Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat (Blue Angels Aircraft)

Blue Angels Bearcat at Grumman factory, 1946. 

The Monogram kit depicts an F8F-2 version (more or less), including an extra frame on the canopy, which had to be removed. 

The -2 version also had 4 20mm cannons, which were removed. To accommodate the cannon ammunition feed drums, bulges were added to the ammunition doors on each wing. These were also removed, and the panel lines re-scribed. The -2 also had a taller tail than the -1 by 12 inches to offset the torque created by a more powerful engine. The Monogram kit has a tail that is between the -1 and -2 tail heights. I have decided not to modify the tail for this build, since the kit has a height that is only about 3 scale inches taller than the -1.. 

All parts primed and ready for painting. 

Interior areas assembled and painted 

Major components assembled. The fuselage halves slip over the wings and horizontal stablilizers, and the fit around them is pretty snug. The fuselage seams, however, need a bit of filling and sanding. 

 

Leading edges painted with aluminum. The later BA Bearcats had the script "Blue Angels" logo, as well as the leading edges of the wings and tail painted silver (or unpainted and polished). 

Masked off the aluminum sections for painting. 

 

Painted with Model Master Acrylic Blue Angels Blue. The Model Master paint looks to be a good match for this aircraft, though it is a little lighter to my eye than the typical color I think of as Blue Angels blue. The formula did vary over time, and was a commercially produced paint rather than an Federal Standard color. The Bearcats seem to have been the lightest shade used on the aircraft, though. 

 

Decals applied and model completed. The DRAW decals behaved very nicely. I followed the included instructions, which made it sound like they were tricky to use, but I had no problems with anything. I slid them off the backing paper and into place, and didn't have any problems with folding or shattering as I've had with some decals. The decal film settled clearly and smoothly with an application of Solvaset.