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Hobby Boss F8F-2 Bearcat

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mgh
  • Member since
    May 2011
  • From: Utah County, Utah
Hobby Boss F8F-2 Bearcat
Posted by mgh on Saturday, January 18, 2014 1:29 PM

This is my first Hobby Boss aircraft, and I was very impressed, fit is excellent, and  the decals are the best I have ever had ( I have never bought after-market decals).  A fairly simple kit with low parts count, but still not as simple as the inexpensive Tamiya kits.

One thing that surprised me was the opening between wheel bays and the fuselage in front of the cockpit, so that area needs to be painted.

This was my first try at mixing up a Navy Blue, and it did not come out very well.  The color call-outs only list one manufacturer that makes a Navy Blue, which is Mr. Hobby color.  They list nothing for Model Master, but I see now that they have an "5-N Navy Blue" acrylic.  I have not had good luck with MM paints, but it would have been worth giving it a try.

I have always liked the blue paint scheme, and love the big radials. Tempted to buy this kit again and use the MM blue.

Fun kit, and an aircraft I fell in love with (one of many) many years ago at the Reno air races.

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Saturday, January 18, 2014 2:31 PM

Use Gloss Sea Blue for the overall color. Model Master has it in their acrylic and enamel lines. Please post photos of your work and share with us ;-)

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Saturday, January 18, 2014 6:23 PM

My favorite prop job. That stubby plane was pure brute power. MM enamels has your color FS15042 Gloss sea Blue. If you like the Bearcat then crank up the speakers and watch this:

www.youtube.com/watch

www.youtube.com/watch

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

mgh
  • Member since
    May 2011
  • From: Utah County, Utah
Posted by mgh on Saturday, January 18, 2014 6:57 PM

Music to my ears, nothing on earth sounds like a radial!

As I recall, and this is from many years back at the races, the commentator stated that the Bearcat had one of the highest rates of climb of its era, and the pilot would almost always pull up hard in front of the stands.  

I do not own a camera that will take a decent picture, but here are a couple of progress so far.

One without flash

This one with flash

At this point in a build I am always pondering whether to leave it clean, or weather it.  Still have work to do, and I really need to take pictures of WIP as they point out things I just miss, like the fact that I did not get inside the fins of the bombs painted.  Doh!

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: Lancaster, South Carolina
Posted by Devil Dawg on Saturday, January 18, 2014 9:53 PM

I do remember reading that the Bearcat was the smallest & lightest airframe ever built around the R-2800. The F7F had two of these engines. It could outclimb just about anything that wasn't a jet.

Your Bearcat looks great! How long did it take you to finish it?

Devil Dawg

On The Bench: Tamiya 1/32nd Mitsubishi A6M5 Model 52 Zeke For Japanese Group Build

Build one at a time? Hah! That'll be the day!!

mgh
  • Member since
    May 2011
  • From: Utah County, Utah
Posted by mgh on Sunday, January 19, 2014 9:46 AM

Not sure how long I have been working on it, probably 3 weeks or a bit more, but the final touches always take me some time.  Still need to do some pin washing, and decide if, or how much, weathering I want to do before it is complete.

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: Lancaster, South Carolina
Posted by Devil Dawg on Monday, January 20, 2014 12:27 PM

MAN!! I would give almost anything to be able to finish a build in 3 weeks!! My hat is off to you! Bow Down  Yes

My builds generally take me many months to complete due to work-related stuff that takes up my time, even personal time.

What's next on the build list?

Gary Mason

Devil Dawg

On The Bench: Tamiya 1/32nd Mitsubishi A6M5 Model 52 Zeke For Japanese Group Build

Build one at a time? Hah! That'll be the day!!

mgh
  • Member since
    May 2011
  • From: Utah County, Utah
Posted by mgh on Monday, January 20, 2014 11:24 PM

In the middle of Tamiya's Fw 190 A-3, after that either AFV club F -5 , or Trumpeter's Hawker Sea Fury (another big radial !).  But determined to finish this Bearcat fist,

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Wednesday, January 22, 2014 1:24 PM

looks great! Yes

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

mgh
  • Member since
    May 2011
  • From: Utah County, Utah
Posted by mgh on Sunday, January 26, 2014 9:51 AM

Couldn't get a pin wash to work for my life on this kit.  The recessed lines are very fine, so maybe that had an affect on it?  None of the techniques I have used in the past worked.  I finally had to go over it with a Flory wash to get any lines to come out, and typically the Flory washes come out a little too dirty for my tastes.  Also tried some post-shading to try to fade the paint some, but not very satisfied.

Any tips for how to tone down the decals?  Nothing seemed to stick to these, so even after some weathering attempts, the markings look pristine! 

 

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