Vought F7U-3 Cutlass, VX-4
Hi imodelers,
This is my second model on this site, but realized before the Demon. As you can see, I am very enthusiast about US Navy aircrafts, especially during the 50s and 60s.
The kit is the horrible Hobby Craft kit. I added a cockpit resin kit from Lone Star Models and a metal landing gear from Scale Aircraft Conversions. Decals come from a Worldwide Aviation Decals sheet.
I thought I will never be able to finish this kit, many disappointments have been met all along and a collapsing motivation.
By the end, many mistakes there and there, but I can at last exhibit on a shelf this incredible bird which still looks awesome nowadays.
5 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Jack Mugan said on June 17, 2019
Awesome job on a tough kit...
Julian Shawyer said on June 17, 2019
Extremely great looking model of a Cutlass.
Robert Royes said on June 17, 2019
Another nice looking '50s Nav jet! I like the early Sparrows.
Craig Abrahamson said on June 17, 2019
One of THE best examples I've seen of this kit - super job!
Greg Kittinger said on June 17, 2019
Great Cutlass, and from a HobbyCraft kit no less! Well done.
Gábor Szabó said on June 17, 2019
Tremendous work! I'm in a middle of a HC P-59 and I know what You ae speaking about. Great build!
Stéphane Bredel said on June 17, 2019
Be careful, middle does not mean 50% with Hobby Craft 😀
Tom Cleaver said on June 17, 2019
Great work on this, looks far better than this kit would be capable of being.
Stéphane Bredel said on June 17, 2019
Thanks to all, sincerely.
David Mills said on June 17, 2019
Great work on this one Stephane!
Roberto Lúcio - Boblucio said on June 17, 2019
Very nice looking.
Jeff Bailey said on June 18, 2019
Outstanding work, Stephane! I always thought the Cutlass was one of the coolest LOOKING aircraft ever made.
Bravo!
Stéphane Bredel said on June 18, 2019
Thanks Jeff.
I had the chance to visit last February the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola (Valentine's Day gift from my wife. I guess I married the most wonderful girl in the word :-)), I can say the Cutlass is very impressive. On drawings, it looks like a small bird, but it isn't.
Jeff Bailey said on June 18, 2019
That's awesome, Stephane! I visited there about 12 years ago. It was a present to me, too - but from my Mom.
Dad was a US Navy fighter & dive bomber pilot during WWII and I'd loooooonnnnggg wanted to visit the great museum there. It IS an awesome place to visit, right?! Dad's been gone since mid 1977, so I wasn't able to visit the museum while he was still alive. But it was worth a lot to me to go !
@Stelaire
Stéphane Bredel said on June 18, 2019
That's a nice story, Jeff. I am very respectful to those pilots as your daddy. As French, I know what it means to fight to liberate a foreign occupied country. Everybody should be humble about that...
Yes, this museum is outstanding. Many airplanes that we never or rarely seen in Europe. Besides, there's no restriction to take pictures under fuselages, walking like a duck 🙂 Definitely a great souvenir.
Matt Minnichsoffer said on June 20, 2019
I have no knowledge of this bird, but your build makes it very interesting to me. We’ve all fought the battle of a bad kit and found a way to pull it off. Yours is a masterwork. Great NMF on a very cool looking jet. Great work and keep ‘me coming.
Stéphane Bredel said on June 20, 2019
Thanks for your nice words, Matt.
Marek Targowicz said on June 21, 2019
A real beauty! Wish someone released a Cutlass in 144 scale...