Siam Cat...1/48 Grumman F8F-1B Bearcat, Royal Thai Airforce

February 6, 2022 · in Aviation · · 7 · 1.6K

4/2022

Beside the recently posted Hobbycraft Bearcat my dad also built a one.
Built mostly oob. Added seatbelts, used plastic rods for the whip antennas, plastic rods and lead wire for the brake lines, EZ Line for the antenna wire and a Quickboost gunsight. Pitot tube came from the sparesbox because the kit has none. The kit has no extra "clamps" for the wing and center positions, they are molded onto the ordnance. Found some in the sparesbox. The exhaust throughs with Hobby Bosses F8F-1 and -1B are the ones from a -2, so my dad used a piece of plastic card to simulate the curved exhaust cover panel. Painted with Gunze C14 Navy Blue. Kit decals used, which were not the best quality.

Build thread here
https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235102800-siam-cat148-grumman-f8f-1b-bearcat-royal-thai-airforce/

The Royal Thai Airforce purchased 204 Bearcats, starting in 1951. Mostly US aircraft and some used ones from France. they stayed in frontline service until 1962. A few were used in different roles at least until 1972.

Reader reactions:
8  Awesome

22 additional images. Click to enlarge.


7 responses

  1. Fourth amazing build already of this year, Reinhard @grimreaper
    Beautiful paintwork and weathering.
    Not so often seen a Thai aircraft modelled and I was also not aware that they used the Bearcat.

  2. Your dad really got the most out of that one, Reinhard.

  3. Another Spreitzhofer masterpiece! Great markings!

  4. Ditto on all of the positive adjectives. I really like the use of light gray on the panel lines and the light grunge (weathering) on the surface of the model. The photography is consistently professional and the story direct and to the point.

  5. Really great result with a kit that is definitely not so great.

    I wish someone would come out with a Bearcat that's as good as an Eduard Fw-190.

  6. Beautiful as always, and really cool in those markings. Love it.

  7. Reinhard @grimreaper this is a fantastic build - well done - love the grey weathering and panel lines.

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