VNAF F8F

The real thing 

The real thing 

Kit box 

Kit sprues 

Starting on the cockpit assembly  

Cockpit area painted black. Will let it dry, mask the areas to remain black, then paint Interior Green in the lower portion, per standard USN post war practice. 

Black base then Tamiya Yellow Green as Yellow Zinc Chromate in the wheel wells.  

Humbrol Acrylic Interior Green airbrushed on to the lower portion of the cockpit tub 

Painting begun on engine 

More paint and decal work in cockpit. Used Kits World 3-D print decals for the seat harness 

Wings and fuselage assembled! 

Wings, vertical stabilizer, and engine glued on, plus a few small bits as well 

Test fit of cowling on airframe  

Horizontal stabilizers glued in place 

Seam clean up on the tail. The was quite a seam and step there ? 

Final form taking shape. This sure does look like a bear!  

Left side exhausts drilled out and added 

Right side exhausts drilled out and added 

Bomb racks modified and added, rocket stubs added, ordnance load assembled 

Acetate gunsight reflector lens added 

Acetate gunsight reflector lens added 

Canopy & windscreen masked and glued into place 

Flat black for anti glare 

Light gray base before NMF 

Aluminum paint on 

Gloss coated 

Decals on 

Decals on 

Better view of the markings 

Replacement gun barrels made from brass tubing 

Replacement gun barrels made from brass tubing 

Panel wash on topside 

Panel wash on underside 

Guns & 5” HVARs painted & installed 

Guns & 5” HVARs painted & installed 

Flat coat on, masks removed, topside view 

Flat coat on, masks removed, underside view 

Finished 

Finished 

Finished 

Finished 

Finished