Hobbycraft 1/48 F8F-1B

[stikpusher]

This is one of my last aircraft completions, Hobbycraft’s 1/48 Bearcat. I did it up in Vietnamese markings from the end of their service career in the late 50’s/early 60’s. I added some stuff into the cockpit and then replaced the kit gun barrels with brass tubing. The kit is really a good build, and I say if you can find one for a decent price, don’t pass it up.

[TJ]

Neat markings on this one. I have the Blue Angel boxing in the stash

[406 Silverado]

Such a menacing looking aircraft and one that you did a great job on Carlos! The items that you added helped it come to life even more. What I didn't realize was that they were in service with Vietnam. Very interesting fact. How detailed out was the cockpit on this kit?

[stikpusher]

TJ & Joe, thank you.

TJ, IIRC, the Blue Angels boxing comes with decals to do the Blues Bearcats, plus their yellow solo member “Beetle Bomb”.

Joe, the IP on this kit wasn’t very good, so dressed it up a bit using a Pro Modeler F6F-5 IP decal, which looked fairly close to the actual F8F IP configuration. In hindsight, I probably should have just picked up a Yahu IP, or similar such item. I also thinned down the walls of the seat pan a bit for a more in scale thickness appearance, and added a 3-D decal harness set. Those 3-D decal seat harnesses are a great item, giving a much more lifelike drape than a PE seat harness.

[406 Silverado]

May 28, 2023 10:48:08 GMT -5 stikpusher said:

TJ & Joe, thank you.

TJ, IIRC, the Blue Angels boxing comes with decals to do the Blues Bearcats, plus their yellow solo member “Beetle Bomb”.

Joe, the IP on this kit wasn’t very good, so dressed it up a bit using a Pro Modeler F6F-5 IP decal, which looked fairly close to the actual F8F IP configuration. In hindsight, I probably should have just picked up a Yahu IP, or similar such item. I also thinned down the walls of the seat pan a bit for a more in scale thickness appearance, and added a 3-D decal harness set. Those 3-D decal seat harnesses are a great item, giving a much more lifelike drape than a PE seat harness.

I hear you on that. I've been using PE seat belts for the last 11 years and have always thought that one had to REALLY work at it to get the proper "lay" for the harnesses.

[dupes]

Whoah. Neat! Makes it look very different than the "standard" glossy sea blue. Where'd you get the markings?

[stikpusher]

Thanks Dupes. The markings are the kit decals. They have options of Gloss Sea Blue Vietnamese, as when they received them from the French, this NMF scheme from the end their service career, or from the Royal Thai Air Force. The Hobbycraft decals worked really well I might add.

[robbo]

Looks a nice kit and very well painted

[stikpusher]

Thank you Robbo. I found a few photos of the actual types while still in service, and they were quite well worn. I didn’t quite capture that look with my build, but it is good enough.

[maverick]

Very nicely done.

[stikpusher]

Thank you Maverick

[deafpanzer]

NICE!!! I really dig the colors on it. Well done!

[stikpusher]

May 29, 2023 22:05:10 GMT -5 deafpanzer said:

NICE!!! I really dig the colors on it. Well done!

Thank you sir! I’m happy to hear that you you like it!