The Scale Aircraft Conversions F6F-3/5 Hellcat (Kit No. B11, also listed as 00241), Stock Number 72206, consists of two sets of six items each in their distinctive plastic bubble and cardboard packaging consisting of the main and tail landing gear, pitot tube and antennae. The landing gear are direct replacements, as is the pitot tube, the tailwheel appears sturdier, and you have the choice of two antennae based on the aircraft being built. Scale Aircraft Conversions was even kind of enough to number the parts cast in the protective white metal. Parts 17-20 are kit parts B17-20; with the tailwheel (No. B17 not being numbered) and the main gear struts are direct replacements for kit parts A24 and A25. Best of all, there are two complete sets provided, so you can build both variants.

I kept one set in its protective white metal to prevent damage from storage and completed one set. As you can see from the photos, the white metal parts are complete replacements, are very sturdy, and hold up well compared to their plastic kit counterparts.

This is value for your well-earned money, especially as you don’t have to worry about the heavy plastic weight causing landing gear failure after the beautiful, large P-51B/C is sitting on its wheels.

Profuse thanks to Scale Aircraft Conversions and IPMS/USA for providing the review sample.

About the company:

Scale Aircraft Conversion has produced its famous white metal landing gear for the F6F-3/5 Hellcat in 1/72 scale. As aircraft modelers well know, aircraft models displayed on their landing gear are susceptible to damage from the weight of the model, especially on styrene landing gear.

Scale Aircraft Conversion has had the solution since 1990. Their white metal landing gear is designed to bear the weight of the model and complement the detailed non-load bearing plastic parts. Their extensive range of white metal landing gear covers 1/144 to 1/18 scale aircraft.