I’m doing this one for a Grumman GB on another site, just wanted to share and get some feed back. I started with Tamiyas 1/48 F4F-4 and as this is my first attempt at a conversion I’m keeping things simple. As near as I can tell most of the differances are in the cowl, prop. hub and engine. So thats where I’m focusing my efforts.
Started by opening up the cockpit floor.
Next, I corrected the prop. hub with styrene and milliput.
The engine magnetos needed to be removed, so that was next. Also added PE wires and copper wire oil line.
Ok, what now. Oh, yeah. Cowling. The martlet had two large flaps as oppposed to eight small ones. So out comes the putty and wine bottle foil. I also removed all three intakes.
Here are some pics of the mostly finished cockpit. A combination of kit, resin, PE and scratched pieces. Still needs touch up, washes, dry brushing ect…
Let me know what you guys think. Any and all comments, critiques and questions welcome.
Which Martlet are you doing? It makes a huge difference in the conversion.
From the F4F-4, to convert to a:
Martlet I = Wright Cyclone (9 cylinders in 1 row) with Hamilton Standard uncuffed prop; short chord cowl and no cowl flaps; fill the wing fold lines; fill the “middle” gun panels as this aircraft had 4x.50, but in the inner/outer locations; retain the cowl scoop.
Martlet II = P&W Wasp (14 cylinders in 2 rows) with Hamilton Standard uncuffed prop; long chord cowl as on -4, but with a single wide cooling flap on each side; no scoop on the cowl; all 6 guns in a folding wing.
Martlet III = F4F-3A; non-folding wings; 4 guns (inner positions so fill the outer panel lines); cowl scoop; single cooling flap; Curtiss-Electric cuffed prop.
Martlet IV = Martlet II but with a Wright Cyclone engine and short chord cowl.
Martlet V = FM-1; from a -4 just fill the outer wing gun panel lines.
Martlet VI = FM-2; major surgery from a -4 with tall tail; “jet” exhausts; and remember to fill those outer wing gun panel lines.
As you want to make this simple, I assume you’re doing the Martlet II, given you’ve modified the prop. Don’t forget to remove the cuffs. If an “early” II, then the pitot is different than the -4; it sort of looks like an upside down L on the top of the wing.
Well it took me long enough, but here is the finished Martlet II. In addition to what I’ve already shown you I also cut and reposistioned the rudder and rear landing gear. Scratched exhaust pipes with wine bottle foil and moved the pitot tube to the upper wing with a scratched piece. Added brass tube guns and stretched sprue antenna. Painted with Tamiya acrylics and used Aeromaster decals. I weathered with tempra sludge washes, oil washes and Tamiya smoke. Any and all comments and critiques appreciated.
