Hobby Master Archive

SNJ-5 In the late 1930’s North American Aviation began to deliver the T-6 Texan for the USAAF and the SNJ version for the USN. The SNJ had to function like the fighters of the day and be able to carry armament also some had tail hooks (SNJ-5C) to practice carrier operations. Nicknamed the “Pilot Maker” it is considered the most successful trainer ever built, estimates are 100,000 U.S. Military pilots flew these aircraft. Known as the Harvard throughout the British Commonwealth it served in 34 countries with approximately 16,000 planes built.

Beginning on January 9, 1948 the new man in charge of the “Blue Angels” was LCdr. R. E. ‘Dusty’ Rhodes. At that time the team was flying four F8F Bearcats and one SNJ dubbed “Beetle Bomb” that was meant to represent a Japanese Zero. Originally the SNJ was painted with a large red meatball on the side of the fuselage and a large number zero on the tail. By 1948 the SNJ/Zero was painted bright yellow with USN markings. Three F8Fs would perform the maneuvers until the SNJ/Zero would attack the three Bearcats to begin a dogfight. At this point the fourth F8F would join the group that would then split into two two-plane sections to pursue the SNJ/Zero. The Japanese pilot would always lose the fight ending in his aircraft hurtling towards the ground in smoke and a dummy thrown out to represent the pilot bailing out.

Specifications Manufacturer: North American Aviation Purpose: Advanced Trainer Powerplant: 600 HP Pratt and Whitney R-1340-AN-1 Length: 29 ft. 6 in. Wing Span: 42 ft. Height: 11 ft. 9 in. Maximum Speed: 205 MPH Cruising Speed: 170 MPH Service Ceiling: 21, 500 ft. Range: 750 mi. Weight: Empty 4,158 lb. / Maximum 5,300 lb. Average Fuel Consumption: 30 GPH Armament: Allowance made for 1 x 0.30 in. (7.62 mm) Machine Gun

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA1519 Blue Angels SNJ-5 Beetle Bomb 1948

True 1/72 scale Professionally painted unique scheme Great attention to detail All markings are Tampoed (pad applied) Option to display the model on a stand that is provided Model can be shown with the landing gear in the down or up positions Canopy opens Extremely heavy metal with a minimum of plastic Highly collectable