| HISTORY |
| Conquest through confusion and calamity
The Philippine Island Chain was essential to Imperial Japanese war plans.
It sat astride the shipping lanes that kept Japan supplied with oil. U.S.
forces were sent to capture the islands and the IJN was determined to stop
them. The resulting “Battle of Leyte Gulf” was one of the most confusing
surface actions ever fought but one thing was clear—American airpower enabled
our forces to find, strike, and destroy the IJN in detail.
This new Limited Edition kit from Hasegawa Includes two complete 1/72
aircraft kits, a TBF/TBM Avenger and a F6F Hellcat.
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| TBF/TBM AVENGER |
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| SPRUE A |
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| This sprue features the fuselage halves with torpedoed bay doors that
can be shown open or closed. |
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| SPRUE B |
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| The wings sprue include the upper and lower wings with nice recessed
panel lines. Unfortunately there is no folded wing option on this
kit. |
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| SPRUE C |
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| The engine is nicely detailed for 1/72nd scale as is the landing gear.
A torpedo is included to mount in the bomb bay. |
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| SPRUE D (x2) & E |
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| Two of these sprues are included with the rear wings landing gear and
under wing rockets and tail fins. The engine narcell is included
on the E sprue. |
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| SPRUE G |
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| This clear sprue includes C class for the canopy glass, windows, and
ball turret. |
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| DECALS |
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The decal she includes markings for both aircraft as noted below.
Avenger:
1. TBF-1C: USN USS Essex VT-15 Code: 93 Oct, 1944
2. TBM-1C: USN USS Intrepid VT-18 Code: 86 Oct, 1944
3. TBM-1C USN USS Enterprise VT-20 Code: 43 Oct, 1944
Hellcat
1. F6F-5 Early: USN USS Cabot VF-29 Code: 17 Oct, 1944
2. F6F-3: USN USS Intrepid VF-18 Code: 31 Oct, 1944
3. F6F-5 Early: USN USS Essex VF-15 Code: 41 Oct, 1944 |
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| INSTRUCTIONS |
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| The instructions are well drawn showing markings for all
the squadron's and nicely detailed step by step subassembly views.
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| F6F HELLCAT |
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| SPRUE A |
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| This sprue includes the port side fuselage, extra fuel tank, rear wings,
and engine narcell. |
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| SPRUE B |
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| The starboard side fuselage minus the rudder which is molded on the
other half. The firewall with separate engine assembly gives the
kit a more detailed look. |
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| SPRUE C |
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| The wings sprue includes deployed wings with nice panel line detailing.
The lower wing if is smartly designed to eliminate seems along the wing
edge. No folded wing option is included. |
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| SPRUE D |
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| The clear sprue includes two different canopies. |
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| INSTRUCTIONS |
|
| The instructions are well drawn showing markings for all
the squadron's and nicely detailed step by step subassembly views.
|
This
limited edition kit will allow you to build two of the U.S. Navy's most
important carrier aircraft of world war two. Thanks to Hobbico
Model Distributors for the review sample. It is listed as #HSGS2162
1/72 TBF/TBM Avenger & F6F Hellcat “Battle of Leyte” with a list price
of $42.99.US.
