HobbyBoss 1/48 scale F4F-3 Wildcat (Early)

Kit: No. 80326
Scale: 1/48
Manufacturer: HobbyBoss, from Squadron Mail Order, 877-414-0434, www.squadron.com
Price: $28.97
Comments: Injection-molded, 60 parts, decals
Pros: Good cockpit, engine bay, and landing-gear detail; accurate shape
Cons: Difficult decals; incorrect windshield brace, engine face and exhaust stub; no instrument panel; rivet errors
Issue Published: October 2008

With the Brewster F2A Buffalo already in production, Grumman had to scramble to come up with a better fighter. The Pratt & Whitney R-1830-76 engine and cuffed, three-blade Curtiss-Electric speed propeller went a long way toward enabling the new F4F-3, a development of Grumman's earlier biplane fighters, to reach 333 mph at 21,000 feet.

Up to now, modeling a "yellow wings" Wildcat has been expensive and difficult. But HobbyBoss' new kit makes it easy.

Four-view color drawings and decals are provided for two aircraft, with a generous decal sheet of 58 images.
In the cockpit, the engraved instrument faces are nearly invisible, and there are no decals for them. Side consoles comprise two parts on each side. Masking and painting the various molded-on boxes and panels takes some time.

Assembly of the motor mounts is unclear in the directions. I located parts F-15 and F-37 through trial and error.

The engine has magnetos that were located elsewhere on the -76 engine. Sticklers for accuracy will want to remove those magnetos or buy a correct aftermarket crankcase cover. I installed a nylon keeper from another kit to make my propeller posable.

The bottom nose section/cockpit assembly/motor mounts did not match the fuselage top. I spent nearly a week waiting for short sections of seam to dry before proceeding.

The fit of the wings was excellent. I had trouble getting both gun barrels through the ports in the upper wing; a chisel blade inserted along the leading-edge seam coaxed them into position. Short stubs on the wings, stabilizers, and rudder provide alignment and gluing surface for these parts.

The main landing gear presented no problems. I painted it silver according to the instructions. The kit provides auxiliary fuel tanks, but none of my references showed them, so, I left them off.

The engine exhaust pipes, a prominent feature, seemed misshapen. They should look oval, like tubing cut at an angle.
Final assembly was problem-free. The windshield and canopy fit perfectly. I did find that the fit of the telescopic sight through the windshield was exceptionally tight; mine never quite made it to perfect alignment. Installing my propeller, I tapered the end of the shaft to make it easier to push into the nylon keeper.

I painted my model with SnJ aluminum and Testors Model Master chrome yellow, neither of which required any gloss overcoat for decals.

The decals seemed impervious to solvents but eventually settled after repeated blotting with a damp cloth. Making the top and bottom wing diagonals meet was difficult; each decal must be applied and kept wet while being positioned to mate. The nose decal did not reach the cowl lip (I touched it up with paint), and the band did not match the contours of the fuselage. I slightly toned down the glossy yellow wings with a thinned coat of Testors semigloss clear lacquer.

The model matches my references, and the landing gear gives it a stance identical to the photos I've seen. I took 25 hours to complete the model, and I'm impressed with what HobbyBoss has given us. The kit's errors are easily fixed, and it looks just great sitting next to my Vindicator.