Hobby Boss, 1:48 Scale, Grumman F8F-1, "Bearcat"

March 28, 2024 · in Aviation · · 14 · 301

Calling this one FINI!

Nice little kit which I built completely OOB. I've always liked Leroy Grumman's 'Hot Rod' as it was called in Grumman Corp. Circles.

The kit as it comes OOB, is actually a -1b. I wanted to build a real early airframe, and settled on this baby from VF-18, which were going through Carrier Quals aboard USS Ranger, (CV-4), October 1945. I patterned it after the artwork on the cover of the Squadron Signal book, which features an flown by LCDR Cecil E. Harris, the unit's CO. LCDR. Harris was the second highest US Navy 'Ace' credited with twenty four shoot downs.

I used a custom mix of acrylics, Infini Aero Rigging, Pastel chalk, Flory Washes and AK Weathering Pencils. Decals were both from the kit, and the spares box. Markings might not be 100% accurate, but I feel they are, based on the few available pictures I could find in books and on the internet.

Thanks for looking y'all.

"So many models, so little time!"

Reader reactions:
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8 additional images. Click to enlarge.


14 responses

  1. Great little Bearcat, Frederick. I've always been a fan of the F8F myself. I don't have a good 1/48th scale one in my collection though. I have the old Testors boxing that I'm sure was a rebox of another manufacturer. It's a real simple kit. Maybe I'll look into one of these. Beautiful work buddy.

  2. Excellent job on your Bearcat, Frederick!

  3. Looks good, Fred. What did you use for the blue?

  4. Great Bearcat, Frederick, nothing wrong with an OOB build when it’s as nice as this.

  5. Great Bearcat Fredrick, 100% LIKED.

  6. Your Bearcat turned out really nice.

  7. That's a good looking Bearcat! Well done.

  8. A very fine looking Bearcat, Frederick @fjs3
    After having seen this aircraft airborne, it even impressed me more about the power of it.

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