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A few weeks back I had decided that I wanted to build a F8F Bearcat, as I can't remember ever building one in any scale before. Not the old Hawk or Monogram kits, nor any of the new tool releases, which I have a few of in my stash. Seeing how I've never built an RVN/VNAF aircraft either, I decided to go with this one that I've had in my stash for several years. Especially after recently building the Hobbycraft La-5FN. I like the cross of simplicity, and detail offered in this kit
So I’m kicking off my build today, using this Hobbycraft kit.
It’s one of their later moldings and is pretty nicely detailed, inside and out. Here is a photo of the real aircraft in the early 60’s
and the kit sprues… not too high of a parts count, so this might be a fairly rapid build
And of course, assembly starts out in the cockpit
I’ll get some paint on there in the next few days…
F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!
U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!
N is for NO SURVIVORS...
- Plankton
LSM
Excelent. It would have been intresting to see how well planes the likes of the Bearcat, Tigercat and Skyrader would have faired if WWII had continued past 45.
Steve
Building a kit from your stash is like cutting a head off a Hydra, two more take it's place.
http://www.spamodeler.com/forum/
Nice bit of detail in the pit. I did the Testors kit years ago and don't recall much detail - but it's long since gone and I do need a Bearcat :) Following along.
Thanks,
John
I'll keep an eye on this one.
Have the old Testors kit. Going to do a wing clip and do Rare Bear from 2013-15. Got the artwork and goings to have Vintage make up the decals. Be an interesting paint scheme of purple, orange, yellow and white. Have the PE set for the office, is for a military bird, but close enough for who's building it.
Thanks for looking in guys.
John & GH, this kit and the Hobbyboss kit are both pretty nice. The HB kit just is a bit newer and fancier, plus it offers a wingfold option with some cutting required. OOB, all this one really needs is a seat harness and maybe some instrument decals.
Steve. I wonder the same thing. The first F8F squadrons were in Hawaii working up for combat deployments when Japan surrendered. Had the bomb not been dropped, they undoubtedly would have seen combat in the upcoming invasions of the Japanese home islands in Operations Coronet and Olympic. The F7Fs would have had to waited for the Midway Class CVBs, and the AD had a bit more development to go. So both would likely have missed the final probably bloody actions in Japan.
Stik, thanks for posting this thread. I've built a few Hobby Craft kits, but I was not aware of this Bearcat kit. I have long wanted to have a VNAF or a Royal Thai Bearcat on the shelf. I'll be on the look out for this kit.
OK. In the stash: Way too much to build in one lifetime...
fotofrank Stik, thanks for posting this thread. I've built a few Hobby Craft kits, but I was not aware of this Bearcat kit. I have long wanted to have a VNAF or a Royal Thai Bearcat on the shelf. I'll be on the look out for this kit.
This kit would fit your needs just fine. It offers VNAF and RTAF markings options.
goldhammer88 Going to do a wing clip and do Rare Bear from 2013-15. Got the artwork and goings to have Vintage make up the decals. Be an interesting paint scheme of purple, orange, yellow and white.
Bill
Modeling is an excuse to buy books.
stikpusher fotofrank Stik, thanks for posting this thread. I've built a few Hobby Craft kits, but I was not aware of this Bearcat kit. I have long wanted to have a VNAF or a Royal Thai Bearcat on the shelf. I'll be on the look out for this kit. This kit would fit your needs just fine. It offers VNAF and RTAF markings options.
Great choice for your next build. The Bearcats that flew in the IndoChina War were used and "abused" so it should lend itself to a lot of weathering possibilities for you. Will be following closely.
TJS
MR TOM SCHRY Great choice for your next build. The Bearcats that flew in the IndoChina War were used and "abused" so it should lend itself to a lot of weathering possibilities for you. Will be following closely. TJS
thanks guys!
yeah, by the end of the 50's, the remaining Bearcats we're looking pretty rough.
IIRC the 8 weighed considerably less than the 6.It was a rate-of-climb design.
GMorrison IIRC the 8 weighed considerably less than the 6.It was a rate-of-climb design. Bill
Yes indeed it did. It was the smallest possible airframe built around the largest engine in mass production at the time. Fast, quick, light, and agile, plus better visibility with the sliding bubble canopy. More lightly armed and armored than the F6F, but still Grumman tough.
Yeah, the Bearcat held the time-to-climb to 10,000 feet set in 1946. Climb rate of 6400 feet per minute, meaning 96 seconds to 10,000 feet. The Bearcat held that record until the F-4 Phantom II came along.
When I was at Moody AFB back in the 60's, we trained Vietnamese pilots. Those officers weren't much for military bearing. Walking around in groups with their hands in their pockets, their wheel hats cocked back on their heads, maybe their blouse unbuttoned, but get those officers in an airplane and look out. These guys weren't taking any prisoners.
Stik, sounds like some figures to build...
No rest for the weary, you're moving right onto the next one! Man I wish I could do that sometimes.
Chad
God, Family, Models...
At the plate: 1/48 Airfix Bf109 & 1/35 Tamiya Famo
On deck: Who knows!
fotofrank Yeah, the Bearcat held the time-to-climb to 10,000 feet set in 1946. Climb rate of 6400 feet per minute, meaning 96 seconds to 10,000 feet. The Bearcat held that record until the F-4 Phantom II came along.
I would have thought that the F-104 would have beat that record first.
Started slinging paint on the Bearcat today. First up I used Tamiya Rubber Black in the cockpit and wheel wells. It works for a good faded black.
since USN cockpits in the post war era were painted in flat black from the level above the side consoles and IP, and Interior Green below that, I’m just gonna mask off the black areas tomorrow, then paint the green after giving the paint overnight to dry and cure before masking.
In the wheel well areas, I used Tamiya Yellow Green as Zinc Chromate Yellow over the Rubber Black
more to come tomorrow…
That wheel bay looks good!
Thanks Chad. I think painting will be more challenging than assembly on this one.
Nice work my friend.
Thank you. I'm finding that I really enjoy the simplicity of these Hobbycraft kits.
YES! Something glorious about a 3 sprue 50 part build. The Sea Fury I did was great. I have a p-51b to build in 2022 that has the same type of part count. I like the details but painting and finishing is my favorite. Still like the 250+part count kits as well but these types are just fun to bang out - currently like the Raiden im doing.
keavdog I like the details but painting and finishing is my favorite.
stikpusher
Looks to be about the same number of parts as that 60 year old F4F kit I just finished up.
I know this is going to look good.
Oh yeah, I like the effects of black primer.
John, Bill, DM, & Steve, many thanks for looking in and your comments!
Ill get around to a complex kit again next year when I feel the urge. Right now this one suits me just fine.
DM, this one has a few more parts than the old Monogram F4F, but not that many. After all, the wings don't fold like the Monogram Wildcat...
Steve, I'm getting to be a fan of the black basing. Especially for interior areas. It kinda cuts down the need to do a wash for shadows.
Minimal progress today, as I’m trying to wrap up a few other projects that are nearing their respective finish lines. But I did have a good airbrush session for all three builds. For this one, I used Humbrol Acrylic Interior Green in the lower portion of the cockpit tub. Thinned with plain old water the stuff came our smoother than with the previous thinners that I had tried.
Now I have to do all the detail painting and weathering in there, so it will be awhile before I have more progress photos…
Looking good. I like your technique in the wheel wells.
Thanks Aggie. That technique is a learning work in progress for me.
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