ARII / Otaki 1/48 scale
Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat

by Pedro Pérez

Trumpeter's 1/32 scale F4U-4 Corsair is available online from Squadron

Although the Grumman F6F Hellcat was not as spectacular a performer as the Vought F4U Corsair, it was the strong point of carrier-based aviation in the U.S. Navy during the last two years of the war. Only 14 months elapsed between the prototype's first flight and the plane's debut in combat. From August 31, 1943, until the war ended, the 12,272 Hellcats proved to be worthy successors of the Wildcats. According to U.S. Navy records, of the 6,477 enemy planes destroyed in air combat by carrier-based planes, 4,947 were downed by F6Fs. This total reaches 5,156 if one adds the victories of the land-based Hellcats piloted by Marines.

Built almost straight from the box. I represent with this model-kit, the famous airplane flown by Lt. Hollis "Holly" Hills, VF-32 USS Langley, 30 April 1944.

Finally, I used Gunze Acrylics paints, mixing various of them to get similar colours of United States Navy colours, particularly intermediate and navy blue.

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Model, Images and Text Copyright © 2010 by Pedro Pérez
Page Created 3 June, 2010
Last Updated 3 June, 2010

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