1/48 Hasegawa Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat "Minsi III"

Gallery Article by H. Davis Gandees on May 21 2020

 

      

Captain David McCampbell was the leading Navy ace of WWII with 34 kills. MInsi III was the last of at least 4 Hellcats flown by McCampbell who commanded VF-15 the most successful Navy Squadron in the Pacific. His last 23 ½ kills were in Minsi III. During the Battle of Leyte Gulf, McCampbell shot down 15 aircraft, 9 in one mission, a U.S. record for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

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The 1:48 model was built out of the box except for a True Details resin seat and a corrected Cutting Edge cowling. 

The open cowl flaps were common when the Hellcat was on the ground or deck. It was painted with a spray can, Tamiya AS-8 U.S. Navy Blue and given a final coat of Tamiya TS-13 Gloss Clear. 

Decals are from the SuperScale 48-716 sheet. The antenna wire is nylon thread. 

H. Davis Gandees

Photos and text © by H. Davis Gandees