F6F-5 Hellcat
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Eduard Royal Class, dual kit
Kazan Model Dynamics Landing Gear Sets
Draw Decals for Blue Angels Hellcats
In 1946 Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Chester Nimitz, authorized the Navy Flight Exhibition Team. Twenty five year old Lt. Cdr. R. M. “Butch” Voris was assigned to create and define this demonstration team. Unsatisfied with the official moniker and after seeing an add in the New Yorker Magazine, the team became the Blue Angels.
The first aircraft selected, was the Hellcat. Modeled here is “Butch” Voris’s number 1 lead aircraft. No exact color reference is known for the first generation of the Blue Angels, but it was stated that overall dark blue color selected was from available paint not being used elsewhere. It is theorized this color was insignia blue as Naval aircraft were painted in over all Gloss Sea Blue at the time. Initial lettering was gold.
The kit is one of two Hellcats in Eduard’s Royal Class offerings. The Kazan resin set provided very nice details for the wheel wells, but were difficult to get the kit’s upper and lower wing halves to fit properly.
