Bearcat cockpit

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

Hi gang,

I’m about to start work on the Hobbycraft 1/48 F8 Bearcat. The instructions do not indicate what the cockpit colors are so I did a little browsing on the internet. I found a French site that showed a restored Bearcat with an overall grey cockpit and a black instrument panel. Is this correct? I didn’t think U.S. Navy planes from that era had grey cockpits. What should the correct colors be and would they be the same for the Blue Angels and/or the yellow “Beetle Bomb” version?

Thanks!

Eric

2

Glossy Sea Blue Navy a/c usually have interior green cockpits with black panels. I’m not sure if the side walls above the panels are supposed to be green or black.

3

Thanks Wayne,

I knew I shouldn’t have trusted the French site. LOL!

Eric

4

Hey Eric,

I found a photo (B/W) of the IP and a site that might help ya out a bit. It is of a restored F8 but it was done up as close as althentic as possible…

http://www.controller.com/listings/forsale/detail.asp?OHID=1103633

I’ll see what i have once I get home… Good hunting

Flaps up,

Mike

5

Here’s mine, I wwent with the standard interior green and the scheme of period Grumman aircraft:

good luck,

Steve

6

Mike,

Thank you for the great pictures! I can’t wait to jump into this project. I asked my three year old daughter’s opinion and she wants me to make the yellow “Bettle Bomb” version. It’s going to be a welcome break from all my other OD over grey or my NMF planes. I’m working on a 1/72 B-36 for my dad right now so I’m ready for something small and different.

Thanks again!

Eric

7

Nice! Was the the Hobbycraft kit?

8

You might try the Kalamazoo Air Zoo. They have an F8F that is still flying last I knew. The sight might have pictures of the Bearcat cockpit. I am not sure of the address for the Air Zoo though and unfortunately I don’t have time now to look it up either. Just a thought.

9

Yes, it is a really basic kit, sparse detail in the cockpit and the landing gear, but, a nice little kit. The major flaw is the windscreen attachment. The fuselage does not match the windscreen profile.

good luck on your bearcat

Steve

10

If you cannot get something from the Air Zoo i will ask at the Fighter collection when i visit Duxford next week.

11

Hey Eric,

Your most welcome my friend… Lookin forward to seeing your build…!! If you want, I can see what pix I have of Beetle Bomb!!

Its cool getting the lil ones involved aint it…?? Can’t wait till mine hits that age.

Flaps up, Mike

12

Hey Eric,

I remember trying search “warbird sales” and got…exmilitary aircraft,aircraft for sale at http:www.globalplanesearch.com/view/all after you get into global select ‘combat’ then page down till you find the reconditioned F8. They have a half decent interior pic.

Brian

13

Thanks to everyone for the GREAT tips! Yes getting our kids involved makes it all the more fun. I don’t want to get overly serious here but I’ve seen too many people who don’t have hobbies in their lives. My mom and my parents-in-law have no hobbies and it just seems like they could benefit if they had any kind of hobby whether it was gardening, reading, ANYTHING! I don’t want my daughter to be like that. Whether she sticks with models or not, I don’t really care. I’m trying to introduce her to enough things in hopes that maybe something will “stick” and she’ll carry it with her through life in much the same way modeling has stuck with me since I was first introduced to it when I was 7 years old.

Thanks to all again for the great info. I’ll post pics when the plane is underway.

Eric