I wasn't going to do a work in progress for this one, as I've built several Tamiya Wildcats in recent years, but I figured I'd share it anyways.
I've been tasked with an F4F4 Wildcat from Operation Torch. I can admit it isn't a subject I know much about, so I decided to read up on it. I learned Operation Torch was the November 1942 allied invason of French Morocco and Algeria during the North African campaign and there were some US Navy carriers used for support in these landings. I chose a VGF-29 Wildcat from the USS Santee who was tasked with covering the landings. It was weird learning that the stubby Grumman Navy fighter's primary adversaries during the campaign were the American P-36 and the French D.520 (the latter a build I have coming up soon as well). Not confirmed, but I believe John "Tommy" Blackburn of Jolly Rogers fame flew this particular subject while assigned to VGF-29.
The Tamiya cockpit is good out of the box. I cut out the floor to make it somewhat more accurate. It's my understanding Grumman used a darker green in the pit on early cats, similar to dull dark green. I used AK Real Colors version of it. I used a PE instrument panel and Ultracast seat. I forgot how great Ultracast seats were detail-wise.
Opps on the Interior Green color Eduard used. I should have just matched that. Oh well, it will be hard if not impossible to see once closed up.
These pretty much build themselves. Always a great fit.
The machine guns on this kit are comical, not unlike the ones on their P-51D which is the same late nineties vintage. I drilled these out and added brass tubing replacements. They are a vast improvement.
I had some spare Maketar masks so I used them. These work much better on the Wildcat's curved and rivet laden fuselage than the not so pliable Montex vinyl masks.
One of the weaknesses of this kit is their P&W R-1830. It's average at best and the ignition wires are poorly molded onto the front of the cylinders. I sought to improve this by adding a new one over it, essentially hiding the molded ones. These should disappear in the shadows of the cowl. Much easier than trying to shave off the molded ones.
Some careful paint and weathering yielded a decent 1830.
That's all I got so far. Time for paint.