Profile Photo
Michael Smith
63 articles

Butch O’Hare F4F-3 refit

July 29, 2023 · in Aviation · · 9 · 299

In May of 2017 as part of my 75th anniversary of the Pacific War battles of 1942 I built a /Minicraft of Butch O'Hare's F4F from when he won the Medal of Honor for engaging nine Japanese bombers attacking his carrier, the USS (CV-2) in February.

For some time now I have intended to replace or at least update this model. For one thing, I was using the Testors paint colors then, and I have now switched to the Vallejo, which is a darker shade, both bluer and greener in color (compare the old wings to the new ones above). I also realized after building the model that 's F4F was a -3, not a -4 with folding wings, which is what the kit was. Last weekend I ran across a set of resin aftermarket -3 wings, and decided on a redo. And before you ask, no it's not as simple as just filling the wing fold - the panels are completely different - so I would probably not have done a rebuild without new wings - I'd have just waited until I ran across a -3 kit.

I replaced the kit wings, applied a light primer coat, and top coated with the Vallejo colors. I had a spare vacu-formed F4F canopy so I added that so I could show an open canopy, and replaced the Academy pilot with one from the new tool Airfix F4F-4. The tail striping decals did not fit the model, so I anticipate doing some trimming once the decals are completely dry.

It's still not a good build, but it's closer than it was, and not affirmatively incorrect - either in color or because it was a -4, not a -3. It now sits on the Lexington shelf with its stablemate "Sail 12". The below it - Bill Leonard's from the Yorktown at Midway is a far better kit (it's a new-tool Airfix) and model, but it's a -4, so it wasn't a candidate for an O'Hare.

Reader reactions:
4  Awesome 1 

9 responses

  1. Great work to get your desired result. And wonderful shelves full of well-done WW2 naval a/c.
    So Michael, you are still building plastic models at age 81. Good for you. Me, too, at 86 in Sept.

  2. Great redo and nice collection, Michael. Well done and looks like a good build to me.

  3. Nice update, Michael.

  4. Fantastic job, Michael!

  5. Great work on the conversion, Michael @mcsmith1964
    A beautiful collection as well.

  6. Nicly done Michael and a really nice collection as well. I assume they are all 1/72? And you're still building models at 59? You're still a young kid, I'm 75 and still cranking them out, but at a much slower pace.

  7. Excellent Wildcat, and collection! Keep them coming...

Leave a Reply