Grumman F6F-3 “Hellcat”. Betio 1943 - the American deck fighter

The Battle of Tarawa is a battle, that took place in the Pacific theater of operations during World War II from November 20 to 23 1943. This is the second US offensive battle in the Pacific (the first was the Battle of Guadalcanal) and the first in the critical Central Pacific for the belligerents. During the battle the US Army occupied Tarawa Atoll and crushed the Japanese forces there. In this battle US forces encountered serious Japanese resistance to amphibious landings for the first time in military history. During previous amphibious operations, US troops encountered almost no enemy resistance. But at Tarawa, the 4,500 Japanese soldiers were well trained and well-armed, and they fought to the last and the US Marines suffered heavy losses. Grumman F6F “Hellcat” US WW2 deck fighter. It was a deep modernization of the Grumman F4F “Wildcat” fighter. In June 1941 the US Navy signed a contract with “Grumman” for the fundamental modernization of this fighter. But on the basis of the contract, an almost completely new fighter was created with a completely new fuselage, undercarriage structure and a new, more powerful engine. The F6F began production in January 1943. The first combat flight was made in August 1943. Controlling the “Hellcat” was very easy and the fighter itself was forgiving of even gross piloting mistakes. According to US figures, “Hellcat” pilots shot down 5,156 enemy aircraft during the two years of the war - more than “Corsaire”, “Lightning” and “Wildcat” pilots combined. “Hellcats” were flown by 306 US pilots - aces, including such celebrities as David McCampbell - the US's most successful fighter pilot. A total of 12,275 fighters were produced, of which 1,263 were delivered to the British RAF.

A moderately complex, but well designed and richly detailed model for modelers of all experience. The model of the engine, cabin interior, chassis niches and the chassis itself, hanging weapons are perfectly restored. The model recreates the fighter jet of the USS “Essex” aircraft carrier, which participated in the Battle of Betty Island in 1943. But for modelers with little experience and beginners, it is also possible to glue this model together without much trouble, but you should work under the supervision of a more experienced colleague and make a simplified model of the engine, make the cockpit cover opaque, do not make the interior of the cockpit, make the chassis in the flight configuration - included - and do not make the hanging weapons.