Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat - 1/72
This is one of the US-Navy cats that I like really more, due to its aggressive looking, powerful engine and operational history.
The kit is the old Monogram released in 1976 in a new Revell box with new and good decals. Despite the quality of the kit being the normal at that time, its shapes and proportions are acceptable, even with all the errors and confusion between versions in the same kit.
I added some simple details such as the interior in plasticard, wheel bay, gun sight, pitot, brakes actuators, navigation lights, and so on. All painting in polyester, PU clear varnish and weathering in oils.
Sources:
Squadron Signal - F8F Bearcat In Action
Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat Monogram 1/72 - http://soyuyo.main.jp/f8f/f8f.html
General walkaround available on the internet
Finally, one small but showy model in my collection.
PS: This was perhaps the fastest building I have ever done. Just 15 days.
Very nicely done! I love adding details to these simple, old kits, and you did some nice work to do so. Looks great!
Thank you, Greg.
This is an incredible looking Bearcat. I commend anyone who can add such details in a small model like this. My eyesight is not what it once was, and my fat balloon fingers simply get in the way, so I no longer build in this scale. Well done !
Dear Louis, thank you for your comment. I have some difficulty with this scale too, but I really love it besides my available space to organize the collection. See my last comment about a correction.
Truly wonderful result out of the classic Monogram, Roberto!
Nice add-ons!
Easily passes for a detailed 1/48!Congratulations!
Dear friend Spiros - @fiveten, thanks for your usual feedback and encouragement.
I have around 20 1/32 scale models built, but I decided abandon this scale due to its necessary amount of space. My shelf is almost fully, so I intend to keep building in 1/72 scale only (or smaller - LOL).
See my last posts about correction on this model.
1 attached image. Click to enlarge.
Incredible result on this Bearcat, Roberto @boblucio
Very nice details, especially since this is a 1/72 kit.
I have seen a demonstration of an airworthy Bearcat in Duxford, and what an impressive amount of power does this aircraft have.
Thanks for you comment, John.
I have built three of these since the 1970’s and I love this kit. I really like your build and you prove that this is a kit worth building. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for your comment, Jim.
A great job on a classic kit!
Thanks for you comment, Robert.
Nice work, Roberto. That kit actually came out in the late ‘60s and it still has the best shapes of any Bearcat in any scale. Well done!
Thanks for you comment, John. See my last comment about a correction on this model.
Beautiful work Roberto!
A pretty Cat! Nice subtle weathering.
I'm waiting for my last service Grumman 'Cat' to arrive kit to arrive for my 1/48 (and approximate) G-Cat collection and may want to try a 'Grumman Cat' build group next year.
Thanks for your comment, Michael. Let me know when you start the Build Group.
A pretty Cat! Nice weathering.
I'm waiting for my last service Grumman 'Cat' to arrive kit to arrive for my 1/48 (and approximate) G-Cat collection and may want to try a 'Grumman Cat' build group next year.
Very nice Bear Cat, Roberto.
Excellent work on this old gem of a kit.
Thanks for your comment, George.
Our friend Mr. Tom Cleaver @tcinla sent me an important comment in order to fix and improve this model, to whom I am so much grateful. He said the landing gear on a Bearcat is not vertical to the ground, it is vertical to the centerline of the fuselage, then canted forward a couple degrees. I used a drawing from the In Action book to do that and I found the main legs were really glued in wrong positions on each side. To fix them I had to rebuild the torque arms and oil brake hoses (scratch). I think everything is OK now.
3 attached images. Click to enlarge.
I'm glad I was able to help, Roberto, since that is such an excellent model. We have ALL done that.
Brilliant Job Roberto, you've done it huge justice, I love the Bearcat built one earlier this year - a Sword model and really enjoyed it, would love to do a 48th scale one.
I can't believe the detail you added to this in such a small scale - fantastic work and I love the weathering and your base.
Anthony, thanks so much for your comments and encouragement.
I did like your models too.