Kit Cutters Completion Guide

Nick Ziroli Giant-Scale Short Kit

95" F6F Hellcat

The Pacific War's most successful carrier fighter in giant scale — with a complete, honest list of everything else you'll need to finish it.

Buy the Kit — $496.00 See Everything You Need

Wingspan

95 in

Length

75 in

Scale

1/5.1

Weight (AUW)

32–42 lb

Power

62–85cc gas

Wing

Three-piece

Skill

Advanced

A Legend, Faithfully Cut

The Grumman F6F Hellcat became the most successful carrier fighter of the Pacific War — credited with destroying more enemy aircraft than any other Allied fighter. Simple to build, tough to break, and powerful, it was designed specifically to out-fly the Zero. Nick Ziroli's giant-scale version captures that purposeful shape with full structural integrity.

Kit Cutters supplies the precision laser-cut wood. This guide covers the rest: the honest, model-specific list of what you'll buy to complete it, with real sources for every part.

95-inch Ziroli F6F Hellcat balsa RC warbird in flight

What's in the Box?

Included in the Short Kit

Precision laser-cut wood parts only — ribs, formers, shaped parts
Three-piece wing rib set
Fuselage formers and shaped parts

Required Separately

Plans / building instructions (buy from Ziroli — copyright)
Spars, sheeting, and stick balsa
Engine, cowl, canopy, landing gear, covering, finishing, electronics
Spinner, fuel tank, prop, servos, hardware

Everything Else You Need to Complete This Kit

Model-specific, with real sources. Where Ziroli sells a part directly, that's noted; where there's a choice (like gas vs. electric power), both paths are laid out.

Power System

This kit was designed for 62–85cc gas. Below is the gas specification, plus a researched electric alternative.

GAS — designer spec

Engine	62–85cc gas. DA-50R, DA-60, DA-70, or DA-85 suit the 32–42 lb weight range.	Desert Aircraft
Fuel tank	Dubro or B&B Specialties tank, sized to engine	Ziroli
Spinner	5.5" spinner — Ziroli's model-specific unit is out of production. Source from secondary R/C market or compatible Tru-Turn unit.	Secondary R/C Market / Tru-Turn
Engine offset	Per plan	Per plan

ELECTRIC — researched alternative

Motor	~50cc-class outrunner, 190–230 KV (e.g. Great Planes RimFire 50cc). Proven on 32–42 lb giant-scale warbirds.	AMain Hobbies / HobbyTown
Battery	12S LiPo (2x 6S in series). Two packs ~5000 mAh+, high C-rating.	Specialty RC retailer
ESC	150–160A with generous margin	Specialty RC retailer
Prop	22"–24" (3- or 4-blade)	Falcon

Heads up — The Hellcat's radial cowl is a large inlet — plan deliberate cooling routing so air actually flows past the motor and exits. Confirm your full setup in eCalc before buying.

Cowl

Designer sells

F6F Hellcat fiberglass cowl

Round radial cowl, fiberglass layup

Ziroli

Canopy

Designer sells

F6F Hellcat canopy	Vac-formed canopy	Ziroli
Canopy rail set (warbirds)		Ziroli

Landing Gear

Retracts — tailwheel

Main retracts	Sierra Giant Scale F6F Hellcat main gear (Geartech replacement for Robart)	Ziroli
Tailwheel	Suitable tailwheel assembly	Robart / specialty
Air kit	Robart 157VRX w/ tank & quick disconnects	Ziroli
Retract control valve	Ultra Precision UP-8 retract control valve	Ziroli

Servos

6+ channels

Flaps	2x 120+ oz-in, metal gear, ball bearing	Builder preference
Ailerons	2x 90+ oz-in, ball bearing	Builder preference
Elevators	2x 90+ oz-in, ball bearing	Builder preference
Rudder	1x 120+ oz-in, ball bearing	Builder preference
Gear / Throttle	1x 50 oz-in each (throttle BB)	Builder preference

Covering & Finishing

Airframe	1 oz fiberglass cloth + ZAP Z-poxy finishing resin	Chief Aircraft / specialty
Elevator & rudder	Iron-on cloth (Solartex)	Specialty RC retailer
Vinyl graphics	Multiple US Navy Pacific schemes available	Ziroli

Scale Accessories

All from Ziroli

Dummy radial engine	Vacuum-formed dummy engine (scale radial look)	Ziroli
Pilot figure	WWII US Navy Pacific	Ziroli

Hardware

Wing tube set	Three-piece wing joining hardware	Ziroli
Control horns & linkages	Sized per plan	Specialty RC retailer
Hinges	Flat hinges or Robart hinge points	Robart / specialty

Detailed Specifications

Wingspan	95 in
Fuselage length	75 in
Scale	1/5.1
Weight (AUW)	32–42 lb
Power	62–85cc gas
Wing	Three-piece, with flaps and retracts
Gear	Robart retracts (shown on plan)
Min. radio channels	6+

Specs from Ziroli's published F6F Hellcat plan. The Hellcat's 5.5" spinner is confirmed out of production from Ziroli's previous stock; source from the secondary R/C market or a compatible Tru-Turn unit.

Nick Ziroli

Pioneer of giant-scale RC aviation, known for meticulous scale accuracy and structural integrity. Ziroli sells nearly every model-specific accessory for this kit directly, including F6F scale detail parts.

(631) 467-4765 · Plans must be purchased separately from Ziroli (copyright).

Get Ziroli Plans

The Build Journey

Build time for a giant-scale warbird varies enormously with experience, scale detail added, and shop time. Treat these ranges as a rough sense of scope, not a promise.

Where a short kit saves you time

Ziroli's plans include full-size templates for every part. The Hellcat's three-piece wing and large fuselage formers represent a significant cutting job. A Kit Cutters short kit removes that entire stage.

Plans only (hand-cut)

You trace and cut every rib, former, and wing panel from raw stock, then build.

more time, lower part cost

Short kit (laser-cut)

All three wing panels and fuselage parts arrive laser-cut. Skip straight to assembly.

less time, cleaner fit

The four stages of assembly

Stage 1: Fuselage Assembly

Building the main body.

Align and pin main formers
Install keel / crutch system
Plank the fuselage curves
Fit the engine box / motor mount

Stage 2: Wing Assembly

Three-piece wing with flaps and retract mounts.

Build the center section
Build port outer panel
Build starboard outer panel
Sheet and cap all three panels

Stage 3: Tail Assembly

Vertical and horizontal tail components.

Build the horizontal stab
Build elevator surfaces
Assemble fin and rudder
Final-shape tail surfaces

Stage 4: Systems & Final Assembly

Putting it together and prepping for flight.

Install gear & air plumbing
Final engine / motor fitment
Radio gear installation
Verify CG / balance

Frequently Asked Questions

The short kit is laser-cut wood parts only. To complete it you'll also need the Ziroli plans, spars and sheeting, an engine or electric power system, cowl, canopy, landing gear, servos, covering, and finishing supplies.

Yes. The design is originally gas (62–85cc), but builders fly this class on a large ~50cc-equivalent outrunner around 190–230 KV on 12S LiPo. The Hellcat's radial cowl needs deliberate cooling routing — see the Power System section.

Plans are purchased separately from Nick Ziroli at ziroligiantscaleplans.com (copyrighted). Kit Cutters supplies the laser-cut wood; Ziroli supplies the plans and most model-specific accessories.

A short kit removes the entire parts-cutting stage. With a short kit all three wing panels and fuselage parts arrive precision laser-cut and labeled, so you start at assembly with a cleaner, more accurate fit.

Ziroli specifies 62–85cc gas. Desert Aircraft DA-50R, DA-60, DA-70, or DA-85 suit the 32–42 lb finished weight. Match the engine to your expected weight and confirm cowl clearance.

No. The short kit is wood parts only. The fiberglass cowl and canopy are sold separately by Ziroli and listed with links in the accessory section above.

Ziroli's model-specific 5.5" spinner is out of production. Source a compatible unit from the secondary R/C market or a Tru-Turn equivalent — noted in the Power System section.

95" wingspan, 75" length, at 1/5.1 scale. Typical all-up weight is 32–42 lb. These figures come from Ziroli's published F6F Hellcat specification.

Ready to Build Your F6F Hellcat?

Buy the 95" F6F Hellcat Kit — $496.00

Prices and availability are subject to change — verify on each vendor's site before ordering. Kit Cutters supplies laser-cut wood parts only; plans and accessories are sold by their respective vendors.

Premium laser-cut short kits for large-scale and giant-scale radio-controlled aircraft builders. USA-based quality craftsmanship for serious hobbyists.