Next up:
That kit is a joy to build!
Yeah, I’m definitely looking forward to it. I do conversions from time to time, sometimes fix up some kits that need a little extra effort, but every once in a while it’s nice to do one where everything just plain ‘works’!
Also, it’s for a group build on another forum, and I don’t think I’ve ever, to this day, managed to complete a group build project in the time specified. So I thought I’d do what I could to stack the deck in my favor and pick one that doesn’t need a lot of correcting, filling, etc and give myself the best chance for success in completing it on time!!
This is also one of the kits in my “stash”. I did get the aftermarket cockpit set. Other than that, my plan was to use everything else right out of the box. I’ll be watching this one. GOOD LUCK !! Bob
Here’s tonight’s update:
If you feel like adding something to the cockpit, here is an updated Tamiya cockpit for an upcoming book.
THAT is some impressive craftsmanship!
I think it’s more than I’m willing to bite off at this point, since it’s a group build project on another forum and I SWEAR this will the be first group build project I finish on time! 
However, thanks to your pics and another modeller’s suggestion, I did trim off the outer cockpit floor (must be a Grumman thing - the Prowler doesn’t have a complete floor either and whatever you drop has a pretty solid chance of finding its way to the keel of the airplane sooner or later…)
So here’s how I made my first ever attempt at tape seat belts - first, a strip of regular old tan masking tape, using a glass cutting board (meant for kitchen use, I presume, since I bought it at a grocery store…). I cut off a long, narrow strip (which, in retrospect could have been narrower…)
Then I cut pieces to become lap belt buckles, shoulder fittings, and adjustment fittings. If I’m not mistaken, ‘hardware’ like this is available in photo-etch - if so, I think that would be worth trying out.
The fittings I painted - silver for metal, black if I wanted to represent shadow, and the background color of the seat if I wanted it to look like nothing was behind the part. I cut the strip in pieces for the lap belts and shoulder straps. Then just stuck everything together, put them on the seat, and installed the rest of the cockpit parts:
All in all, not EXACTLY eye-watering, but I’m pleased with it for a first attempt (pleased enough to have installed it, obviously). It’s definitely better than a blank seat…
Seat belts look good. For an F4F-4 (Grumman built), the interior wold be bronze green, not ZC. Eastern built FM’s had ZC interiors.
It’s lookin’ pretty good so far. Bob H.
Isn’t zinc chromate a lot more yellowish than what I’ve got? I ask because WWII-era isn’t my main genre and the subtleties of color shades is a little lost on me. The instructions just gave a ratio of Tamiya colors to mix (I don’t mix paint), and attempting to research it myself only showed black and white photos of the real thing, or color photos of other people’s models. I THOUGHT I had gotten close, but realize I probably don’t know for 100% certain.
Looking great Karl. I built it for the Grumman Group build in the GB forum here and it was a real treat. Watch the lower fuselage seam that runs right trough the fomation lights. It can be tricky.
Joe
Thanks, Joe. I think I know the spot you’re taking about - fortunately the seam didn’t need too much attention, and what cleaning up I did do I was able to do mostly around the approach light.
Here’s this week’s work, now that I’ve had a chance to upload the pictures:
That Wildcat is looking good man. It is a neat little kit, and was the first Tamiya model I have built. I had a little trouble with that seam under the belly between the wings and fuselage. It took a lot of extra work to clean that up iifc. (If you’re interested, here are a couple links to my Wildcat.) Keep us informed as you progress along! Good luck with the rest of the build.
Gary
Finished plane:
http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/2/t/143414.aspx
Work in progress thread:
http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/2/t/139848.aspx?sort=ASC&pi240=1
Thanks, Gary and everybody else! Gary, great looking model - was that one of the kit schemes? I almost chose that same scheme, but went with the tri-color instead.
Hard to believe it’s been almost a month since I posted anything but it’s been pretty busy (some short trips here and there, busy at work, and just for fun I decided to start on a master’s degree). But I’ve managed to get some model time in, including masking, preshading, and painting. Here’s the first color, camouflage gray, on the underside - I think it’s my most successful attempt at preshading yet.
Thanks Karl! Yeah, that was one of the schemes, and I used the kit decals too. They worked fine, in spite of warnings to the contrary.[:D]
Gary
Another (belated) update - got the rest of the colors on last weekend, hoping to get some Future sprayed this afternoon:
Looking great Karl. I like the Tri-scheme. You don’t see too many Wildcats wearing it. Also, if I recall, you’ll need an aftermarket canopy if you want to display it open. I think it rides high on the spine otherwise and looks funny.
Joe
One of the best fitting kits I ve ever put together…very fun kit
It was a great fitting kit, and I really enjoyed it.
Joe, thanks for the tip about the canopy - I hadn’t heard that, and you’re right, if I had tried to mount it open I probably would have cracked it. So, for now I have it lightly tacked in place until I decide if I want to find an aftermarket one I can pose open or not.
Anyway, I finished last week. Here are the first couple pictures; I’ll get some better ones when I get a spare minute to break out the DLSR!
