AMT 1/48 F7F Tiger cat
OK, here we go again. Let's see if this works.
I built this kit many years ago and found it to be an excellent kit. The only problem I found with it was the rubber tires. I sure that anyone that had built one of these or similar had a problem with it. The tires melted the plastic so now this model is in a wheelchair. My main purpose with this article is to see if I can get the photos to come through so that all of you will not give me any further grief. If the photos don't come through, have at it.
OK, be kind...
If these come through it is because I made a print copy and then took a photo of it with a digital camera. This is why the quality is bad. Back to the drawing board.
Pretty stealthy, Frank...
Much better, thanks, Frank
Looks good from here, especially after all the effort. Hats off ! I could never get mine to stand without the kit supplied, 50 gallon can. I hated those tires, too. I don't know why that practice continues...
That's cool Frank. Man,I've always wanted one of those Tigercats in my collection! Yours is very well done from what I can tell. Can you rehab the plane with new wheels and tires?
Gary,
I still have the airplane and it is in the mill to being restored. I have other kits that I can bash for the gears and have the resin wheels to put on it. I think I may now put it on top and also take better photos of it.
The Tigercat was the only kit to ever have a problem with the rubber tires, due to a chemical reaction between the plastic and the vinyl. The rubber tires on kits now do not have thatg problem. I have tires on Trumpeter kits that are going on 10 years old, and no problem whatsoever. I know actual facts seldom get in the way of "modeling common knowledge," but them's the facts on rubber tires.
There was a True Details set of resin wheels made for this kit, don't know if they still make them, but that's a good fix for the kit.
The one thing I always get a little 'ticked" with on the Tigercat kit is that AMT went out and looked at a firebomber for their "research." That wide headroom canopy and windscreen was a purely post-service development, so pilots would have headroom flying fire missions. The original canopy that was used on all operational Tigercats had the same cross-section as the fuselage immediately aft of the cockpit, carried straight through to the windscreen.
Tom,
I know about the canopy but show me a TigerCat, right or wrong that you don't like.
Oh yeah, very true. I remember when an F7F-3 came to Reno in 1976. Unfortunately the insurance was cancelled and it didn't race, but it would have been a runner. Got to sit in it - talk about being waaaaaaaaay up there!
I have the 2N and the 3N and both kits have the props pitch backwards. I dont have the problem with the canopy that Tom pointed out however, it was short shot and made for some interesting fill techniques. I like your work there Frank.
It looks like a cool cat, Frank, I'm sure your photos don't do it justice.