Alain Gadbois Posted August 13, 2016 Share Posted August 13, 2016 Hello all! Count me in the group build with an important aircraft in Eric Brown's flying career: the Grumman Martlet I, in wich he managed to down 2 Fw 200 Condors while au the HMS Audacity. I will start with the HobbyCraft F4F-4 kit and I realise this will necessitate quite a few changes in the wings (fixed) and the engine (Cyclone). I could do later versions without too much trouble, but the Martlet I is the one I want to do... This is the box top: And the contents( a lot of bits already off thesprues!): mozart, BradG, BiggTim and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted August 13, 2016 Share Posted August 13, 2016 Welcome aboard, Alain! Nice choice for the GB. We don't see too many of these kits built, so it'll be nice to follow your progress. Kev Alain Gadbois 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mozart Posted August 13, 2016 Share Posted August 13, 2016 Yes, welcome indeed Alain both to the GB and LSP. I'll be interested in the progress of your build, still quite a lot of time to go (though not enough for my Anson I don't think.) Max Alain Gadbois 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeblack Posted August 13, 2016 Share Posted August 13, 2016 Welcome, Alain - that's a good choice for this GB. I'll be following with interest. Mike Alain Gadbois 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BradG Posted August 13, 2016 Share Posted August 13, 2016 Welcome to the Group Build Alain. Looking forward to seeing your build take shape. Alain Gadbois and Shaka HI 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Peterpools Posted August 13, 2016 Share Posted August 13, 2016 Welcome aboard Excellent choice for the GB and will be following with great interest. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TorbenD Posted August 13, 2016 Share Posted August 13, 2016 There's always something rather special about FAA aircraft - very interested to see the conversion to a Martlet; looking forward to seeing this build. Best, Torben Alain Gadbois and Shaka HI 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azgaron Posted August 13, 2016 Share Posted August 13, 2016 Wonderful! Looks like a nice kit! HÃ¥kan Alain Gadbois 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alain Gadbois Posted August 13, 2016 Author Share Posted August 13, 2016 Thank you all! I did research on the Martlet and I want to built Eric Brown's Martlet I coded R. I am interested in the original Grumman paint scheme of light and dark green over light blue. First I did studied the engine arrangement and noted that while the engine cowl cord is shorter with the Cyclone engine the fuselage is longer so the total lenth remains about the same. Here are some measurements taken on good photos plus the 1/32 Cyclone from the Hasegawa Curtiss biplane to help get the dimensions reasonnably accurate. I also noted attachements, panel lines and info about curves, etc. Shaka HI, mikeblack, BradG and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alain Gadbois Posted August 14, 2016 Author Share Posted August 14, 2016 Here is a comparison of the Hobbycraft engine (right) and the Hasegawa (left) I thought I could use the Hasegawa part but the is a huge amount of shift on this part: I will now have to make the engine, but I think I can use pistons from the HobbyCraft engine (it is the Trumpeter kit in reality) with the core of the Hasegawa part to make a convincing Cyclone. I also found that the distance from the wing to the back of the cowl is 22'', so those dimensions on paper (photo 13 August) can be translated into 1/32 scale. I think I will cut the kit cowl in 5 parts with inserts to enlarge it. Shaka HI, BradG, Martinnfb and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaka HI Posted August 14, 2016 Share Posted August 14, 2016 The original kit part looks like poop compared to the Hasegawa...got another spare Hasegawa engine? Or something suitable -- you just need 2 more cylinder heads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mozart Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 The original kit part looks like poop compared to the Hasegawa.... ......and the Hasegawa one doesn't look that good! Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeblack Posted August 20, 2016 Share Posted August 20, 2016 Hi Alain - I hope that you're making progress with your research into the Martlet? I saw your appeal for drawings (Rules of the Road) and unfortunately I can't help you there. However, have you access to Eric Brown's books 'Wings of the Navy' and 'Wings of the Weird and Wonderful'? Both of these have a chapter on the Martlet/Wildcat (there is some overlap); not much on the drawings side but some useful photographs, and of course Winkle's views on flying the aircraft. If you haven't seen these books then let me know and I can send you the information. Kind regards MIke Alain Gadbois 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kagemusha Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 (edited) Hi Alain, There's a couple of really useful sites here for the Martlet/Wildcat http://www.geocities.jp/yoyuso/fm2/fm2e-1.html http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/wildcatfaaba_1.htm and a couple of useful builds http://www.hyperscale.com/2016/features/f4f432ron_1.htm http://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?showtopic=63364 oh, and Vector make a very nice Cyclone http://www.neomega-resin.com/american-radial-engines-18-c.asp Edited August 21, 2016 by Kagemusha Alain Gadbois and Shaka HI 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alain Gadbois Posted August 23, 2016 Author Share Posted August 23, 2016 Hello Mike ! I would be very interested to have access to the sections on the Martlet in those 2 books. Any information is welcome and just reading Eric Brown is a treat! mikeblack 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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