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Monogram F3F-3 Very Vintage

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  • Member since
    August 2014
  • From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Monogram F3F-3 Very Vintage
Posted by goldhammer on Thursday, March 1, 2018 8:53 AM

Here is the vintage (copyright 1961) Monogram F3F-3 kit with working landing gear.  Will be on the shelf for awhile.  Typical of the era, no scale given, supposed to be around 1/32, but who knows.

 

Really a blast from the past.

The box as recieved

Molded in three colors and clear. Fuselage, lower wings and underside of upper wing in silver, along with all the small parts.

Upper wing and ailerions in yellow. Cowling and tail surfaces in red.

Rigging thread.  Has tiny hooks molded in the parts to wrap around and secure to.

Instruction sheet and decals, they look pretty decent for '60s time frame, hardly any yellowing.

A look at the instructions on assembling the working landing gear.  The size of the works has the gears protruding out of the fuselage a little, but that's the price for it. Pull the prop out slightly and turn to raise and lower, push back in and prop spins freely.

 

  • Member since
    March 2015
  • From: Streetsboro, Ohio
Posted by Toshi on Thursday, March 1, 2018 8:58 AM

You’ve definately got a real classic kit there.  I’ll be watching along your WIP!

Your friend, Toshi

On The Bench: Revell 1/48 B-25 Mitchell

 

Married to the most caring, loving, understanding, and beautiful wife in the world.  Mrs. Toshi

 

 

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Thursday, March 1, 2018 9:04 AM

Those old kits can only be put together with tube glue. Nothing else works.

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    June 2014
Posted by BrandonK on Thursday, March 1, 2018 9:04 AM

This is cool. I'll be checking this one out for sure. Looks like a decent old kit.

BK

On the bench:

A lot !! And I mean A LOT!!

2024 Kits on deck / in process / completed   

                         14 / 5 / 2  

                              Tongue Tied

  • Member since
    August 2014
  • From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Posted by goldhammer on Thursday, March 1, 2018 9:12 AM

BrandonK

This is cool. I'll be checking this one out for sure. Looks like a decent old kit.

BK

 

The only damage to it appears to be the left front cabane strut on the cowling fuselage piece.  Will be a couple of years before I get to it. Fitted the fuselage together, pretty tight on the seam, so hopefully will go together nicely.

  • Member since
    August 2009
  • From: MOAB, UTAH
Posted by JOE RIX on Thursday, March 1, 2018 11:07 PM

Hey GH, I am so glad to see that you got a hold of one of these. That is so cool. Looks to be in pretty good shape as you said. I cannot recall ever seeing one of these before. It really will be a treat to see you build this when you get around to it. I hope this takes some of the sting from losing your initial one. Good on ya.

Joe

"Not only do I not know what's going on, I wouldn't know what to do about it if I did". George Carlin

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Friday, March 2, 2018 12:02 AM

That kit looks to be in excellent shape for an original issue after all these years. What an awesome score! Ya gotta love those golden wing USN biplanes! 

If those decals don’t work, I do believe that Yellow Wings Decals has you covered for this aircraft. 

 

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

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    June 2014
  • From: New Braunfels , Texas
Posted by Tanker - Builder on Friday, March 2, 2018 8:45 AM

Hi ;

 I believe along the same time Aurora was doing the SBC-3 With moveable controls and the same rig Monogram Had . Neat planes though . Probably about 1:30 in scale .

  • Member since
    January 2015
Posted by GreenStyrene48 on Friday, March 2, 2018 9:01 AM

Scale Aircraft Conversions actually makes metal landing gear legs for that kit, fully functional just like the plastic parts!  Might actually be worth it if you want to operate them. 

  • Member since
    August 2014
  • From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Posted by goldhammer on Friday, March 2, 2018 10:21 AM

GreenStyrene48

Scale Aircraft Conversions actually makes metal landing gear legs for that kit, fully functional just like the plastic parts!  Might actually be worth it if you want to operate them. 

 

Saw a set of those when I found the kit.  May have to grab them as well. Thanks

  • Member since
    September 2005
  • From: North Pole, Alaska
Posted by richs26 on Friday, March 2, 2018 11:24 AM

I remember the white box edition when it was reissued in 1973.  Mike West at Lonestar Models might have a cockpit and wheel set available for it if you want to do that.

WIP:  Monogram 1/72 B-26 (Snaptite) as 73rd BS B-26, 40-1408, torpedo bomber attempt on Ryujo

Monogram 1/72 B-26 (Snaptite) as 22nd BG B-26, 7-Mile Drome, New Guinea

Minicraft 1/72 B-24D as LB-30, AL-613, "Tough Boy", 28th Composite Group

  • Member since
    August 2014
  • From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Posted by goldhammer on Friday, March 2, 2018 11:58 AM

richs26

I remember the white box edition when it was reissued in 1973.  Mike West at Lonestar Models might have a cockpit and wheel set available for it if you want to do that.

 

Thanks for the heads up, sent an inquiry.

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Friday, March 2, 2018 1:30 PM

Awesome, really brightened my day to hear you'd found a replacement for your lost/stolen kit. 

Thanks for sharing your photos with us. Love seeing cool vintage stuff like this! 

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    August 2014
  • From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Posted by goldhammer on Friday, March 2, 2018 1:46 PM

When I looked at the SAC gear, saw the same kit with 4 days left on it for $15 right now.

Just plug in "1/32 F3F-3"

  • Member since
    January 2015
Posted by GreenStyrene48 on Friday, March 2, 2018 3:42 PM

Don't forget the Lone Star Models wing set!  The kit wings are the Gulfhawk wings, from the F2F. 

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Friday, March 2, 2018 3:48 PM

Could the kit be backdated to the F2F?

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    January 2015
Posted by GreenStyrene48 on Friday, March 2, 2018 3:54 PM

No on the conversion to F2F, but you could use the leftover short wings on a scratchbuild. 

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