SkyPainter303's Hobby Boss F4F-3 Wildcat

[SkyPainter303]

This kit will be my mojo booster. It is another one of those 1/72 scale Easy Assembly Kits.

I will be painting this like the box art yellow wings version.


P1010876 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


Here is a photo of all of the plastic in one shot. There is not a whole lot to this kit.


P1010877 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


An interesting aspect of this kit is that the canopy can be shown closed or open despite the lack of any true cockpit detail.


The assembly manual shows a whopping three steps.


P1010886 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


P1010887 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


P1010888 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr




Here is a page on the F4F-3 from the In Action series from Squadron Signal.


Squadron Signal [Aircraft In Action] 1084 F4F Wildcat_Page_08 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr



Tomorrow I should have a video update.

[SkyPainter303]

I did notice that the white stripes are not included as decals. They are not simply white either. According to the F4F In Action book, the stripes have thin, black outlines. This may be a challenge.

[SkyPainter303]

Well dang, I have been reading the F4F Wildcat In Action book and realized that my kit is an F4F-4, not an F4F-3! The wings have three 50 cal machine guns in the wings, not two. Also, it has eight cowl flaps and the carburetor intake on the top. Since I am a bit of a perfectionist, I don't want to do the yellow wings paint scheme. This Wildcat also has the -4 pitot tube, and reflector gun sight. Now I need to find some new decals.


Squadron Signal [Aircraft In Action] 1084 F4F Wildcat_Page_23 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


Squadron Signal [Aircraft In Action] 1084 F4F Wildcat_Page_29 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


Squadron Signal [Aircraft In Action] 1084 F4F Wildcat_Page_24 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

[SkyPainter303]

I finally finished the first video update:

[youtube]cSh1sk5eHy4[/youtube]

[SkyPainter303]

The first step with this easy kit was to attach the lower fuselage and wings for the upper fuselage. Fit was really, really, bad and it took of lot of trimming to make it work. I tried drilling out the pins, but ultimately cut them off.


P1010889.00_02_59_02.Still001 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


P1010889.00_03_37_17.Still002 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr



Once attached, there was a lot of filling to be done


P1010889.00_05_27_09.Still003 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


P1010889.00_06_17_11.Still004 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr



The fit between the cowl and the lower fuselage was absolutely horrendous with a huge step. To make it more presentable, I used my rotary tool sanding, and putty to smooth it out.


P1010889.00_09_56_26.Still008 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


P1010889.00_11_18_12.Still009 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr




The fit of the engine cowling was equally poor and took a lot of finagling to make it work.


P1010889.00_06_17_11.Still004 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


P1010889.00_09_04_26.Still006 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


P1010889.00_09_21_07.Still007 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr



The cockpit areas were painted with a brush. Model Master Acryl Interior Green for the top and MM Enamel Gull Gray for the bottom.


P1010889.00_16_32_08.Still010 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


P1010889.00_16_47_21.Still011 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr



Finally, the assembly was primed with black Stynylrez.


P1010889.00_20_21_07.Still012 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

[SkyPainter303]

The engine is molded into the cowling. First I sprayed it Model Master Acryl Aluminum, then I painted the front of the engine dark gray, and the inside of the cowl Gull Gray.


P1010916.00_00_27_11.Still001 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


P1010916.00_02_06_24.Still003 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


P1010916.00_04_59_26.Still004 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

[SkyPainter303]

I've got some paint on the Wildcat. I sprayed the upper surfaces with Model Master Acrylic US Navy Blue Gray M-485 - Flat
4847 and the lower surfaces with Gull Gray FS36440 - Flat 4763. To make a slightly soft demarcation line between the colors, I used white tack rolled into small snakes.


P1010919 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


P1010920 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


P1010922 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


P1010923 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


P1010925 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

[SkyPainter303]

Now that I can the fuselage painted, I turned my attention to the prop and landing gear. In preparation for the yellow propeller tips, I prime it with white Stynylrez. The hub and spinner with painted with Model Master Acryl Aluminum and the tips with MM Acryl Insignia yellow. Later, I will mask off the tips and brush paint the blades in flat black.


P1010926 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


P1010927 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


P1010931 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr



The landing gear was primed in black Stynylrez then the oleos were sprayed aluminum. The then masked the aluminum and sprayed on flat gull gray. From what I've read, the gear came black from the factory, but was often painted gray in the field.

P1010928 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr



The wheels were also primed black and the centers painted gray.


P1010933 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

[Tomcat64]

There's a lot of work gone into that for a quick kit already - looks great though!

Any idea what markings you're going to use in the end?

[SkyPainter303]

There's a lot of work gone into that for a quick kit already - looks great though!

Any idea what markings you're going to use in the end?

With these kits or seems the act of building is more important than the finished product. I got nice models out of the easy MiG-15 and He-162.

I bought this Super Scale decal sheet. It will be a simple look with aircraft numbers and kill marks.

[SkyPainter303]

The finish line is in sight. The landing has been painted and installed. I also finished painting the prop.


P1010934 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr



Here is the model ready for the coat of Aqua Gloss before decaling.


P1010935 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


P1010936 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

[SkyPainter303]

I am almost finished with this build. The Wildcat now has decals applied. The SuperScale sheet wasn't the best I've worked with. The glossy decals were think and not well conforming. Next up is another gloss coat before some slight weathering and a matte coat.


P1010937 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


P1010938 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

[SkyPainter303]

I'm on the weathering stage. First off I used Ultimate Weathering Wash Dark Dirt on the top and bottom.


P1010939 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr



Here is the aircraft after I wiped off the wash. While I was wiping, I broke the top antenna; a real bummer.


P1010940 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


P1010941 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr



I then attempted to create gun stains using pastels, but I need to see some tutorials for this because the powder wouldn't stick. I may try using it again after the matte coat. After that I made some streak effects using oil paint. These photos don't really show the dirty look on the model. I think I actually may have over done the dirt effects. I shall see how it looks after the matte coat.


P1010942 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


P1010943 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


P1010944 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

[SkyPainter303]

I declare this model finished. Today, I painted the wing lights red and green. Then I peeled off the masking tape. There was left, a little adhesive residue which I removed by dabbing on a little Goo Gone with a cotton swap.

Final reveal photos to follow shortly.


P1010945 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

[Tomcat64]

Nice work - the weathering definitely doesn't look overdone in these photos.

Looking forward to the reveal shots

[pourquoi61]

Looks like a lot of work for a small kit, you beat it into shape.
Looking great.