Author Topic: Grumman Wildcat/Hellcat/Bearcat Ideas  (Read 35623 times)

Offline kitnut617

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Re: Grumman Wildcat/Hellcat/Bearcat Ideas
« Reply #25 on: May 13, 2014, 04:28:27 AM »
RoG (Revell-Germany) does a 1/72 F8F but IIRC its an old re-pop but still good and the only one available.

The Frog kit is identical to the Revell one (got one of each and the pic below is of the Monogram one) but there is also a couple of Sword kits, tall fin and short fin versions (got one of each of those too)
« Last Edit: May 13, 2014, 04:30:24 AM by kitnut617 »

Offline Cliffy B

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Re: Grumman Wildcat/Hellcat/Bearcat Ideas
« Reply #26 on: May 13, 2014, 04:36:19 AM »
Forgot about the Sword kits!  :-X  Are they still in production?
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Offline kitnut617

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Re: Grumman Wildcat/Hellcat/Bearcat Ideas
« Reply #27 on: May 13, 2014, 05:12:07 AM »
Don't know Cliffy, but there's also an Art Model injection kit, and an Attack Model resin one in 1/72  (Hannants have both in stock)

Offline Volkodav

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Re: Grumman Wildcat/Hellcat/Bearcat Ideas
« Reply #28 on: May 13, 2014, 06:09:13 AM »
Thanks guys, any idea what the Eduard F6F is like?  Never tried an Eduard kit.

Offline The Big Gimper

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Re: Grumman Wildcat/Hellcat/Bearcat Ideas
« Reply #29 on: May 13, 2014, 09:01:14 AM »
Don't know Cliffy, but there's also an Art Model injection kit, and an Attack Model resin one in 1/72  (Hannants have both in stock)


You can get the Art Model F8F for $10.05 USD over at Modeslua.com. Ivan has good prices but you need to login to see his final discounted pricing.

I have 2 copies of the F8F. I can provide sprue shots if you to want to see it.
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Offline Rickshaw

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Re: Grumman Wildcat/Hellcat/Bearcat Ideas
« Reply #30 on: May 13, 2014, 09:13:08 AM »
I have actually physically started my Hellcat!

I was going to tryout the airbrush on it but think I may stick with the brush for the time being just to try and get it finished.  Still toying with the back story but it is an ex-lend lease F6F-5 in service with the RAN FAA flying from a RAN Implacable class armoured fleet carrier over Korea in 1950-1.  When did Roo Roundels come in?  Do I need to make it 1952-3?

Saw a 1/72 Eduard Hellcat in the local hobby shop, is that a better kit than the Italeri one?  Tempted to do a second one RAN FAA Hellcat anyway, an all Oxford Blue one.

Does anyone do a decent Bearcat in 1/72?  Would like to have a Bearcat along side my Hellcat and Sea Fury as well as a Firefly and an Avenger, maybe.

Rough story, war starts, RAN goes with what they have which is Hellcats and Avengers on HMAS Indefatigable.  Bearcat squadron is worked up by time of second deployment, HMAS Implacable, and supplements Hellcats allowing them to concentrate on CAS along with Fireflies obtained to beef up strike capability.  Third deployment is HMAS Sydney operating Sea Furies and Fireflies.  RAN has six carriers, two armoured fleet carriers replacing the County class heavy cruisers, two Majestic and two Colossus replacing the four pre war light cruisers.  Each carrier is planned to be escorted by a new RN type Cruiser/Destroyer and a pair of fleet destroyers / fast frigates however existing cruisers, destroyers, the battle cruiser HMAS Renown and the battleship HMAS Duke of York are being used and upgraded in the interim.  The RAN has basically been gifted the equivalent of two fleet units by the RN to be an integral part of the British Pacific Fleet and to remain the prime bastion of the Empire in SEA and the Pacific post war.  It is unsustainable but maintained through extensive use of reserves and assistance from NZ with additional trained manpower.  Most of the fleet is expected to be maintained in reserve with the exception of the carriers and destroyers but is reactivated with the onset of Korea and in expectation of a larger conflict with the USSR.

IIRC the Roo roundel was introduced about 1955.  I believe the RAN only followed later, about 1956?  It was used only initially on the fuselage and then later wings, so it was possible to see a mix at least initially.

Offline Volkodav

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Re: Grumman Wildcat/Hellcat/Bearcat Ideas
« Reply #31 on: May 13, 2014, 02:25:08 PM »
Thanks for the info on the Bearcats and Roundels.  May hang off the Bearcat for a while and see what Trumpeter do ;) rather than chase one now.  I have the option of meat balls or roos on the decals but may opt for a post war patrol because the roos do look better.

Offline Old Wombat

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Re: Grumman Wildcat/Hellcat/Bearcat Ideas
« Reply #32 on: May 13, 2014, 08:16:15 PM »
Fury & Firefly ex-Sydney - note the Brit style roundels.
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Offline Volkodav

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Re: Grumman Wildcat/Hellcat/Bearcat Ideas
« Reply #33 on: May 13, 2014, 10:54:20 PM »
Red dot it is then  :(

Offline jcf

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Re: Grumman Wildcat/Hellcat/Bearcat Ideas
« Reply #34 on: May 14, 2014, 12:16:57 AM »
Push the roo back to whenever you want, it's yer fantasy.

The Canadian maple leaf roundel was actually approved in
1924 but not used on aircraft until 1946, although it was
used on the ensign from 1941. Also an entry in the August
1941 Air Trails CAVU 'aviation gossip column' about
a visit earlier that year to the Little Norway training facility
and Malton makes note that the RCAF roundel at the base
entrance had been changed from red-dot to maple leaf
center.

So perhaps in another timeline the Canucks went ahead and
started using the maple leaf roundel in 1941 and once the
Oz and NZ pilots saw it they started agitating for their own
identity and the roo and Kiwi appeared sooner.

 :icon_fsm:


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Offline Volkodav

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Re: Grumman Wildcat/Hellcat/Bearcat Ideas
« Reply #35 on: May 14, 2014, 02:03:10 AM »
 ;) sounds like a plan

Actually taking it a step further you could have a blue roo inside a blue ring for the SWP and SEA during WWII, and the same for a Kiwi.  Lo vis 4-5 decades early.
« Last Edit: February 18, 2017, 03:18:59 PM by Volkodav »

Offline elmayerle

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Re: Grumman Wildcat/Hellcat/Bearcat Ideas
« Reply #36 on: November 11, 2014, 09:17:00 AM »
Just a thought after reading BSP3, how about a Bearcat (tall-tail) with a Centaurus and a 5-bladed prop?  There was at least one design that looking rather close to that.

Offline raafif

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Re: Grumman Wildcat/Hellcat/Bearcat Ideas
« Reply #37 on: November 12, 2014, 04:52:26 AM »
the Bearcat looks nice in 3-tone navy scheme ...

Offline The Big Gimper

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Re: Grumman Wildcat/Hellcat/Bearcat Ideas
« Reply #38 on: November 12, 2014, 06:10:39 AM »
Just a thought after reading BSP3, how about a Bearcat (tall-tail) with a Centaurus and a 5-bladed prop?  There was at least one design that looking rather close to that.


Like this Evan?







Fairey Catfish MK.I

Kit is from Art Model. Centaurus from Ozmods and prop from a PM Sea Fury.
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Offline elmayerle

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Re: Grumman Wildcat/Hellcat/Bearcat Ideas
« Reply #39 on: November 12, 2014, 02:13:36 PM »
Yeah, that would come pretty close to what I was thinking of.  You could find some interesting markings for that.

Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: Grumman Wildcat/Hellcat/Bearcat Ideas
« Reply #40 on: January 03, 2015, 02:59:12 AM »
Random idea:  Italian Grumman Hellcat post war operating from finished aircraft carrier Aquila
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Offline Cliffy B

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Re: Grumman Wildcat/Hellcat/Bearcat Ideas
« Reply #41 on: January 03, 2015, 08:17:14 AM »
You got me thinking Greg...  How about Japan being allowed carriers postwar to help against the Soviets.  Have Hellcats and Bearcats flying from some during Korea?  Could make for some interesting markings.
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Re: Grumman Wildcat/Hellcat/Bearcat Ideas
« Reply #42 on: January 03, 2015, 10:03:46 AM »
Maybe in scheme similar to their Grumman Avengers:

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Offline perttime

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Re: Grumman Wildcat/Hellcat/Bearcat Ideas
« Reply #43 on: January 03, 2015, 05:05:09 PM »
how about a Bearcat (tall-tail) with a Centaurus and a 5-bladed prop?  There was at least one design that looking rather close to that.
That would be the British version of the rare Super Bearcat with a Wright R-3350, then.

Offline Volkodav

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Re: Grumman Wildcat/Hellcat/Bearcat Ideas
« Reply #44 on: January 03, 2015, 07:53:11 PM »
Random idea:  Italian Grumman Hellcat post war operating from finished aircraft carrier Aquila

Or the US, concerned about Soviet nuclear attacks destroying land based air power, funds the completion or upgrade of as many foreign aircraft carriers as possible together with completing all the remaining Essex class carriers and supplying to as many NATO and closely aligned nations as possible under an expanded MAP.  Rather than being scraped or converted to drones the Hellcats go on to serve with many nations as their first carrier fighter.

Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: Grumman Wildcat/Hellcat/Bearcat Ideas
« Reply #45 on: January 04, 2015, 02:28:14 AM »
I'm mainly thinking of a Hellcat in something like a cross between these schemes:


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Re: Grumman Wildcat/Hellcat/Bearcat Ideas
« Reply #46 on: March 04, 2015, 03:06:58 AM »
Random idea:  RNZAF Hellcat instead of Corsair...
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Offline Kerick

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Re: Grumman Wildcat/Hellcat/Bearcat Ideas
« Reply #47 on: March 04, 2015, 04:56:42 AM »
Random idea:  Italian Grumman Hellcat post war operating from finished aircraft carrier Aquila

Or the US, concerned about Soviet nuclear attacks destroying land based air power, funds the completion or upgrade of as many foreign aircraft carriers as possible together with completing all the remaining Essex class carriers and supplying to as many NATO and closely aligned nations as possible under an expanded MAP.  Rather than being scraped or converted to drones the Hellcats go on to serve with many nations as their first carrier fighter.

Hellcat might have been a better choice for first time carrier pilots instead of the Corsair. Corsair could be pretty tricky on landing approach IIRC.

Offline Volkodav

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Re: Grumman Wildcat/Hellcat/Bearcat Ideas
« Reply #48 on: March 05, 2015, 12:34:05 AM »
Random idea:  RNZAF Hellcat instead of Corsair...

An ANZAC carrier air wing off HMAS Indefatigable as part of the BPF in 1945?

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Re: Grumman Wildcat/Hellcat/Bearcat Ideas
« Reply #49 on: March 05, 2015, 02:58:28 AM »
Hmmm...that could be an interesting scenario...
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