Pretty Mediocre Modeller Posted January 23, 2016 Posted January 23, 2016 For my next project I picked up the Dogfight Double of Wildcat and Kate at the Hornby Visitor Centre, using my 20% club discount this only came to £16 (result!)./media/tinymce_upload/bc318b31bffa071ee772df4f0aa5a099.jpg-resized.jpgEach subject has one decal option, each from the Battle of Midway, and after a little research I found that the featured Wildcat probably shot down the Kate, so good choices here. Also I wanted the Midway boxing as I have build the Airfix Dauntless and Devastator, both in Midway markings and this will complete the set./media/tinymce_upload/1938fa29cdff489eb7ac23709b54daae.jpg-resized.jpg On inspecting the sprues the detail and parts breakdown is very good, with plenty in the cockpit, engine and wheelbay, including the undercarriage chains , and nicely recessed panel line detail. The only thing really missing is lap straps (I don't think early Wildcats had full harnesses). There are also several options, including two canopies, open and closed, drop tanks ( not needed on this build), wheels up or down, and folded or spread wings. On the last note to make life easy, Airfix have included two complete wing sets, so no cutting is needed for the folded wings./media/tinymce_upload/142e2c071f70b167220412da5e24f377.jpg-resized.jpgThe build starts with the cockpit, which is made up of several well detailed parts, plus decals for the instruments, and also the back wall of the wheelbay, with integral wing spars. Here it is before painting./media/tinymce_upload/ff769fe52f26cdb187b86136ca529271.jpg-resized.jpgNote the relief fire extinguisher behind the seat!Next up is the undercarriage and painting the internals, before closing the fuselage.
Pretty Mediocre Modeller Posted January 25, 2016 Author Posted January 25, 2016 More headway has been made since the last post, and now the internals are painted and almost ready to join the cockpit. I used Hu 226 US cockpit green inside, but Grumman also used their own shade of green on their cockpits, which was more of a bronze green./media/tinymce_upload/5c0c16a1edbb617d254e31308a981582.jpg-resized.jpg/media/tinymce_upload/31fa23ff76d5eb9866055c22ff42803c.jpg-resized.jpg/media/tinymce_upload/3182ebb4a7c643f8f68d148565dbc7a2.jpg-resized.jpgAs you can see on the forward bulkhead I painted the chain drive satin black and drybrushed dark grey to bring out the detail.I then dry fitted the the cockpit into the fuselage, and found that I couldn't close the halves together properly. A quick scrape with the edge of my craft knife on the edges of the cockpit soon sorted this out./media/tinymce_upload/b13f683126058bb4aa1efb3e7dd59b1d.jpg-resized.jpgIn the end I went for the full strap set, as I think only the F4F-3's and early F4F-4's didn't have shoulder straps.The engine was dealt with next, this went together easily, and had very fine detail,I painted mine matt black and drybrushed aluminium, but a better painter could get a much better result with this little beauty./media/tinymce_upload/651bb83dd93314205685214a10fd0271.jpg-resized.jpgThe fuselage was then joined with no major problems, and I got ready the attach the flying surfaces./media/tinymce_upload/68019459443079f1b0987f25937ba615.jpg-resized.jpgThe big decision came next, whether to make her with spread or folded wings, or maybe one of each?/media/tinymce_upload/4e418f830aba867c00acfe1098552c77.jpg-resized.jpgIn the end I've gone for the folded option. The stubs went on very easily and only a very small amount of filler will be needed to tidy the seam./media/tinymce_upload/940f08efc7baa2af29e7f160d3cc298b.jpg-resized.jpg
Pretty Mediocre Modeller Posted January 30, 2016 Author Posted January 30, 2016 I painted the airframe before adding the folding wings to make it a bit easier. It was again hand painted, the underside Hu129 light gull grey, but what colour for the top? In the set Airfix provide a mini pot of British dark sea grey(!) for the top, I didn't like that idea, so checked colour recommended for the normal boxing which was Hu125 US dark grey, which still didn't look right, and HU144 Intermediate grey is the right choice either. In the end I've gone for Hu96 RAF blue grey, which may sound like a strange choice, but I think it looks right./media/tinymce_upload/ec783b30f7c62513ea23867fe4f81c1a.jpg/media/tinymce_upload/6dabc416e6518e1af0758e6441a9bcdd.jpgDecals going on tomorrow night.
Pretty Mediocre Modeller Posted February 1, 2016 Author Posted February 1, 2016 So I've completed the decalling,/media/tinymce_upload/a34009311944b9c7172394b097e74599.jpgand as usual the Cartograph produced markings were faultless. The only problem was that the black stencilling disappeared on the dark blue/grey uppersurface paintwork.
PhantomBigStu Posted February 3, 2016 Posted February 3, 2016 great build, done the regular boxing myself over the last weekend, though minds ended badly, realized I put the cowling on upside down once I'd put the decals on, which ended with me ruining the Starbouard roundel with gluey fingers, and I lost a little white number for the cowling.
Pretty Mediocre Modeller Posted February 3, 2016 Author Posted February 3, 2016 great build, done the regular boxing myself over the last weekend, though minds ended badly, realized I put the cowling on upside down once I'd put the decals on, which ended with me ruining the Starbouard roundel with gluey fingers, and I lost a little white number for the cowling. Thanks BigStu. How did you get on with the prop? I was really careful with mine, and sparing with the glue, but it still doesn't turn!
PhantomBigStu Posted February 3, 2016 Posted February 3, 2016 didn't use glue, holds in place through friction, and turns :)
Pretty Mediocre Modeller Posted February 4, 2016 Author Posted February 4, 2016 I've now added the finishing touches to my Wildcat, which consisted of a panel wash, which also served to make the finish look a little worn, then matt coat and final assembly. Getting the folded wings to line up, and also get the retaining bars on was a little tricky, but all turned out alright in the end. I painted the bars between the tail planes and wing tips red, but that was just artistic licence as I don't know what colour it should be, and wanted to add a little brightness./media/tinymce_upload/38130bd74b98700ea28e82f8f3c721a8.jpgHere's the completed model with some of the references used./media/tinymce_upload/82b9e0660bdde9adb147f79ae65c538c.jpgGrumman F4F-4, VF-3, USS Yorktown, flown by Jimmy Thach, battle of Midway/media/tinymce_upload/5cbb9902565660071d2aa2a1b3ccdc33.jpg/media/tinymce_upload/71fcf11e9d8228c4c90832a5647c8f23.jpg/media/tinymce_upload/eb9a380a41e3baee4471c1799725727c.jpgI'm very pleased with the results of this build, I think it looks unusual folded up like this. The project was mostly trouble free, the only slight issue being getting the fuselage halves to close around the cockpit parts without a gap, but this was sorted out by scraping the cockpit sides a little with my craft knife. I would recommend this kit to anyone with a few builds under their belt, but not the complete beginner if they wanted to build the folded version. When the Martlet IV boxing comes out later this year I will be having a go at that one as well, especially after seeing the Mk I at Yeovilton recently. I just hope Airfix have sorted the nose length out!
Drewe Manton Posted March 4, 2016 Posted March 4, 2016 That's a nice little build! I really must get around to one myself soon, just as a palate cleanser. Now get on with the Kate!
Howard Wright1707820367 Posted March 4, 2016 Posted March 4, 2016 Nicely done. Looking forward to getting a hold of mine.
Dad Paul B Posted March 4, 2016 Posted March 4, 2016 Interesting choice of the RAF Blue - I agree it does look like the artwork out there. A really nice build. These new Pacific War kits look very tempting (possibly more for my son as I am more of a Jet person.Please keep the inspiration coming. Looking forward to seeing Kate.
Will1707820254 Posted April 30, 2016 Posted April 30, 2016 Working on mine, having to build up an exhaust ring, engine mount ring and struts and an attempt at the supercharger/carburettor to fill in the front gap in the wheel well. Also are having a go at the oil and fuel tanks. Shame is there is not enough room to do the carb intake and the two sets of trunking for the intercoolers because either the cowling is too small or the engine cylinders are too long (probably the former).
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