Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA1109 Grumman F6F-5, USN Blue Angels first aircraft LIMITED EDITION

Die-cast metal. Superb detailing in 1/72 scale. Pre-painted with pad applied markings. Comes with pilot figure. Fully assembled. Display stand included. Option to display model with wheels up or down. Minimum use of plastic. Very collectable

When Lt. Cmdr. Roy Voris became the lead for the Naval Flight Demonstration Team he selected the F6F-5 as the team aircraft because this was the plane that made him a WWII Ace. To reduce weight the 3 Team F6F-5 aircraft were stripped of guns, ammunition boxes and any non-essential components. The paint scheme was an overall dark blue accented by the letters and number painted using gold-leaf paint. In 1954 the Blue Angels settled at NAS Pensacola, Florida where they remain to this day.

To keep the public interested in naval aviation Admiral Nimitz ordered the formation of a flight demonstration team. The first show took place in 1946 under the lead of Lt. Cmdr. Roy “Butch” Voris and flying the Grumman F6F Hellcat. Two months later the team transitioned to the Grumman F8F Bearcat. In 1947 Lt. Cmdr. Robert Clarke took over as team lead and introduced what has become the famous “Diamond Formation”. Before the end of the 1940’s the Blue Angels had advanced to their first jet aircraft, the Grumman F9F-2 Panther.

Specifications for the Blue Angels F6F Hellcats Each unit had undergone operational cycle refitting and modified.

Dimensions Length: 33ft 7in Height: 13ft 1in Wing area: 334 sq. ft Weight Extra measures taken to reduce weight: removal of the oil tank armor, ammo boxes, wing mounted guns Maximum take-off weight: 15,413lbs Power plant: 1 X R2800-10W generating 2000hp Performance Cruising speed: 168mph Top speed: just under 380mph Operational ceiling: 38,300ft.

THESE ARE PRE-PRODUCTION PICTURES NOT THE FINAL PRODUCT