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Wildcat or Martlet variant for Operation Pedestal


robw_uk

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Anyone got any kit recomendations for a Wildcat/Martlett circa Operation Pedestal? If possible in 1/72nd... and details of any FAA decals available to cover this operation...

cheers

any other options in 1/72 for Malta (Allied if possible)......

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Anyone got any kit recomendations for a Wildcat/Martlett circa Operation Pedestal? If possible in 1/72nd... and details of any FAA decals available to cover this operation...

cheers

any other options in 1/72 for Malta (Allied if possible)......

If you're up for a challenge, use Azur's Maryland in 1/72 to make one flown by Adrian Warburton. The one in french camouflage and all worn out looks interesting.

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Anyone got any kit recomendations for a Wildcat/Martlett circa Operation Pedestal? If possible in 1/72nd... and details of any FAA decals available to cover this operation...

cheers

any other options in 1/72 for Malta (Allied if possible)......

I've got the Pedestal Martlett decals going spare... will PM you!

Here's a shot of the Wasp:

g07085.jpg

Edited by maltadefender
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Just to avoid confusion amongst the less dedicated: Wasp wasn't on Pedestal and that ain't a Martlet!

If you are interested in Pedestal Sea Hurricanes, contact me offline. Decals are available, usually the confusing 7.F of 800 Sq. (7 is the code for 880 Sq.)

You also see Malta-based Spitfires with twin Hurricane fuel tanks mounted under the fuselage for Pedestal, although I haven't confirmed a serial/code yet.

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thanks for the info guys.. I also see that the Airfix 1/72 Hurricane kit includes a sea hurricane (also saw somehwere a comment that it was a MK II and that was not right for Pedestal).....

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Both Airfix and Revell do the Sea Hurricane Mk.IIc: the aircraft on Pedestal were SH Mk.Ib except for a single hybrid: an ex-RAF Hurricane Mk.IIb converted to a Sea Hurricane with a Merlin III. So a conversion to this aircraft (7.Z) would be fairly easy. (Note: on Sea Hurricanes the b suffix means hook and accelerator pickup spools, with an 8-gun wing - on RAF aircraft it means a 12-gun wing.)

The Revell re-issue of the Vista Fulmar had a Pedestal aircraft, but I don't know whether the Airfix re-issue does.

In answer to your original question, the Martlets were Mk.IIs, with 6 guns and folding wings, which (I think) were equivalent to F4F-4s, making the Hasegawa kit the closest(?). I'm not sure where the Wildcat kits are with regard to 4/6 gun wings, folding or unfolding, so you may need to consider the Hobbyboss or even the Academy (or Frog, or old Revell even, if you could find one). Airfix and the new AZ kits are out: the Sword could perhaps be reworked, as it is just an F4F-4 with a tall tail that you could shorten.

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In answer to your original question, the Martlets were Mk.IIs, with 6 guns and folding wings, which (I think) were equivalent to F4F-4s, making the Hasegawa kit the closest(?).

Hasegawa did a Mrtlet II kit but I'm not sure it had all the subtle variations (e.g. cowl flaps)

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9 Martlet II 806 Squadron HMS Indomitable

Combat Reports for 'Pedestal' identify:

AJ.136

AJ.102/8M

AJ.998

AJ.968

Other possible aircraft, with 806 service:

AJ.108

AJ.132

AJ.133

AJ.988

AJ.996

It is possible that this is all of them.

Hope that helps

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All the Hasegawa Wildcats are F4F-4 plastic, boxed as -4s, -3s and Martlets. The instructions tell you to fill the wing fold, delete machine guns, etc for the various versions, but other than providing alternate front cowls, the actual plastic is basic F4F-4.

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9 Martlet II 806 Squadron HMS Indomitable

Combat Reports for 'Pedestal' identify:

AJ.136

AJ.102/8M

AJ.998

AJ.968

Other possible aircraft, with 806 service:

AJ.108

AJ.132

AJ.133

AJ.988

AJ.996

It is possible that this is all of them.

Hope that helps

Osprey Royal Navy Aces has 8M as AM.968 flown by Sub Lt J A Cotching?

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Correct and well spotted. Let's start again.

9 Martlet II.

Combat Reports identify:

AJ.136

AJ.102

AM.968/8M

AM.998

Other possible aircraft, with 806 service:

AJ.108

AJ.132

AJ.133

AM.988

AM.996

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  • 13 years later...

Yes, there is a "kit" of a Martlet Mk.II. The 1/72nd Airfix F4F-4 is a very good starting point ( plus it has folded wings in the box!). The conversion is fairly simple for AJxxx serialed Martlets. First, remove the carb intake and move it into the upper inner cowl. Remove the intercooler scoops at 4 and 8 o'clock. Remove the magnetos and move them to the rear of the engine. Use a pointed prop hub. Reduce the number of cowl flaps to two ( see:  http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/wildcatfaaba_1.htm ) .   The same goes for the Eduard or Tamiya 1/48th scale F4F-4.

 

Bruce

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DP Casper at one time made a 1/72 Operation Pedestal decal sheet that did have a Grumman aircraft on it.  The tail was not yellow colored like the Hurricanes and Fulmars.  Don't know if this will help. 

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There are very few photographs of Pedestal Martlets, and none that I've seen that show yellow fins. However, the August 8th Operation Order for yellow fin and leading edge markings refers to  "All naval aircraft taking part in Pedestal," so it's possible that the photographs predate August 8th. 

There is colour film of Pedestal https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060011111 and  around 8.30 various aircraft in flight are filmed, with Fulmars in full Pedestal trim. At 8.43 there is a brief shot of a Martlet. The fin is not visible but it  has yellow leading edge Pedestal markings, so the assumption must be that the fin was also yellow.  The Albacores in the film are not in Pedestal trim, which is curious in relation to the Operational Order (possibly the Albacore sequences predate August 8th).

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On 11/5/2023 at 4:30 AM, Bruce Archer said:

Yes, there is a "kit" of a Martlet Mk.II. The 1/72nd Airfix F4F-4 is a very good starting point ( plus it has folded wings in the box!). The conversion is fairly simple for AJxxx serialed Martlets. First, remove the carb intake and move it into the upper inner cowl. Remove the intercooler scoops at 4 and 8 o'clock. Remove the magnetos and move them to the rear of the engine. Use a pointed prop hub. Reduce the number of cowl flaps to two ( see:  http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/wildcatfaaba_1.htm ) .   The same goes for the Eduard or Tamiya 1/48th scale F4F-4.

Both Hasegawa and Arma released versions of their 1/72 Wildcat kits, with proper Martlet II cowls and props. Hasegawa's was a dedicated separate boxing, while Arma's is an option in their F4F-4 "Expert Set." Both represent the later AJxxx version, with simplified pitot etc. (I haven't checked the other important details Mr. Archer mentions.)

 

Both manufacturers also offer correct 1/72 FM-1 / Martlet V moldings, though Arma's requires some PE trickery to the underwing gun access panels.

 

IMG-4253.jpg

Edited by MDriskill
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12 hours ago, MDriskill said:

Both Hasegawa and Arma released versions of their 1/72 Wildcat kits, with proper Martlet II cowls and props. Hasegawa's was a dedicated separate boxing, while Arma's is an option in their F4F-4 "Expert Set." Both represent the later AJxxx version, with simplified pitot etc. (I haven't checked the other important details Mr. Archer mentions.)

 

Both manufacturers also offer correct 1/72 FM-1 / Martlet V moldings, though Arma's requires some PE trickery to the underwing gun access panels.

 

 

At least they apparently noticed that the ammo boxes are quite a bit larger in the FM-1 (and 2) - I wonder if any kit correctly depicts this from the outset? 

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On 11/8/2023 at 3:07 AM, tempestfan said:

At least they apparently noticed that the ammo boxes are quite a bit larger in the FM-1 (and 2) - I wonder if any kit correctly depicts this from the outset? 

The underwing ammo doors of the the folding-wing Wildcats are a long-standing pet peeve of mine, and goofed up on most kits. The two inner guns' ammo boxes are accessed by ONE door. Most kits - due to misinterpretation the maintenance manual diagrams' depiction of the ammo box locations - split the door into two fictitious skinny ones. 

 

1. The Hasegawa F4F-4 / Martlet II boxings have the erroneous split inner door. 

2. The Hasegawa FM-1 / Martlet V boxings simply omit the access doors for the outer guns from the F4F-4 moldings. OK for the top of the wing, but now the split underside door is also too short!

3. The Arma F4F-4 has a correct single inner door.

4. The Arma FM-2 has a correct, lengthened single door.

5. The Arma FM-1 / Martlet V has a PE overlay to "stretch" the door (it has the F4F-4 wing - not the FM-2 one - as the FM-1 kept the underwing oil coolers absent from the FM-2).

6. The Airfix F4F-4 and Martlet IV have the split inner door (and a lot of other problems).

 

A7760-E7-B-1911-45-CE-BF30-BC473-BAEE61-

 

311-CBF75-F334-4-FF8-B99-C-0-AFE26-EBF20

 

Edited by MDriskill
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Those pics also very nicely show those two shallow blisters in front of the outboard shell ejectors on the 6-gun wing, that are not represented on any drawing (I know of) except Jumpei Temma's. According to Richard Dann, they were not depicted on Grumman factory drawings. 

 

A long-standing pet peeve of mine 😉 

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The Wildcat has suffered countless copycat errors in kits and published drawings over the years. Mr. Temma is a treasure; his F4F drawings are the best out there by far - and were used to design the Arma 1/72 kits.

 

A wonderful "modeller's shot" of an FM-1 for comparison (note missing tailwheel - ouch!). Also note the bulge behind the outboard gun is bigger, as it sits further aft in a shallower part of the wing - many kits make all these bulges the same size.

 

IMG-6438.jpg

Edited by MDriskill
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