theplasticsurgeon Posted December 4, 2019 Share Posted December 4, 2019 My first build of this new Airfix F-4F Wildcat kit. Bought 2015 from Frome Model Centre. Cost £7.99 - bargain. Parts Wildcats appeared in the first 1976 Midway film, I'm actually planning to build as this Guadalcanal option, sadly I can't actually find one in a Guadalcanal film. Very little difference in scheme, same colours as my Midway Dauntless 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted December 4, 2019 Share Posted December 4, 2019 Another great choice, I've not seen the movie yet but have seen the 1976 original multiple times. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterB Posted December 4, 2019 Share Posted December 4, 2019 (edited) Built the slightly later boxing of the Martlet IV and it went together very well, even the very complicated undercarriage. Far and away better than the old FM2 they released in the Dark Ages!. Pete Edited December 4, 2019 by PeterB 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted December 5, 2019 Author Share Posted December 5, 2019 8 hours ago, PeterB said: Built the slightly later boxing of the Martlet IV and it went together very well, even the very complicated undercarriage. Far and away better than the old FM2 they released in the Dark Ages!. Pete Thanks for that picture Peter. I've built the Academy F-4F twice, and that ancient Airfix FM-2 - loved it. Like if you want to see photos, before this build really gets going. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted December 7, 2019 Author Share Posted December 7, 2019 I've started getting the cockpit together. Inscribe Avacodo Green interior. This kit is a VAST improvement over the Dauntless I'm also building. And here are my previous Wildcats. My firstbuilt Academy F4F-4 in Atlantic scheme. Same kit, later build as a Fleet Air Arm FM-1 And that Airfix FM-2 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted December 8, 2019 Share Posted December 8, 2019 Nice builds Tim, the old Airfix FM2 does look a bit under nourished compared to the two, slightly podgy Academy kits. Steve. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted December 8, 2019 Author Share Posted December 8, 2019 4 hours ago, stevehnz said: Nice builds Tim, the old Airfix FM2 does look a bit under nourished compared to the two, slightly podgy Academy kits. Steve. Never noticed that before, but what a great way of putting it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted December 11, 2019 Author Share Posted December 11, 2019 Pilot installed, introducing Captain Marian E. Carl. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted December 12, 2019 Author Share Posted December 12, 2019 Fuselage. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted December 13, 2019 Author Share Posted December 13, 2019 Wings fitted. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted December 19, 2019 Author Share Posted December 19, 2019 Edging towards airbrushing. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterB Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 Presume you are building wheels up? One of the slight irritations with the kit is that to get the complex undercarriage right, Aiffix designed it so you have to fit it before you close up the fuselage, which I thought left it a bit vulnerable to breakage, but I managed and it looks good. Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted December 20, 2019 Author Share Posted December 20, 2019 16 hours ago, PeterB said: Presume you are building wheels up? One of the slight irritations with the kit is that to get the complex undercarriage right, Aiffix designed it so you have to fit it before you close up the fuselage, which I thought left it a bit vulnerable to breakage, but I managed and it looks good. Pete That's not the current intention - however. I've realised that I made a major slip-up by not installing a lot of the gear by this stage. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterB Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 (edited) Oops! Still, with a bit of luck and some surgery you should be able to fit a slightly simplified version perhaps - a lot of the internal bits are not really visible as I recall. Best of luck. Pete Edited December 20, 2019 by PeterB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted December 20, 2019 Author Share Posted December 20, 2019 Underside airbrushed with Humbrol 128 earlier this afternoon. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted December 21, 2019 Author Share Posted December 21, 2019 Masked up ready for airbrush. Airbrushed Humbrol 125. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted December 21, 2019 Author Share Posted December 21, 2019 Unmasked. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted December 22, 2019 Author Share Posted December 22, 2019 Insignias. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted December 24, 2019 Author Share Posted December 24, 2019 Story of the undercarriage -for anybody else who doesn't follow the instructions. I had to carefully cut part A12 in the centre, leaving each side enough meat to engage in part C10. Then fitted the lower wishbones - part A17. Fitted part A3 through the engine orifice. Had to omit parts A11 and C9. It works, and can stand on its legs - but lesson learned for my next Wildcat. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted December 24, 2019 Author Share Posted December 24, 2019 Undercarriage. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 Looking good Tim, nice recovery on the undercarriage thing. Merry Christmas. Steve. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted December 26, 2019 Author Share Posted December 26, 2019 Cockpit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted December 26, 2019 Author Share Posted December 26, 2019 Declaring completion. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted December 26, 2019 Author Share Posted December 26, 2019 Does anyone know the purpose of those underside windows? Surely not for navigation or weapon aiming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 (edited) Nice ... Always good to see more great builds in the Gallery. 3 hours ago, theplasticsurgeon said: Does anyone know the purpose of those underside windows? Surely not for navigation or weapon aiming. Not 100% positive, I think they’re for landing ? When approaching a carrier. The pilot could see the signal officer for most of the approach. I think once he lost sight of him, he could look down see the deck cross underneath and cut/add power as needed. Edited December 26, 2019 by Corsairfoxfouruncle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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