Funny how the builders seem to be doing more homework than the manufacturers. The end result is a work of art. Great build!!! And a great pride of Wldcats!!!
Again Viper a beautiful Wildcat. Over time I will build all the “Cats” however I still have a lot to learn first.
I have to tell you one thing I have learned in this hobby, " If it wus easy it wusn’t no phun"
Thanks guys. Vetteman- Currently I have the -3, -4, FM-1, and FM-2 in 1/72 scale. With a Martlet and a -4N still to go. In 1/48th, I have 4 -4’s built, with the FM-1, FM-2, -3, and -4N still to go. I am a Wildcat NUT!!! I also have Hellcats, a Tigercat, a Cougar, a Panther.
I still need to do the F4F-1 and -2 prototypes & the F4F-3S Wildcatfish.
Rob & all,
About that F4F-3S Wildcatfish…
I recently picked up the AMC kitting of that beast. Just looking it over I’d have to say the best thing about it is the struts for attaching the floats followed by the floats themselves. Everything else left me muchly unimpressed.
I was hoping therefore to find a good 72nd scale F4F-3 kit that I could simply swap out for the lump that AMC offers. Hobby Boss looked good for that until reading your review.
Now the search for a good -3 continues!
Madoc
Sweet!
Jim
Hey Rob, please fill me in. I’ve never heard of the F4F-4N ??? Sounds like a night fighter version? I know about the photo versions -3P, -7 and FM-2P, but this is a new one to me. BTW, there’s an FM-2P on the airshow circuit. It shows up in Houston now and then.
TIA
Dick
Rob,
First off, let me say very nice build. I have that kit also and am doing as one of the planes from VMF-211 that was left behind at Pearl for last year’s Pearl Harbor build. Once you’ve filled in the appropriate lines you’re left with a F4F-3A. I have a question, then a nit to pick. The question is what did you use to simulate the gun barrels? I bought some minimecca tubing but it turned out too big. Now the nit, in every pic I’ve seen only the inboard guns protruded from the wing, even the restored -3 and -3A at the NAVAIR museum in Pensacola have the guns this way. If you’ve got a pic of this a/c, or of other -3’s, with the barrel of the outboard guns protruding, just beat me over the head with it and I’ll stand corrected (or lie on the ground black and blue).
Madoc,
It takes just a little bit of effort to turn it back into a -3. Just a little putty and some rescribing and you’re done. As I said in my previous post, after that you’re left with a -3A as the cowling is for a -4. If you must have the cowling with the twin scoops, there is resin replacement cowl for the Hasegawa kit, the maker escapes me. For ten bucks, it’s more of a deal than the Academy kit, plus it captures the lines of the Wildcat more than the Academy kit. Now if Tamiya were to downsize their Cat to 1/72, well a guy can dream can’t he?
All true. I backdated the 72nd Hasegawa Wildcat to the F4F-3A/Martlet III by replacing the wing with the Quickboost resin set. Upon studying the panel lines it’s obvious the non-folding wing is very different than the folding wing. Obviously the wing-fold line, but also the spar was moved aft in the outer wing panel a few inches, so without redesigning the fuselage spar/landing gear area Grumman redesigned the spar on the inner wing panel such that it was angled from the fuselage to the point where it meets the outer wing. You can see it very obviously on most kits and drawings of the folding wing, and when you see the non-folding wing it’s apparent. I don’t have scans or a scanner as I’d show the difference, but it’s why the -3 gun barrels protrude from the leading edge.
My recommendation for a very accurate (and expensive) F4F-3S in 72nd would be:
Hasegawa F4F as base kit;
Quickboost -3 corrected wing;
Quickboost -3 cowling;
AMC floats/struts.
Alternative is lots of filling and scribing…but that’s why we do this, right?
OBTW, did I mention your build is exceptional. I’m looking forward to my next Wildcat!
GS
Thanks guys. Sorry I havent gotten back sooner, life’s been a little crazy.
Madoc- Although it takxe some work, the HB kit is very well done as far as accurate lines. I have also built the Wildcat from Academy, which IMHO, has too large of a fuselage. It also IIRC requires you to scratch build part of the interior. But it does have more of an interior than the HB kit. So I would say either would work.
rlawson- yes, the -4N is a night fighter version. But it, just like the -3S, was more of a prototype plane. I dont think it ever went into full production. I may be wrong, but I think there is a resin conversion [just the night radar] for the 1/48 'Cats.
lewdbud- Remember when flling in the lines, also remove the wingfold blister on the top of the wing. And fill in the outter gun port and the ejection chutes and lines. As for the barrels, for 1/48th I usually go with 1/16 x .014 brass tube from the LHS. For 1/72nd, I use 1/32 x .006 brass tube. Its a little thicker walled than needle tubing. IMHO it has more of a barrel look. As for the protrusion…this pic should help. Its taken from one of the F4F-3’s that was recovered from Lake Michigan. Mine may be a little over-protruded, but it does stick out a bit.
Rob,
Thanks for the pic, I see what you mean now. Also thanks on the tubing tip.
No problem, Buddy. Glad to be of service. lol
Sweet!
Rob, I use hypodermic needles for gun barrels, cut with a dremel tool with abrasive disks. You can get then in any size on Ebay.
Beautiful Build!