Kit: No. 02223
Scale: 1/32
Manufacturer: Trumpeter, distributed by Stevens International, P.O. Box 126, 706 N. White Horse Pike, Magnolia, NJ 08049, 856-435-1555
Price: $49.95
Comments: Injection-molded, 255 parts (36 metal, 3 vinyl, 1 photo-film), decals
Pros: Fine scribed panel lines, good engine detail, thin sliding canopy, folding wings, movable control surfaces, openable gun bays, accurate shapes
Cons: Fit problems with wings and cockpit, no seat harness, ejector-pin markings on small parts, instruments too small
It's not often that a kit manufacturer will correct accuracy problems after a kit has been produced, but that's what Trumpeter has done to its 1/32 scale Wildcat. Reviewers of early production samples in spring of 2003, quickly discovered obvious shape and detail inaccuracies with the kit's fuselage, tail, wings, and cockpit. To Trumpeter's credit, sales of the kit (at least in the United States) were halted and new, corrected parts were promised.
Trumpeter's revised molding (released in the fall of 2003) provides correct outlines to the fuselage spine, cowl, belly, and tail, the most serious problems with the original mold. Also, new interior parts reflect the "floorless" construction of the Wildcat cockpit. However, the instructions still show the old inaccurate parts, so this may cause some confusion in assembly. (To get an idea how far off the original fuselage outline was, compare the revised kit's fuselage profile with the side views on the box top and instructions.)
The gray plastic parts are molded on five sprues, and the kit also includes a clear cowl to show off the engine, photoetched hinge tabs and wires for the working control surfaces, vinyl tires, decal markings for one U.S. Wildcat, and a well-laid-out 20-page instruction book to guide the modeler from start to finish.
A two-part clear canopy can be posed in the open position; the sliding section is thin enough to sit properly over the fuselage spine. The kit also has a pair of under-wing drop tanks.
The cockpit went together smoothly. The control stick handle is out of scale; I reshaped it to make it a bit smaller. I suspect the seat insert (part No. A10 to be painted "wood brown") was not a feature on real Wildcats. The instructions say to paint the instrument panel and side consoles "steel," but they should be interior green with black instruments, boxes, and controls. The instrument panel assembly is a sandwich of film dials and a clear front face, but the instruments are undersize.
The engine shows good detail, but builders may want to add ignition wiring and intake manifolds, especially when using the clear cowl feature.
Assembling the fuselage components did not go smoothly - fit problems may have been caused by inconsistencies among old, unmodified parts and new, corrected ones. I had to bend back the top of the cockpit bulkhead (A28) to make it fit against the associated fuselage fairing. Also, the rear bulkhead for the wheel well left a gap at the top, but you won't be able to see it when the fuselage is done. I had no problem with the rudder and tail wheel, though. No part numbers are shown in the instructions for the two small landing-gear doors; I dry-fitted them to determine which went where.
The wings, with their separate movable flaps and ailerons, went together well. Each wing features a working wing-fold hinge, even including a hinged triangular drop-down door. Even though they can be made to work, I chose to glue one wing folded, the other extended. The folded wing looks fine, but the extended one had gaps below, and the inner stub section is deeper than the outer hinged panel. I used scrap plastic and filler to close the gap.
The opened gun bays are a nice feature. The guns and ammo belts are good, but the bays have little detail.
I painted my model with Testor Model Master Navy blue-gray and flat gull gray. A coat of Testor Metalizer sealer prepared the areas on the model for decal application. My sample's decals were printed slightly off register, and two of the national markings had an uneven blue color. Using Micro Set and Sol made the decals snuggle down just right. While the model was still glossy, I applied a dark sludge-wash and brushed on some pastel chalk dust to make the recessed details stand out.
I spent 25 hours completing my Wildcat. With all its working features, the kit is aimed at modelers with intermediate skills.
I studied Bert Kinzey's F4F Wildcat in Detail and Scale, and the model measures close to published dimensions. Trumpeter's revised Wildcat can be built into a fine showpiece.
- Tom Foti