1/72 F6F-3/5 Hellcat

HSGWA-01241

The F6F Hellcat was a fighter aircraft produced by Grumman, a renowned manufacturer of carrier-based fighters,
as a successor to the F4F Wildcat. Along with the F4U Corsair,
it was a mainstay of the US Navy in the latter half of World War II.
On June 30, 1941, the order for the XF6F-1 prototype was issued, and
in June 1942, the XF6F-3 made its maiden flight.

However, this aircraft lacked sufficient horsepower and its performance was not satisfactory, so
the engine was immediately replaced with a more powerful P&W R-2800 Double Wasp.
Deliveries of production aircraft began in November 1942, and
the first F6F squadron, VF-9, was formed as early as January 1943, with
training beginning aboard the aircraft carrier USS Essex as the first force to defeat the Zero.

By 1943, 2,545 F6F-3s had been delivered,
with 252 loaned to Britain under a loan agreement.
They were assigned to the British Fleet Task Force from July 1943, and
saw combat in December, with some participating in operations against Japan in the Indian Ocean.

The F6F-5 uses the same R-2800-10W engine as the late-production F6F-3, but
it is a production model with some redesigned parts, including the engine cowling, windscreen, ailerons, and tail section.
The rearward-facing window behind the movable windscreen has also been removed.
Furthermore, its armor protection has been strengthened.

The F6F was large and heavy relative to its engine power, and
was by no means a masterpiece in terms of performance. However, it
was robust, highly maneuverable, and had excellent armor protection, making it able
to withstand hits well and resulting in a low attrition rate.
Combined with the large number of 12,272 aircraft produced and
Japan's difficulties in developing a successor to the Zero fighter,
it left behind a more spectacular combat record than its actual capabilities would suggest.

《Specifications》 F6F-5
Crew: 1
Wingspan: 13.06m
Length: 10.23m
Height: 4.9m
Wing area: 31m²
Engine: P&W R-2800-10W
Takeoff power: 2,100 hp
Range: 1,750 km
Maximum speed: 594 km/h (altitude 7,300 m)
Armament: 6 x 12.7mm cannons or 2 x 20mm cannons + 4 x 12.7mm cannons, 2 x 450kg bombs