Carousel 1 AirCraft 6182
Grumman F4F Wildcat Diecast Model
USN VF-4 Red Rippers, Charlie Shields, 1940 | Limited Edition
2000
Pieces Worldwide |
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| 1:48 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| Grumman F4F Wildcat | | 7.25" | | 9.5" |
The US Navy Fighter Squadron "Red Rippers" was formed as VF-5 in 1927 and has subsequently been designated as VF-4, VF-41, and currently VF-11. The F4F-3 first entered service in December 1940 with VF-4 (re-designated VF-41 in January 1941) on the USS Ranger, and Lt. Charles "Windy" Shields participated in this deployment. During the Winter months of 1939-40 and 1940-41, the Atlantic fleet was based in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The peace-time US Navy was unconcerned with camouflage, and wing upper surfaces were painted "yellow-orange" to make it easier to spot crashed aircraft. Each carrier's aircraft featured a different tail color-green for those of the USS Ranger. As the threat of war increased, the Navy's combat aircraft were camouflaged during 1941. The USS Ranger , the oldest carrier in the US fleet, was unsuitable for Pacific operations because of its short range and small size, so it remained in the Atlantic. American and British forces invaded Morocco, a territory of Nazi ally "Vichy" France in November 1942. The USS Ranger supported the landings at Casablanca, code-named "Operation Torch". On November 8, 1942, Shields shot down four French aircraft: a Dewoitine D.520, two American-made Curtiss Hawk 75's, and an American-made Douglas DB-7 bomber, before Shields was attacked by four more Hawks, which shot down his F4F-4. While hanging from his parachute, Shields was strafed by the French fighters, but they missed and he was captured by Vichy troops. French resistance collapsed three days later, and with the Vichy surrender, Shields was freed to rejoin the Ranger. He was awarded the Silver Star. VF-41, re-designated as VF-4, trained on F6F's and was sent to the Pacific, first on the USS Bunker Hill, then on the USS Essex. In November, 1944 the Essex and VF-4 supported the American invasion of the Philippines. On November 25, 1944, when Shield's wingman attacked a Japanese Kawasaki Ki.61 "Tony" decoy, both F6F's were attacked by six more Kawasakis. Shields and his wingman each splashed a Kawasaki before the remainder fled, then they landed safely on the Essex. Later that day, the Essex was struck by a Kamikaze but remained in action. Lt. Charles Shields finished the war with five victories scored against French and Japanese enemies.
Designed to meet a US Navy requirement for a new carrier-based fighter, the F-4F was first flown on September 2nd, 1937. Originally used by the British (who called it the Martlet) against the Luftwaffe, the Wildcat also became the United States Navy's primary carrier fighter in the Pacific Theatre. The Wildcat was no match for the maneuverability of the Japanese Zero, but the two airplanes were roughly equal in speed and the F-4F was able to absorb far more damage. With its array of 6 x 12.7mm machine guns and its distinctive Thach weave maneuver, two Wildcats could handle four or five Zeros. © Copyright 2003-2025 The Flying Mule, Inc.
Carousel's 1:48 scale Wildcat series pays tribute one of the US Navy's iconic Pacific theater aircraft of WWII. The models in this series feature a solid diecast propeller that spins with almost no friction, with details of the radial engine clearly visible through the cowling. The landing gear is constructed as a subassembly and is securely locked in place with magnets. The closed main landing gear and wing mounted fuel tank (optional fuel tank available with most releases) slip in place and are also secured with magnets. The removable canopy and pilot figure allows for easy viewing of a detailed cockpit interior.
© Copyright 2003-2013 The Flying Mule, Inc.
The Carousel 1 "AirCraft" range presents highly-detailed, ready-made diecast models of military aircraft. Carousel 1 have an excellent reputation for producing superbly accurate diecast models of racing cars and their "AirCraft" range is worthy of the same praise. Aircraft in the Carousel 1 AirCraft range are carefully researched and reproduced with a level of detail that is unmatched by most other manufacturers in this scale.
Carousel 1 "AirCraft" diecast airplanes feature:
- Diecast metal construction with some plastic components.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
- Interchangeable extended/retracted metal landing gear with rotating wheels and rubber tires.
- Extremely detailed cockpit interiors with glazed instruments.
- Detailed removable pilot figures.
- Spinning metal propellers.
- Accurately detailed underside with concealed screwheads.
© Copyright 2003-2025 The Flying Mule, Inc.
