Academy 1/72 Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat

ACADEMY 1:72 GRUMMAN F4F-4 WILDCAT

Reviewer: Steve Papworth (rec.models.scale)
Kit Review submitted: 25 August 2003

Kit Details:

1/72 Academy Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat – Kit 1650.

The Aircraft:

Originally designed as a biplane to replace the successful F3F biplane fighter, the design was altered early in the type’s development to be a mid-wing monoplane. The prototype lost out to the Brewster Buffalo for a US Navy contract but a revised design incorporating a more powerful engine was ordered by the French Navy in early 1939. The US Navy ordered 54 later that year. After the fall of France, all 100 aircraft were diverted to Britain, where they acquired the name Martlet I. Folding wings were introduced with the F4F-4 and 1,169 aircraft of this type were built for the US Navy plus 220 Martlet IVs for the Fleet Air Arm. Production was also done by the Eastern Aircraft Division of General Motors, delivering 839 FM-1s and 311 Martlet V's. Subsequent variants built for the British assumed the name Wildcat. Eventually Grumman ceased production of the Wildcat except for the F4F-7 and float plane versions, with Eastern taking over production of the final variant, the FM-2, of which 4,777 where delivered. Wildcats were involved in thousands of engagements and proved to be particularly suited to operation from escort carriers. Wildcats have been credited with numerous aerial victories as well as several Japanese submarines and even a cruiser. (http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/)

This kit is the F4F-4 Wildcat which was powered by a 1350Hp Pratt & Whitney R-1820-56, 14 cylinder twin row radial engine, giving a top speed of 318 Mph. Armament consisted of six Colt-Browning .50 cal. Machine guns in the wings. The aircraft could carry two 250lb bombs.

The Kit:

The kit consists of four sprues of 29 parts moulded in light grey plastic. The mouldings are good with very little flash and no recesses or pin marks. A sprue of 3 clear parts contains the canopy and fuselage windows. The clear parts are heavy and opaque. The instructions are a single, double sided sheet giving 7 construction steps and a very basic paint guide.

Construction:

Less than 30 parts and sevens steps means that this is a basic kit to assemble. You start with the pilot and I agree with Richard Stracey (MPM 1/72 FM-2 Wildcat review) that he looks slightly alien, however he paints up alright. Bearing in mind the thickness of the canopy you can’t see a great deal of detail, which is good as the pilot, seat and control stick is the extent of the cockpit detail. There’s no instrument panel or other detail provided. The engine is the next step; it supplies only basic detail, two banks of seven cylinders. The undercarriage assembly follows. Wildcats have a distinctive undercarriage which can be a modeller’s nightmare. The Academy offering whilst not detailed is strong and easy to assemble. Step 4 traps the pilot and engine block in the two fuselage halves with the fuselage windows added at this point. Wings, elevators, cowling ring and propeller are next. Step 6 is the optional drop tanks and a stand! (Shades of 1970s Airfix). The kit has a pre-cut slot to fit the stand so if you’re not going to use it, it should be filled. Turn the kit over a fit the undercarriage assembly and drop tanks if required. Step 8 is the finishing off with the canopy and aerial being fitted. The parts fit well together with no glaring gaps or holes.

Painting/Decals:

The painting instructions take up the bottom half of the front of the instruction sheet. The colours are listed as blue-grey and white. No brands or colour numbers are included so it is either guesswork or find a colour picture on the net to get the colours anywhere near correct. The instructions carry basic colours for the pilot and propeller etc but they leave out most of the detail. There are good sites on the net such as http://www.warbirdpix.com/ which I used to pick up the correct colours for the undercarriage, engine block etc. I used photographs to mix up a blue-grey which approximates the colours of actual wildcats.

Photo credit: http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/NARG/wildcat.html

There are only 8 decals with the kit, six stars and four ‘4’s. There are no details provided to say which aircraft from which carrier this model represents. I had a problem with these lifting.

Overall:

This kit is another case of getting what you paid for. The kit is cheap and basic. There is not a great deal of detail provided in the kit but it does make up into a reasonable representation of the aircraft. It is not a difficult build for either a kit bash or the younger modeller but if your looking for a detailed version of the aircraft then another kit is the go.

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