Measured in kill-to-loss ratio — 19 to 1 — Grumman’s F6F Hellcat can be regarded as one of the most successful fighters in history. It devastated Japanese naval and army aircraft giving the Allies clear air superiority in the Pacific in the final years of World War II. There was a time when Detail & Scale books were some of the only references dedicated for modelers available. The new monograph, F6F Hellcat, by Bert Kinzey and Chris Sakal demonstrates why D&S titles are some of the best modeling references on the market. After a brief history of the fighter, the 104-page softcover presents five-view drawings of the Hellcat in 1/72 scale. The next section covers the each of the variants, including the various test and prototypes, noting differences, and featuring photos of cockpits and weapons. It even looks at Blue Angels Hellcats, drones, and F6Fs in foreign service. Giving modelers the kind of details they thrive on, there are 30 pages of walkaround photos, covering cockpits, exterior sections, wings and wing-fold, landing gear, armament, and engines. A section describing colors and camouflage follows, and the book wraps up by reviewing Hellcat kits — there are a bunch — noting the pros and cons of each. This book is a must-have if you are contemplating having a Hellcat on your workbench. If you need more incentive to build a Hellcat, the book also includes an interview with David McCampbell, the U.S. Navy’s all-time leading ace who scored all his 34 victories in Hellcats. ~Aaron Skinner, Editor of FineScale Modeler
