[Jet Collector]

As you can guess I mainly collect Jet aircraft, but I am now expanding the collection to include WW2 fighters.

So I need your help. Who has the best 1/72 Scale F6F Hellcat? Dragon? Hobby Master? Corgi?

I look forward to your comments.

DRAGON:



HOBBY MASTER:



CORGI:

[parsig9]

There are 3 Hellcats...possibly 4 you should consider.

The best is a tie between the 3 tone Dragon with red insignia outlines (50242) and the Vraciu from HM with the figure.

Those 2 are a must to look at.

The Corgi Emperor Hellcat is a gorgeous example and I have it displayed proudly.

The other very nice one is from the Turkey Shoot on the Corgi USS Princeton with the cat mouth.

It's not who makes them as much as the scheme that matters with these I think but if pushed the Dragon is the best I think.

[Canucklehead]

The Corgi 'Cats can't really count in this comparison, as they are made from the HobbyMaster molds (as were all the Predators models). The only difference was a lack of wash application and better packaging.

As far as the difference between HM and Dragon, from all I've seen the difference isn't that great. Both are good molds, but neither is great. It probably comes down to which paint schemes you like better.

Edit- listen to Parsig

[Folgore]

Hey, JC-
Check out this thread: http://www.themodelhangar.com/forum/...ml?postcount=1.

[1250ships]

One of my posts is referenced on the thread Folgore points to. Since I wrote that I've added several more Hellcats from both Hobby Master and Dragon. And I still hold by my original conclusions.

• Dragon have a horrible seam at the canopy.
• Hobby Master have a horrible seam at the tail.
• Hobby Master give you more weapon options (bombs and rockets).
• Dragon have more little bits to deal with but that results in better scale effect in some areas.
• Hobby Master have a superior stand in terms of stability.

Provided the various seams don't bother you make your decision based on the scheme you like the most. Obviously in some cases if you want a particular pilot's aircraft that will narrow things down as only one or the other manufacturer will have produced it. But provided you can live with the faults of the particular moulds I don't think you will be disappointed with either model.

[djjeffhall]

Personally I love the livery on the Predators British Hellcat. The Hobby Master French Hellcat is also really sharp looking. (I've got a couple of the US schemes but they all look really dull to me. Even the Shark Mouth versions, which are the most "Standout" of the bunch for me.)

I like the Hobby Masters/Predators over the Dragon mould as you get bombs/rockets and fuel tanks with the HM/Predators mould. With Dragon you only get the fuel tanks. Plus, fewer fiddly bits with HM/Corgi. Always worth considering if you have limited space and need to rotate planes in and out of the packaging.

I'm not a rivet counter (No offense meant folks.) so I really cannot comment on the accuracy of any of the makers moulds, but they look like Hellcats to me so I think any of the three makers is fine.

[ZS-VAN]

Originally Posted by djjeffhall

Personally I love the livery on the Predators British Hellcat. The Hobby Master French Hellcat is also really sharp looking. (I've got a couple of the US schemes but they all look really dull to me. Even the Shark Mouth versions, which are the most "Standout" of the bunch for me.)

I like the Hobby Masters/Predators over the Dragon mould as you get bombs/rockets and fuel tanks with the HM/Predators mould. With Dragon you only get the fuel tanks. Plus, fewer fiddly bits with HM/Corgi. Always worth considering if you have limited space and need to rotate planes in and out of the packaging.

I'm not a rivet counter (No offense meant folks.) so I really cannot comment on the accuracy of any of the makers moulds, but they look like Hellcats to me so I think any of the three makers is fine.

You said it! They look like Hellcats! I have 2 HM and 1 Dragon. They work for me. I like the seam on the Dragon least though. That said I want the three tone Hellcat described by Parsig, that's one cool scheme.

[lanslide]

I like both HM's and DW's Hellcats equally and I have them both. Matchbox makes a decent one too. The answer to my next question may end the HM / DW tie for me. The shape of the top of the vertical stabilizer looks different on each of the models. Which one is the most accurate?

[Epapazian]

While both Hobby Master and Dragon models have flaws, I regard the latter's canopy gap to be the deciding factor and would go with HM's renditions. As has been noted, Corgi didn't make an F6F, but used HM molds. Its Predator models use different and, to me, less realistic colors.

[wieh9995]

I recently got the Dragon 3 tone Hellcat (50242). The gaps around the canopy on mine are not as bad as what photos show. I held off on this for a long time until I got a report from someone who saw it in person. In the display case I don't even notice it, this is a really nice looking plane.