One-Two Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 (edited) Hi Guys. I'd like to present you my latest build - the F8F1 Bearcat from Hobbyboss. The aircraft depicted is the famous Blue Angels Beetle Bomb. I choose this marking because it is unusual (full yellow airframe) and because this specific aircraft was - as far as I know - the last piston engine aicraft used by Blue Angels in airshows, even after they converted to jets, until the aircraft was sadly lost during a training flight in 1950. Now I know that this kit was received with some criticism. After the experience of building it, I think that this criticism is well deserved - not necesarly from the accuracy point of view (there are some accuracy/shape issues, but still it looks like a Bearcat to me), but especially for the lack of research on behalf of the producer. I find it really hard to understand how a producer like Hobbiboss managed to mass produce a kit with totally wrong decals and instructions for applying them. The F8F1 box is containing decals for 2 airframes - one USN glossy blue (I don't know if tis any problem with this one) and one for Beetle Bomb. The problem is that I discovered (on the hard way I mean) that if one uses the box decals for Beetle Bomb and follows the Hobbyboss intructions for applying those decals, then will obtain a model that have almost nothing in common with the real aircraft - except for the overall yellow coloured airframe. The hobbyboss decals (and instructions) are completely wrong from every point of view - colour, dimensions, placement, etc. So beware of this issue if any of you guys is planning to buid this specific airframe. Otherwise, the kit is well engineered and easy to assemble. Some rescribing was neccessary, because some panel lines are wrongly positioned or missing. The only aftermarket addition to this kit was the PE seat belts (Eduard). And new decals from Draw Decal/USA, of course (very accurate decals, good instructions). Also, the model was heavely modified in the engine and engine bay area - which is highly visible when the aircraft is on the ground and which was almost completely bare if left OOB. So a lot of scratch building and piping work was done to this area - but sadly this is not so visible now that the model is ready. However...I know it's there... So here it is. Hope you like it guys. Any comments/sugestions are welcomed. All the best, Edited December 10, 2014 by One-Two 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerndM Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 Nice to see a yellow Bearcat, not only in the DSB scheme, your weathering in the panels is looking great, as well the whole kit. Well done ! Trumpeter/Hobbyboss kits are a hit and miss thing, well made but in terms of research often lacking. Anyway, great build, Congratulations Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Threadbear Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 Fantastic looking "Beetle Bomb" Love the panels and the wheels and undercarriage looks fantastic! Well done!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darby Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 YELLOW! Different and therefore I like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pascal JMW Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 Superb ! Beautiful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 I like, nice to see one that isn't blue lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One-Two Posted December 12, 2014 Author Share Posted December 12, 2014 Thank you Gents for your kind comments - much appreciated. Here you are also few WIP pics... Regards, 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerndM Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 Good idea to make photos from your work, before closing the fuselage. Your details are very nice and the kit is quite small, well done :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabat Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Got to love these plucky little fighters. I love them in blue, but this looks very cool. Nice work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NavDoc Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Nicely done Bearcat ! That unique opening of the wheel wells into the fuselage is especially well detailed-- ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawel Szczudlyk Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Great job with this kit! I really like what you did with wheel whels. Well done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One-Two Posted December 18, 2014 Author Share Posted December 18, 2014 Thanks Guys, Glad you like it. Now the Bearcat joined the rest of my collection 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arniec Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 That is a very nice Bearcat. What colourand producer of yellow did you use?! Cheers, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One-Two Posted December 19, 2014 Author Share Posted December 19, 2014 (edited) That is a very nice Bearcat. What colourand producer of yellow did you use?! Cheers, Hi Arniec, The colour is yellow gloss coded 1514 (enamel) from Model Master. It was pretty tricky to paint, because of the very low coverage power of this yellow paint... Cheers, Edited December 19, 2014 by One-Two Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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