One of our canopies is missing - Grumman/Folland Bearbat (aka The Prickly Bear)

[Knightflyer]

So back in July I decided to produce a FAA Bearcat for the 'In the Navy' GroupBuild. This was the start of that build (nothing different so far) and it progressed nicely, until ........







Most of the building of this occurred whilst I was holiday, which leads up to one of modelling life's most important lessons ....make sure all the pieces come back home with you !!!! 

[tigercat]

What a shame any way of salvaging it.

[Captain Canada]

That sucks hopefully you come up with something.

[JasonW]

I know you're in the UK, but the American online retailer Squadron has a pair in their vacform canopy range.

http://www.squadron.com/1-72-Squadron-Canopies-F8F-Bearcat-SQ9117-p/sq9117.htm

Only $4.95US, so not too bad although I don't know what they charge for international shipping.

Additionally, Pavla has a set that has US Navy aircraft, among which is the F8F. This fine eBay seller has them in the UK. I have done business with this guy and have had nothing but great service.

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Pavla-V72007-1-72-Vacform-Aircraft-Canopy-US-NAVY-aircraft-WWII-6-pcs-/331878051539?

I took a look in my parts bin to see if I had any of these but came up empty.

[Knightflyer]

Hi All

Thanks for the commiserations and advice regarding the lost canopy. I did look at vacform canopies JasonW but basically I'm a bit of a ham-fisted model builder and I never really get on with them, but thanks for the links

Of course this build is in the past tense, I did come up with a solution  and once I find enough time to tackle Photobucket again and edit photos....the story WILL continue

[Knightflyer]

So a lost canopy and a desire to do something different ....where did I go from here

1) Lost canopy = get rid of cockpit = no pilot = pilotl-ess plane = DRONE! 

2) Colour scheme - well those who know the few models I've posted will be aware I have a soft spot for this type of scheme



and



So to make the Bearcat Drone look different ......

[Knightflyer]

So I decided that red wing-tips wasn't going to be different enough this time, so perhaps inspired by this ...



This horror began ......




and of course the cockpit had to go .....



and I felt that more than the red and white was needed



until it get's to this



So the backstory is

Grumman/Folland D.Mk.3a Bearcat (aka Bearbat / The Prickly Bear)

So as the FAA Bearcats were nearing the end of their lives and with the imminent arrival of the Hawker Sea Hawk (the development of which was accelerated due to the failure of the Sea Fury) the air-frames became available for other purposes and coincided with the testing of further developments of remotely piloted aircraft.

Folland became the main contractor for the alterations required and the first two Bearcat drones looked very similar to their piloted siblings as they retained the cockpit and canopy to go with it.

The third and fourth air-frames underwent greater modifications as Folland decided that the cockpit area could be better utilised and overall weight savings made... and since there was no cockpit and no pilot the planes were obviously as 'blind as a bat' and the 'Bearbat' appellation was born. Incidentally the protrusion of aerials gave rise to the other name the aircraft bore ' The Prickly Bear' and this received some official recognition as the whole testing and subsequent flight program was known  as Operation Cactus, with each flight undertaken being known as Cactus Flight 1 etc.

The reason for Bearbat 5 wearing such relatively outlandish markings is that Bearbats 3 and 4 both momentarily  (or for a short time at least!) managed to lose (or be lost by) their escorting chase planes when a combination of murky weather and the FAA grey upper surfaces caused the drones to blend a little too successfully into their surroundings. The order went out to make the test aircraft a little more obvious and the 'here I am' markings worn by Bearbat 5 were born. Typical of contrary thinking, that although Bearbat 5 was made as obvious as possible and had the words 'Royal Navy' in large letter on it's flanks, all serial numbers were removed to provide some anonymity and deniability!

Later Cactus flights had the drones dropping bombs and in two cases acting as pilot-less bombs themselves. There were also deck landings carried out using a pair of stereoscopic cameras (Bearcat 5 carries a single camera under one wing for observation purposes) Some Cactus flights provided unmanned overflight reconnaissance, where the flights penetrated hostile airspace they received a 'Sliver' coding. Among the multitude of subtypes there were supposedly high-altitude, long-spanned aircraft, these obviously became known as BearKITs 

So gentlemen, I give you ...... Bearcat 5

[NARSES2]

Works 

[Old Wombat]

Painting white over red?!

I'd rather remove my own kidney with a spoon!


Nice save!

[PR19_Kit]

I like that a lot. 

Not only is it a cracking idea, it's pretty believable and the model pulled victory out of a potential defeat. 

Among the multitude of subtypes there were supposedly high-altitude, long-spanned aircraft, these obviously became known as BearKITs 

Hehehe, now you've got to build one of THEM as well. 

[Rheged]

Works 

Concur!  It works superbly!   That is a magnificent piece of lateral thinking that has produced a triumph from potential disaster   WELL DONE

[Old Wombat]

Among the multitude of subtypes there were supposedly high-altitude, long-spanned aircraft, these obviously became known as BearKITs 

Hehehe, now you've got to build one of THEM as well. 

I think Knightflyer was, perhaps, hoping that you might build it - it's been a while since we've seen a Kit Special on the boards.

[Snowtrooper]

Painting white over red?!

I'd rather remove my own kidney with a spoon!

This reminds me of...

White over white, you'll fly all night /
Red over white, and you're alright /
White over red, you're dead.

[Captain Canada]

What a neat little build ! Great way to recover from a lost canopy. Nice little read as well. I like the look and the name ! The colours really suit her as well.

[PR19_Kit]

Among the multitude of subtypes there were supposedly high-altitude, long-spanned aircraft, these obviously became known as BearKITs 

Hehehe, now you've got to build one of THEM as well. 

I think Knightflyer was, perhaps, hoping that you might build it - it's been a while since we've seen a Kit Special on the boards.

I'm afraid that's true. Since Mrs_PR19 was taken ill this time last year my modelling time has radically shrunk.

Even worse, the creation that's nearest to being finished has a STANDARD wing span, sorry.............