Complete. =]
Very happy to see this bad boy back to life. I absolutely feel better about this one versus that first one but there is about 6 years of experience between them. She's still far from perfect. I still struggle with AM canopies fitting precisely onto the dash. I can eventually get it there, but it just takes more work than I feel it ought to for something that should seem to just happen a little easier. I see so many others here on the forum lick out these clean and sharp canopy/windscreens. I like mine to reflect a little dust and grime and usage, but in terms of construction I just don't feel I'm quite there yet. Maybe I'm over thinking it. Anyhow, I redid the windscreen to help it sit down a little better but really it was the Eduard PE that wasn't cooperating with me as it needed. Just goes to show you how tricky that stuff can be. After some CA and some shaping, I did my best to help this appear as it looks on the real Wildcat. There's a few other little things here and there, but it's not worth harping on. I am very happy with the outcome, and if this happens to be the last -3 I ever get to build then I suppose I can live with that.
Last few add-ons...
Among the last fiddly parts to go on were the antenna whips underneath the fuselage. Here is a pretty match up to a fairly recognizable photo of O'Hare and Thach. You can see the three antennas and another object with a fairing that seems to operate as a transmitter of some sort. The HobbyBoss kit represents this but it is a little small. I cut this piece off and buffed it up a little with some scratchbuilding. The back three are located at the 6 o'clock position but the most forward whip is at about the 6:30 spot. I lucked out and happened to find a pic of a -3 that was trimmed back enough in flight revealing it's belly and the whip was just faint enough for the film to capture it...in the 6:30 position. I wanted to build an operational Wildcat that was ready to roll off so I included these antennas. You'll note that I've attached them on access panels. I do not know for sure that this is correct. I could not find a direct example of precisely where they hook up. So I used a little what might make sense and went for it. I wanted to make that point for those out there wanting an accurate reference. I'd hate to steer you wrong. =]
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
I never heard from the guys at Beech18 so I did my best to make a mock up of what's happening here with the cowl flap actuators. Sort of speaks for itself. Naturally, almost none of this is visible but I don't care. =D I'm happy it's there!
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
The pitot tube I considered using from the HB kit broke while sanding. Didn't break my heart at all. I already wanted to build my own stronger version that was going to kick its ass anyhow. This is 0.8mm brass tube with stretched sprue passed through it until the thickest part fits nice and flush at the end. I leave an appropriate amount of length and sand it into shape. A drop of Tamiya ETC allows for a snip of plastic rod to add the little fin on top. Much stronger!!
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
One thing I kept noticing on the wartime -3s from '42 was this extra box and hosing on the right side of the prop reduction box. I never could identify it, but it seems to be auxillary venting from the spark plug line...my best guess based on location and hook ups. You can see it here pretty well with a photo-op between O'Hare and Thach. Anybody out there that might happen to know exactly what it is, then I'm all ears. =]
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
Here's how mine came out with a little scratching. Now she's ready to crank!
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
And here's a little walk around of the completed F4F-3A that O'Hare flew on his legendary MOH flight. The base is being borrowed from the Dauntless I built about a year back until I can pick up that block of cypress and make some more. I wanted to shoot her on a carrier deck. =P
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
One small thing to note I may have left out is the bowing along the cowling panel that covers the landing gear and undercarriage. It's on every Wildcat I've ever seen and I believe it's due to the gearing that swings 90º outward. I suppose it's possible that it pushes into this panel a bit and over time bows it outward. It does not appear to be manufactured this way as a means to vent air from this area behind the engine. If anyone out there can provide some insight into this I'm happy to learn what's actually going on here. In any event, I sanded this part razor this during construction and CAREFULLY convinced it outward away from the fuselage. It's a little thing that I think goes a long way in modeling the Wildcat. You'll see better in different views throughout the walk around. =]
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
Some cockpit views...a little tricky to get done with the lighting but I managed this.
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
And that pretty much wraps up this F4F-3A conversion. I doubt there's a cheaper way to do it. Most -3s did have the carb scoop on top so that would be one area where you didn't require any big changes to the cowl ring. Other than that, aquiring a HB kit as cheap as possible is probably one of the better options out there for modelers. The JPS conversion set was kind of a dud in this case and also hard to find, but it did provide some extras for those wanting to go the distance. But there's nothing on this cat that can't be scratched or provided by Eduard's PE to accomplish should that be desired. I hope you all enjoy and if there's any questions or thoughts to share then please drop them here.
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
(edit with new base)
Finally got around to making a base for this particular navy plane. Here's a few from that.
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr
Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr