Grumman Martlet IV

[RichB]

This kit arrived in the mail last week and was asking to be built.

So, in between filling, sanding, priming and painting other projects I started in on it. It builds very quickly and fits well. Foil seat belts were added. The kit provides decals for the side consoles and instrument panel. The complex Grumman landing gear builds up easily and is quite sturdy when assembled. A piece of sheet was added to the underside of the cockpit floor to prevent the "see thru effect" thru the lower windows.

And with that, the fuselage could be closed up. I had to clean the paint off the edges of the bulkheads and wing spars to get the cockpit to seat properly. The long cowl from the earlier F4F-3 release is included so don't get it mixed up with the short cowl used on this variant. There is also the option of folding the wings and separately molded rudder and ailerons..

By this afternoon it was ready for its Extra Dark Sea Grey/Slate Grey/Sky camouflage.

Tomorrow will decals and last details.

Cheers,
Rich

 

[razordws]

That looks great Rich!

 

[moon puppy]

A Wildcat!!

 

[jknaus]

Didn't the Martlet have a taller tail or is that a Martlet V based on a FM-2?? Looking good there Rich.
James

 

[phantom II]

Looking good Rich...and all before 11:00 AM . :woohoo:

Did not realise the Airfix Wildcat came with all those possibilities .

Cheers, Christian B)

 

[moon puppy]

Didn't the Martlet have a taller tail or is that a Martlet V based on a FM-2?? Looking good there Rich.
James

MartletV was based on the FM-2 which did have the taller tail James.

 

[phantom II]

Didn't the Martlet have a taller tail or is that a Martlet V based on a FM-2?? Looking good there Rich.
James

MartletV was based on the FM-2 which did have the taller tail James.

My ref. Says FM-1 for Martlet V
FM-2 for Martlet VI

Rather complicated. Looks the same at a glance.

Cheers, B)

 

[moon puppy]

Didn't the Martlet have a taller tail or is that a Martlet V based on a FM-2?? Looking good there Rich.
James

MartletV was based on the FM-2 which did have the taller tail James.

My ref. Says FM-1 for Martlet V
FM-2 for Martlet VI

Rather complicated. Looks the same at a glance.

Cheers, B)

Correct you are.

 

[Frank]

Very nice Rich

 

[jknaus]

Didn't the Martlet have a taller tail or is that a Martlet V based on a FM-2?? Looking good there Rich.
James

MartletV was based on the FM-2 which did have the taller tail James.

My ref. Says FM-1 for Martlet V
FM-2 for Martlet VI

Rather complicated. Looks the same at a glance.

Cheers, B)

Gotcha. You would know the FM-2 though because it has a taller tail. Thanks Chris.
James

 

[RichB]

Grumman Martlet IV FN142

893 NAS HMS Formidable
TOS Oct 42
Operation Torch Nov 42
Operation Husky Jul 43
Operation Avalanche Sep 43
Convoy support patrols Oct-Nov 43
Disbanded Nov 43 when HMS Formidable began refit
759 NAS RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron)
Fatal crash 19 Dec 43 (Mid BJ Charlton, pilot)

For those not familiar with Royal Navy aircraft codes, the first character identified the carrier, in the case the Greek letter "Phi" (not zero) which when Romanized is the letter "F" for "Formidable". The second character, "9", identified the squadron (893 NAS). And the last character, "P", the individual aircraft letter.

 

[moon puppy]

That was quick!

 

[helios]

Quick turnaround! hmy:

Looks good. :drinks

 

[Old Dog]

Nice job