Hobby Master 1:72 Air Power Series HA1108
Grumman F6F Hellcat Diecast Model
USN VF-1, "White 9", William Moseley, USS Yorktown, 1944 | |
| 1:72 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| Grumman F6F Hellcat | | 5.75" | | 7.25" |
Like all carrier aircraft the F6F flying from USS Yorktown (CV-10) had their distinctive identification markings. The tail had a diagonal white stripe as well as a green propeller hub. These fighters belonged to Fighting Squadron One (VF-1) who had its baptism under fire in 1943 when they first met the enemy at Tarawa. There they had great success protecting the ground troops as they bombed and strafed enemy positions for 4 straight days without a loss of one plane.After Tarawa the "High Hatters" as VF-1 were called spent the next few months on Oahu before joining USS Yorktown. From May 29th to August 2nd while flying off Yorktown VF-1 acquired a record of 101 enemy planes destroyed with 19 more probables and all were airborne. They also accumulated 61 aircraft on the ground, 8 ships damaged and 16 sunk as well as destroying 26 AA batteries and 7 ammunition dumps and/or fuel depots blown up.Just on June 15 1944 alone Fighting Squadron One (VF-1) downed 20 Zeros and on June 19 1944 the first day of the Battle of the Philippine Sea they downed 37 Japanese aircraft with 2 definite and one probable going to Lt. William C. Moseley. Moseley was flying 41438 on the 19th and it was so badly damaged that when he managed to land on the carrier it was pushed over the side.The replacement aircraft was BuNo. 41090 with its distinctive 090 hastily spray-painted on the side of the engine cowling. Being a replacement aircraft there wasn't time to paint the "High Hatters" emblem on the sides. Sadly Lt. William C. Moseley was shot down on Independence Day July 4, 1944 while flying over the Bonin Islands and was listed as MIA and later changed to KIA. On October 25 1945 Fighting Squadron One "High Hatters" was decommissioned.
Developed by Grumman to combat the Japanese Zero, the carrier-based F6F Hellcat was first flown on June 26, 1942. The Hellcat was a far more potent force than its predecessor, the Wildcat. It had increased fuel capacity, a low-mounted wing, wide landing gear, strengthened cockpit armor plating, and increased ammunition capacity. The big Double Wasp engine was set three degrees off the center axis, giving the aircraft a tail-down attitude in flight. Pilots' stories of "mostly holes where the airplane used to be" underscore the Hellcat's ability absorb unbelievable punishment and still return to the ship. © Copyright 2003-2025 The Flying Mule, Inc.
Hobby Master's 1:72 scale F6F Hellcat is constructed almost entirely from diecast metal, which gives it a nice, solid feel. It has crisp panel lines, a canopy that can be removed or displayed in the open position and a cockpit interior that features pad-printed dial and gauge instrumentation. There is also a removable center-mounted fuel tank and staged machine gun barrels with shell casing vents. Some variants have under-wing mounted rockets and bombs, night fighter versions feature radome mounted to the wing's leading edge and photo reconnaissance variants have a small camera port at the rear of the fuselage.
© Copyright 2003-2013 The Flying Mule, Inc.
The Hobby Master "1:72 Air Power Series" range presents detailed, ready-made diecast models of military aircraft.
Hobby Master "1:72 Air Power Series" 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.
- Presentation stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
- Accurately detailed underside with concealed screwheads.
© Copyright 2003-2025 The Flying Mule, Inc.
