Grumman F#F-3 1/32 Monogram - real world build

[wacek85]

Model of 1/32 Grumman F3F-3 by Revell (Monogram) is a very old one - it appeared on the market in the ' 60. For its time it was a great model: it had a retracting landing gear, movable control surfaces and closing canopy. It certainly doesn't look awesome today, but despite the age it's nice one one. Purchased a few weeks ago F3F-3 was finished today. I painted the model with Mr. Hobby, Tamiya, Vallejo and Ak.paint range. I've scratchbuild gun camera, instrument panel, seatbelts and wires on the engine. Antennas are AMMO product. Landing gear is retracting but some work was needed to make it work. Weathering is AK products.


I've learned much from this build, for example:


-old model means old styrene. Old styrene means fragile styrene. Smaller the part, more fragile then
-bigger model, fewer details
-people at Monogram were clever. Check documentation (especially photos) before blaming anybody for decal error
-people at Monogram were also lazy. One new part doesn't make different aiplane Check your documentation often. Some things aren't difficult in shape and can be built from scratch in no-time
-check fit before sanding, sometimes  flash is really something important
-there is no such thing as thin enough plastic profile to restore raised panel lines. If you think is thin enough then it needs to be thined more
-water-based putty doesn't harm paint. Watered cotton bud used for putty polishing does
-all mechanisms are working better when knobs are metal or made of new styrene profiles
-sometimes montage sequence in instruction is logical
-aluminium foil from yoghurt seal is perfect for seat belts

And that's how it looks















Hope you'll like it

[AeroplaneDriver]

That would be a great build for a modern kit.  For such an ancient one it's stunning!  Love the old yellow-wing Navy planes!   

[zenrat]

That's great.  Nice and colourful and you'e done an excellent job.

[NARSES2]

I used to get Monogram kits back in the 60's as either birthday or Christmas presents and loved the "working" features. I've vague memories of building this back then, but there's no way I did anywhere near as good as job as you have.

Fantastic effort and I to love these old yellow wings schemes 

[Dizzyfugu]

That's looking excellent.  And a colorful squadron leader aircraft, too.

[DogfighterZen]

Very nice work indeed!

[PR19_Kit]

Woweee, that looks good! 

I built one of those 'back in the day' as a shop window model for my best mate's model shop. The retractable landing gear lasted about two weeks as everyone wanted to see how it worked, and it broke of course.