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1/48 Hasegawa Model

Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat

Flown by Lieutenant Eugene Valencia
VF-9, USS Lexington, February 1945

Lieutenant Eugene Valencia As the older F4F Wildcat had demonstrated the need for an aircraft to exceed the abilities of the Japanese Zero, the newly designed Hellcat became the U.S. Navy carrier fighter. The Hellcat provided an improved rate of climb, more speed, and most important, the turning circle necessary to stay with a Zero in a dogfight. The Hellcat had a range of 483 miles over the Zero and could fly 30 mph faster. Surprisingly, this was all accomplished with a weight that is almost double that of the lightly built Japanese plane. After the war, Japanese pilots related their fear of the Hellcat each time they engaged in combat.

With an aircraft that was fast, manoeuvrable, heavily armed and rugged, many Hellcat pilots went on to become aces. Among the Navy aces was Lt. Eugene Valencia, who speaking of his F6F Hellcat said: "I love this airplane so much, that if it could cook, I'd marry it." In 1944, Valencia developed a series of tactics for a 4-plane division that proved very successful in combat. Off of the coast of Okinawa, his division, known as the "Mowing Machine" blasted 50 Japanese planes without losing a single allied aircraft. This 50-0 kill ratio was credited to the strategy that Valencia created. With a total of 23 victories, Valencia became the third top Hellcat ace.

I used Hasegawa's 1/48 F6F-5 Hellcat model as well as Aeromaster decal sheet to build Valencia's aircraft. The cockpit was airbrushed Interior Green and later dry brushed to enhance the details. The seat and seatbelts are aftermarket parts. The model was painted Glossy Sea Blue with White stripes on the fin and wings. I used Glossy Sea Blue for the propeller hub, Flat Black and a Silver undercoating to achieve the 'metal' look with a chipping effect on the propeller blades. This is a great looking replica of the Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat flown by the legendary ace Eugene Valencia.

Above photo: Lieutenant Eugene Valencia (left) and his squadron.
 



 

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Model Airplane Image 00 | 1/48 Hasegawa Model Airplane Model Image 01 | Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat Model Aircraft Image 02 | 1/48 Hasegawa Model Airplane Model Kit Image 03 | Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat Scale Model Aircraft Image 04 | 1/48 Hasegawa Model Plastic Model Airplane Image 05 | Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat Plastic Scale Model Image 06 | 1/48 Hasegawa Model Aircraft Plastic Model Image 07 | Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat Military Scale Model Image 08 | 1/48 Hasegawa Model Scale Model Airplane Image 09 | Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat
Model Airplane Image 10 | 1/48 Hasegawa Model Airplane Model Image 11 | Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat Model Aircraft Image 12 | 1/48 Hasegawa Model Airplane Model Kit Image 13 | Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat Scale Model Aircraft Image 14 | 1/48 Hasegawa Model Plastic Model Airplane Image 15 | Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat Plastic Scale Model Image 16 | 1/48 Hasegawa Model Aircraft Plastic Model Image 17 | Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat Military Scale Model Image 18 | 1/48 Hasegawa Model Scale Model Airplane Image 19 | Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat
Model Aircraft | Professionally built 1/48 Hasegawa Model of a Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat.  Flown by Lieutenant Eugene Valencia.

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