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Scott Nelson
131 articles

Wing Folded Wildcat

March 2, 2024 · in Aviation · · 17 · 288

Here's my Airfix . The problems were probably all self-induced but this one fought me all the way. I found the landing gear particularly difficult and never did get them to fit perfectly. Additionally, it was a good thing I had decided to do the folded-wing version even before I had bought the kit because the straight wings were both short shot as you can see in the photos. The problems surprised me because the kit looked fabulous when I first opened the box.

Reader reactions:
10  Awesome

12 additional images. Click to enlarge.


17 responses

  1. Nice result despite a troublesome kit. I think the Wildcat's landing gear mechanism was specially designed to challenge scale modelers.

    • Thanks! It sure did challenge me in this case. While Airfix kits have become more advanced, I think the molding technology from a company like Tamiya, Hasegawa or Eduard would have made the same design work much more precisely.

  2. Nice work on this. The way they did the wingfold is genius.

  3. Despite the building issues, you ended with a beautiful result, Scott @guitarhack5
    The landing gear and wing folding mechanism are extremely difficult in this scale.
    Well done.

  4. I had to check to see what scale this was, Scott, from the pictures it could easily pass for 1/48. It looks really good in this colour scheme.

  5. Great job with a tough kit. Thanks for sharing!

  6. Excellent job, Scott!
    Hard to believe it is only 1/72!

  7. Well done - a great way to hide the short shot!

    • Thanks Chas! I actually didn't hide anything. The kit comes with full straight wings and wings in sections to make the folded version. The straight wings were short shot; the folded ones were fine. Sorry for the confusion!

  8. Nice work, Scott.
    The bottom shot of your Wildcat actually looks like a bird with its wings tucked away.

  9. A nice-looking Wildcat! Well done.

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