1/72 Academy Wildcat F4F-4 USN Guadalcanal (George Wrenn Oct. 1942)

[Lee Drennen]

I’ve been wanting to build this for over a year now. The whole Model will be Hand Painted. I really like Academy Aircraft’s and the plastic they use. There Wildcat is a good on the outside but lacks on the inside so I thought I would add some parts from the New Tooling Airfix one. I like the Airfix details and outstanding casting but I don’t like the soft plastic they are using these days and sanding it. Hope you enjoy the build and follow along.

 

[Jim R]

Hi Lee
An interesting build. Looking forward to seeing how the Airfix parts fit in and also how the brush painting goes.
Jim

 

[Mini Me]

I'm in Lee, looks like fun........only way to get my hands on one of these in 1/87 scale is to buy the die cast one and it comes on a stand with gear up (no gear down option). I shall follow with envy Sir. Rick H.

 

[Lee Drennen]

Jim. Thanks for stopping by I’ve test fitted all the Airfix parts before I decided to start the thread I hope they work as well as the test fit did

Rick. Glad to have you along it’s a shame they don’t make more Aircraft in 1/87 scale

 

[Lee Drennen]

It was a little to cold for me this morning to go work out side thought I would wait and let it warm up outside so I got a little more work done on this. This morning I added the tail fins from the Airfix kit and the Cockpit and painted it. It’s now ready for decals on the cockpit and then I’ll button it up

 

[Mini Me]

Nice Lee. Cold outside? 20 deg. F. here and 4 inches of snow with wind drifts 6-8 inches..........just got in from plowing the driveway (1/8 mi. long) verrrrrrry refreshing!
Rick H.

 

[Lee Drennen]

Rick. Thanks for the complement and stopping by. I guess I’m I little pansy it was 36 degrees here this morning no snow I have no room to complain compared to your situation lol

 

[Jim R]

Hi Lee
That looks as if the two kits are working well together.
Jim

 

[Lee Drennen]

Jim. Yes I could not believe the fit was so perfect I don’t think I’ve ever had a Resin after market set fit this well makes me feel good about the rest of the build. Thanks for stopping by and the complement.

 

[scottie3158]

Lee,
All looking very nice mate.

 

[Lee Drennen]

Thought I would start to tidy this build up. Tonight I button up the fuselage added the wings and hand painted it. Think I’m going to call it a night.

 

[Mini Me]

Glad you have this going again Lee. Still very envious......would love to do a couple of these but need them with gear down so they can be parked on some Marston Matting in a small diorama. Nice paint work. I'd say you have a pretty steady hand if you did that without masking it off. Rick H.

 

[Tim Marlow]

Nice to see this one underway again Lee.

 

[Airborne01]

Looking good Lee; were you aware CMK have just released a US Navy Hellcat pilot with mechanic? CMF72371 ~£7

 

[Lee Drennen]

Rick. Yes I painted both the Blue/ Gray and the Gull Gray by hand. Hand painted is very relaxing to me I had a bad headache when I started painting but by the time it was done my headache was gone. I would like to put this on a base some day. Rick you may have to bite the bullet and jump to 1/72 to get yours done. Thanks for the complement.

Tim. Yes I’m glad I got some Mojo to maybe get this done. Thanks for the complement and looking in.

Airborne01. Thanks for the heads up on the CMK figs. I will definitely check them out I have another Wildcat I plan on building that I will need a Mechanic. Thanks for the complement.

 

[Lee Drennen]

This morning I painted and added the wheels, painted the engine and added a few decals.The top wing decal to me looks like it needs to be move out more to the end of the wing so I think I might address but this is how the decal instructions say where to put it I would like to have this finished by tomorrow.

 

[Dave Ward]

Lee,
the wing star position..................

It looks like the centre of the star is in line with the inboard aileron edge. There does seem to be quite a bit of variation of position & size, on the early Wildcats
Dave

 

[Mini Me]

Looks close enough to me Lee........I wouldn't sweat it too much. Rick H.

 

[Lee Drennen]

Dave. Thanks for the nice reference photo. I removed the Dails they recommend and added the 45” ones that look the part like in your pic. I left the 54” on the bottom like Rick said I’m not sweating it.

Rick. Thanks for the complement I just had to change the top at least but left the bottom ones. Glad you are liking it.

 

[Lee Drennen]

I re-done the top Dials and added the decals to the Airfix Cockpit I installed. Next is to added the seat, joystick, canopy and the prop and I’m calling it done.