1:32 F6F-3 Hellcat

Decals 1:32 F6F-3 Hellcat from Techmod

A set of waterslide decals in 1:32 scale for a model of the Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat carrier fighter, part number 32006. The designs are printed on a sheet, activated with water and slid off the paper backing onto the clear coated model. The maker is the Polish brand Techmod, which specializes in decals for aircraft models. This is not a kit and not a finished model.

The real subject

The Hellcat was a carrier fighter of the US Navy, designed directly for the fighting over the Pacific. The F6F-3 version was the first in production and went into action from 1943. It was powered by the R-2800 Double Wasp radial engine, the wing folded backward for the carrier hangar, and the wide track of the landing gear made a carrier landing a bearable job even for a pilot with little experience. It was exactly that combination of toughness, rate of climb and easy handling that made the Hellcat the machine which took the main weight of the air fighting over the Pacific in the closing stage of the war.

Application tips

A decal holds best on a smooth, glossy clear coated surface; on a matte or roughened base a visible edge stays around the design. Trim each design as close as you can, leave it 20 to 30 seconds in lukewarm water and then slide it off the paper onto a spot wetted with water. Press the air and the excess water out from the center toward the edges. On doubly curved surfaces and over engraved lines a decal setting solution helps. Spray the finished markings over with a protective coat in the same sheen as the rest of the model.

Who the set is for

• modelers building the Hellcat in 1:32 scale
• anyone interested in the carrier aviation of the US Navy
• builders for whom the markings from the kit are not enough
• collectors of aircraft decals in the large scale

This is an accessory for a model, not a kit. The basic kit, paints and clear coat are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.