWII. US Navy pilots affectionately referred to the Hellcat as the “Aluminum Tank”. With six wing mounted .50 caliber Browning M2 machine guns, 3 per wing and each with 400 rounds of ammunition, they could lay down 6 deadly strings of metal that few Japanese pilots would survive as their planes were ripped apart. The Hellcat could carry two 1,000 pound bombs with its most destructive weapons being six 5-inch HVAR’s (High Velocity Aircraft Rockets). With its armament, power, range (250 gallons capacity in internal tanks and a 150 gallon belly drop-tank) and assortment of weapons and equipment the Hellcat was able to carry out a wide array of missions: air to air combat, strike plane escort, combat air patrol, long range search, ground support, night fighting (F6F-5N), and photo recon (F6F-5P). When it was all over the F6F was one of the most feared and successful planes in WWII.

Cdr. David McCampbell Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat “Minsi III” Promoted to CAG ( Commander - Air Group ) Air Group 15 February 1944, on USS Essex CV-9, VF-15 called themselves “Satan’s Playmates”. This put him in charge of the entire Essex air group - bombers, fighters and torpedo planes. This group would earn the nickname the “Fabled Fifteen”. In recognition of his leadership of the “Fabled Fifteen”, outstanding feats downing 34 enemy planes, his mission of October 24, 1944 where he and another pilot took on overwhelming numbers of Japanese planes and turned them back with McCampbell accumulating 9 of his 34 kills, McCampbell became the USN top ace and was awarded: Congressional Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Silver Star Medal, Legion of Merit, and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

ammo bay panel in left wing (picture above) will not be on the production version, it will be a solid wing.

ammo bay panel in left wing (picture above) will not be on the production version, it will be a solid wing.

THESE ARE PRE-PRODUCTION PICTURES NOT THE RETAIL VERSION

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