1:48 Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat

Hell over the Marianas

This robust carrier fighter was built with a single aim: to win superiority over the Pacific against the nimble Japanese machines. It staked everything on a powerful radial engine, armor and a solid structure that could take a hard landing on deck. The turning point came on 19 June 1944, when American formations over the Marianas shot down such a number of opponents that the nickname which took hold for that battle refers to a turkey shoot.

Five aircraft from the deck

Three of the options come from ships operating off the Marianas in June 1944, and another is a machine from the deck of a light aircraft carrier from July of the same year. The most interesting is the fifth possibility: the aircraft of an air group commander who had the name The Minsi painted on the nose. He went on to become the most successful fighter pilot of the US Navy and over the Philippine Sea shot down seven aircraft in the course of a single sortie. The set is completed by the aircraft of another well-known ace, with its airframe serial number stated.

Practical notes

• a dark blue carrier finish calls for a layer of gloss under the decal, or the white numbers will go gray
• the numbers on the fuselage are large, so it is best to lay them in one go and straighten them at once
• the lettering on the nose follows the shape of the engine cowling, and a decal softener will help
• seal the edges of the film with matte varnish once dry

The package holds printed markings, not a kit or paints. Before application it is worth checking the height of the numbers against a drawing of the model used.