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Frank Steffens
13 articles

HobbyBoss 1/48th F8F-2 Bearcat

June 29, 2016 · in Aviation · · 14 · 2.6K

This is the first model I've completed since returning to plastic models at the beginning of the year. I took my daughter to the American Airpower Museum in Farmingdale, New York. After seeing the unbelievably awesome models displayed there, the spark was reignited.

I've been building and flying radio controlled planes for the last several years, but it's nice to build a model that I can add some detail and not have to worry about loading up the wing and increasing my stall speed.

If you're ever in New York, make sure to get out to the American Airpower Museum...the models displayed there are by themselves worth the price of admission!

I had a good time with this kit. The fit was pretty good, and I added some Eduard photo etch to the cockpit. I used Tamiya acrylics for the cockpit and wheel wells and Model Master enamel for the fuselage and wings. The decals were opaque and settled down nicely.

I've already started my next kit (a Tamiya 1/48th Razorback P-47D), and hope each one looks a little bit better than the last.

Thanks for looking!

Reader reactions:
6  Awesome

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14 responses

  1. Nice job Frank. Look forward to seeing the P-47.

  2. Great looking Bearcat. The museum is great, have been there several times.

  3. I like it, Frank...ya done good. Did ya take any pics at the museum? We want it all! 🙂

  4. The Hobby Bummer scale-down of the Trumpeter Team Bravo Bearcat is an infuriating model.

    While the subtle curves of the overall shape of the Bearcat are finally caught right, the rest is Trumpeter/HobbyBummer at their worst.

    The elevators, elevators and rudder are fabric covered, but they never ever looked like the abortion these Chinese Designers Who Never Were Within 500 Miles Of An Actual Airplane came up with.if you fill in the control surfaces and sane smooth, you'll be close, particularly with the metal surfaced flaps. The canopy was a one-piece blown bubble and does not have a mold seam down the middle.

    These i****s finally get the shape right and screw up every damn thing else.

    Not a complaint against the model.

  5. Frank,Always like a nice looking Bearcat, Nice work here. Especially since your just returning to wonderful world of models. You will love the Tamiya P-47, having built a few, I can assure you the Razorback is an excellent choice. I have a couple posted here on imodeler. Enjoy !

  6. Great looking Bearcat, and welcome back to the hobby! Looking forward to more posts...

  7. Hey Frank, if you like the museum and scale modeling, the Suffolk County Scale Modelers Club meets at the American Airpower Museum every forth Thursday of the month @ 7:30 pm. I and several imodelers are part of this club. It is a small group of hands on modelers of various skill levels. You can learn a lot here in a short amount of time. Nice build by the way.

  8. Thanks all for the kind words! I still have a decent stash left over from my previous days of modeling, and I've been adding to it over the past few months, so as I finish 'em I'll post 'em!

  9. 🙂 ... Greetings ... 🙂 :
    Love the BEARCAT, it always seems racy and ready, good work Frank.
    For some reason, those #3 on the landing gear panels look great ... 😉 .

  10. Nothing like a bit of inspiration to whet the modelling appetite, and you've obviously your return to this part of the hobby, hope you enjoy the P-47 as much.

  11. Oops, sorry, I meant to say: you've obviously enjoyed your return

  12. Excellent! Great job, Frank.

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