1:72 F4F-4 Wildcat Interior

The real subject

The Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat was an American carrier fighter of the Second World War, that is a machine that took off from and landed on aircraft carriers. Its cockpit sits high and a substantial part of the space is visible through the sliding canopy. A model with a merely suggested floor and a flat seat does not stand up to that view, especially when the canopy is displayed open.

What the set contains

The interior equipment of the pilot's cockpit for a model of the F4F-4 Wildcat in 1:72 scale. It replaces the parts from the kit and brings a raised relief and deeper articulation into the space, which is visible on a finished model. The name does not specify a particular kit, so dry fit the assembly before gluing and compare the width of the space with the fuselage halves.

Building and painting tips

• Remove the original equipment from the kit and level the surface, otherwise the new assembly will sit crooked.
• The parts are not polystyrene; cyanoacrylate glue or epoxy will join them, ordinary modeling cement will not.
• Cut the excess material off with a sharp blade a little away from the part and sand the rest down.
• Wash and degrease before painting; on a greasy surface the paint pulls away in the small recesses.
• Bring the details out with dark shading and a dry brush; in a small scale that is the only way the relief will tell.
• Finish the cockpit before you close the fuselage and fit the canopy.

What to watch out for

Check the inner width of both fuselage halves. Rendered equipment is bulkier than the original insert and sometimes a little material has to be removed from the inside so that the fuselage can be closed without a visible gap along the spine.

Terms of supply

What is supplied is a set of parts as described. The aircraft kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.