VNAF F8F

1
November 1, 2021
The real thing
2
November 1, 2021
The real thing
3
November 1, 2021
Kit box
4
November 1, 2021
Kit sprues
5
November 1, 2021
Starting on the cockpit assembly
6
November 3, 2021
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.
7
November 3, 2021
Black base then Tamiya Yellow Green as Yellow Zinc Chromate in the wheel wells.
8
November 4, 2021
Humbrol Acrylic Interior Green airbrushed on to the lower portion of the cockpit tub
9
February 24, 2022
Painting begun on engine
10
February 24, 2022
More paint and decal work in cockpit. Used Kits World 3-D print decals for the seat harness
11
March 10, 2022
Wings and fuselage assembled!
12
March 11, 2022
Wings, vertical stabilizer, and engine glued on, plus a few small bits as well
13
March 11, 2022
Test fit of cowling on airframe
14
March 18, 2022
Horizontal stabilizers glued in place
15
March 18, 2022
Seam clean up on the tail. The was quite a seam and step there ?
16
March 18, 2022
Final form taking shape. This sure does look like a bear!
17
March 29, 2022
Left side exhausts drilled out and added
18
March 29, 2022
Right side exhausts drilled out and added
19
March 29, 2022
Bomb racks modified and added, rocket stubs added, ordnance load assembled
20
March 31, 2022
Acetate gunsight reflector lens added
21
March 31, 2022
Acetate gunsight reflector lens added
22
March 31, 2022
Canopy & windscreen masked and glued into place
23
April 21, 2022
Flat black for anti glare
24
May 10, 2022
Light gray base before NMF
25
May 10, 2022
Aluminum paint on
26
May 10, 2022
Gloss coated
27
May 10, 2022
Decals on
28
May 10, 2022
Decals on
29
May 10, 2022
Better view of the markings
30
June 16, 2022
Replacement gun barrels made from brass tubing
31
June 16, 2022
Replacement gun barrels made from brass tubing
32
June 16, 2022
Panel wash on topside
33
June 16, 2022
Panel wash on underside
34
June 17, 2022
Guns & 5” HVARs painted & installed
35
June 17, 2022
Guns & 5” HVARs painted & installed
36
June 21, 2022
Flat coat on, masks removed, topside view
37
June 21, 2022
Flat coat on, masks removed, underside view
38
June 22, 2022
Finished
39
June 22, 2022
Finished
40
June 22, 2022
Finished
41
June 22, 2022
Finished
42
June 22, 2022
Finished
43
June 23, 2022
44
June 23, 2022
45
June 23, 2022
46
June 23, 2022
47
June 23, 2022
48
June 23, 2022
49
June 23, 2022
50
June 23, 2022
51
June 23, 2022
52
June 23, 2022
53
June 23, 2022
54
June 23, 2022
55
June 23, 2022
56
June 23, 2022
57
June 23, 2022
58
June 23, 2022
59
June 23, 2022
60
June 23, 2022
61
June 23, 2022
62
June 23, 2022
63
June 23, 2022
64
June 23, 2022
65
June 23, 2022
66
June 23, 2022
67
June 23, 2022