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F4B-4: Th-th-that's all, folks!


UmTutSut

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Les,

What are your thoughts on the upper wing having a slight (in size) yellow return, under the leading edge, running the length of the wing? The classic airframes color sheet shows this, I think if correct, would sure simplify the painting of said wing.

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Les,

What are your thoughts on the upper wing having a slight (in size) yellow return, under the leading edge, running the length of the wing? The classic airframes color sheet shows this, I think if correct, would sure simplify the painting of said wing.

 

I assume we're talking F4B-4s, not BF2C's, right, Mike?

 

Could be a squadron quirk, I guess, but I don't see it in the pix I have. For example, see this VB-2 (?) aircraft:

 

boeingf4b4oaklandbn0.jpg

 

It looks to me like there's no return under the leading edge.

 

B) Les (Friendly Airplane Asylum flack)

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Les, Great shot! In that pic, no return, but a very clear demarcation on the upper wing chevron, and the face-plate of the engine is painted as # 3 bird in the flight; not just the cowl. Also, stripes on the tailhook. That's a nice detail. As the Hawk is nearing the finish, research has slowed, but I'm curious about "Yellow wings" in general. Since F4Bs were deployed aboard a couple of carriers here in Sandy Eggo, I'll prolly do at least two, and one each of the other birds from this era. Where do you source all of yer great pics? Please feel free to add comments on my "Hawk" thread, i'd like the input. How's the rigging coming?

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Where do you source all of yer great pics? Please feel free to add comments on my "Hawk" thread, i'd like the input. How's the rigging coming?

 

I just enter the aircraft designator and manufacturer name in a Google search, both for sites and images. You have to wade through a lot of irrelevant stuff and the occasional porn site, but eventually you find the nuggets.

 

I'll go check the BF2C!

 

:rolleyes: Les (Friendly Airplane Asylum flack)

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Gang,

 

Woo hoo! Everything's done except a bit of touch up...and the rigging of course:

 

f4b41ll2.jpg

 

f4b42wz3.jpg

 

And I thought you might like to see the "crew": This is the Al Williams figure from Monogram's F3F-3, modified with a spare Master Details head. I think the squadron emblem is a nice touch! Still have to do face work and give him a couple different washes before he's ready for "action."

 

f4b43ll3.jpg

 

:unsure: Les (Friendly Airplane Asylum flack)

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  • 2 weeks later...

Gang,

 

Herewith the finished product: the 1/32 Hasegawa F4B-4 finished as the VF-3B third section leader's aircraft aboard USS RANGER circa 1935.

 

f4b4aze5.jpg

 

The model features a largely scratchbuilt cockpit, Yellow Wings decals and a modified figure from the Monogram F3F kit.

 

f4b4cwj0.jpg

 

f4b4buv3.jpg

 

It doesn't show from the photos, but the naval aviator figure even wears a VF-3B emblem on his leather jacket courtesy of an old 1/72 decal! I plan to shoot some closer shots using the macro setting this weekend. Meanwhile, comments are welcome!

 

:lol: Les (Friendly Airplane Asylum flack)

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Nice job, Les! The spreader bars came out just fine, and the base adds another dimension to the kit. All very clean, very cool. Ya gotta admit, a collection of 1930's biplanes would be eye-catching! With Montex adding some kits, maybe we can see a representative sampleing from some different countries.

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Mucho thanx for all the kind comments!

 

One interesting sidelight to building this model was the aircraft configuration info I unearthed in researching the markings. I was surprised by how much variance there was between different squadrons, and even within the same squadron! For example, 3-F-7 in VF-3B apparently didn't mount the large sighting tube (bombsight?) forward of the windshield, only the smaller gunsight tube. It also had no bomb racks. Yet 3-F-12 has both sights and bomb racks! There also are differences in section markings, application of squadron insignia and exhaust systems among the carrier-based squadrons.

 

If anyone else is tackling an F4B-4, I'll be happy to share whatever info I can.

 

Now...on to my P-26A from the 6th Pursuit Squadron at Wheeler Field.... :P

 

:lol: Les (Friendly Airplane Asylum flack)

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Les, congrats, looks very nice! Dig you rig with lenghts of wire, or stretched sprue, fishing or EZ line?

 

Hope I can get mine done in time! However, I don't think you're done quite yet - don't you need to paint the frames on your windscreen? :rolleyes:

 

Cheers,

 

Doug

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