Academy 1/48 F8F-1/2 "USS Tarawa"
By Jacob Russell
The Plane
The F8F Bearcat was the last in Grumman's line of radial engine fighters. It was smaller and a ton lighter than its predecessor the F6F Hellcat. It was the most powerful single-engine, propeller-driven aircraft ever built, powered by the 2,100hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-34W radial engine. The F8F Bearcat was a carrier-borne interceptor fighter with a climb rate of 4,500 ft./min., a ceiling of 38,700 ft., a range of 1,105 miles, and a maximum speed of 421 mph at 19,700 ft.
Armament consisted of 4 .50-caliber machine guns. The aircraft could also carry either 2 1,000 pound bombs or a pair of drop tanks. The prototype XF8F-1 first flew in August of 1944, and deliveries began in May of 1945. V-J Day and the cessation of hostilities saw Grumman's order reduced to 770 -1 aircraft.
The F8F-2, introduced in 1948, had 4 20mm cannon in lieu of the machine guns of the -1, a revised cowling, a taller fin and rudder, and other modifications. Grumman built 293 F8F-2s, 12 F8F-2N night fighters and 60 F8F-2P photo reconnaissance aircraft.
The Model
This is a reboxing of the Hobbycraft kit and such, there are no real surprises in the box. The kit comes in Academy's usual stout box, with a nice computer-generated profile of a Bearcat on top. It consists of 84 parts on 9 sprues, one of which is clear. My initial impression of the parts is positive. Panel lines are crisp and of a uniform depth, and there is light rivet detail aft of the cowl on the fuselage halves. Fabric surfaces are nicely rendered and the engine is adequate for the scale. It will come up quite nicely with an oil wash, dry brushing and an ignition harness.
The sprue attachment points are nicely located and easily removed. The cockpit is nicely detailed but the instrument panel and control stick are simplified. The rudder pedals have ejector pin marks but they're easily removed.
The wheel wells are both deep and convincingly busy. The wings are nicely executed and they will look quite nice under a coat of US Navy Blue. The flats on the bottom of the tires are slightly exaggerated and the wheels themselves are a bit simplified. The kit wheels are only correct for the -1 as the -2 used ribbed tires and different wheels.
Armament and under wing stores are comprehensive. You get 2 different ventral drop tanks and a pair of under wing drop tanks, a pair of 1,000 pound bombs, and 4 rockets. The under wing rocket pylons and the exhaust panels are the only parts with sink marks and there is no flash to speak of. The clear parts are commendably clear with minimal distortion.
The instructions are well illustrated, with crisp, clear drawings, a parts map, and a logical build sequence. Color callouts are for Humbrol enaamels, GSI Creos (Mr. Color lacquer and Acqueous Hobby Color), Lifecolor acrylics, Testors/Model Master acrylics and enamels, Revell acrylics and enamels, and Vallejo Model Color and Model Air acrylics.
The decal sheet is large, well printed, clear, crisp and in-register. It includes markings for 5 aircraft, all of which are US Navy Blue:
"White 106", F8F-1, VF-15A, USS Tarawa (CV-40), US Navy, 1948. The spinner and upper tail are red.
"White 01", F8F-2, USS Valley Forge (CV-45), US Navy, 1949. The upper tail is red with a thin white band.
"White 113", F8F-2, VF-111 "Sundowners", USS Valley Forge (CV-45), US Navy, 1949.
"White 119", F8F-2, VF-61 "Jolly Rogers", USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVB 42), US Navy, 1949. The upper tail is white.
"White 3F4", F8F-1, VF-3 "Felix Cat Squadron", US Navy, 1946.
Conclusion
This is a nice, workmanlike kit of a plane that arrived too late in the War to serve in its intended role. It will build up nicely out of the box, but for the best results, I would recommend the Eduard Zoom set and a set of resin main wheels from Barracudacast. I recommend this kit to fans of US Navy planes and I would like to thank Model Recitifier Corporation for the review sample.
References
National Naval Aviation Museum:
https://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/attractions/aircraft-exhibits/item/?item=f8f_bearcat