DONE @p.2 +++ 1:72 Grumman F8F-1B Bearcat, Khmer National Aviation (AVNK), 1970

Dizzyfugu · June 11, 2021, 12:17:41 AM

As already mentioned in the general discussion thread, I will be in with a simple build. I originally had the plan to build a real-world AVNK AD-4N some day, after I had found a profile and b/w pictures of these aircraft. However, when I recently dug through The Stash™ I came across a Monogram F8F (in a Revell re-boxing, though) and wondered about a different livery for this small fighter – and the AVNK idea popped up again. I also had a suitable roundel set at hand, and so...

More coming soon.

Pellson · June 11, 2021, 01:02:26 AM

Quote from: Dizzyfugu on June 11, 2021, 12:17:41 AM
..The Stash™...

Dizzyfugu · June 12, 2021, 02:49:03 AM

Things started moving, here the main ingredients:

1:72 Grumman F8F-1B ,,Bearcat"; Khmer National Aviation (Aviation Nationale Khmère; AVNK) Intervention Group; Pochentong airbase, Phnom Penh/Cambodia, 1970 (What-if/Monogram kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

First hours of day #1 spent with lots of cleaning, the old Monogram Bearcat comes with some flash and some weird ejection marks, e.g. on the propeller blades or inside of depressions on the landig gear covers.

1:72 Grumman F8F-1B ,,Bearcat"; Khmer National Aviation (Aviation Nationale Khmère; AVNK) Intervention Group; Pochentong airbase, Phnom Penh/Cambodia, 1970 (What-if/Monogram kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Overall, the kit is a simple affair, even though I will make some cosmetic changes. The engine will receive a styrene tube adapter for the peopeller's new metal axis. The pilot figure will be more modern, with a "bone dome" instead of a soft WWII cap. I also implanted a dashboard into the cockpit - there is a kind of instrument board, but it is split vertically, looking quite goofy. The cockpit walls were decorated with fake ribs, but I will probably never be seen again, once the fuselage halves are closed.

1:72 Grumman F8F-1B ,,Bearcat"; Khmer National Aviation (Aviation Nationale Khmère; AVNK) Intervention Group; Pochentong airbase, Phnom Penh/Cambodia, 1970 (What-if/Monogram kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Dizzyfugu · June 12, 2021, 05:17:22 AM

Fuselage halves closed. expecting some PSR ahead...

Dizzyfugu · June 13, 2021, 02:35:38 AM

Early day #2 - first round of PSR finished, more than expected, because the Monogram F8F kit has a funny construction with one-piece wings and stabilizers that are inserted into/between the fuselage halves. While this is a very stable solution, the wing/fuselage intersections tends to retain rather deep/open seams.

1:72 Grumman F8F-1B ,,Bearcat"; Khmer National Aviation (Aviation Nationale Khmère; AVNK) Intervention Group; Pochentong airbase, Phnom Penh/Cambodia, 1970 (What-if/Monogram kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Further custom plan: I will omit the small OOB bombs with their vintage box tails and replace them with what is supposed to look like BLU-1 napalm tanks - scratched from leftover drop tanks (shortened and with blunt ends).

1:72 Grumman F8F-1B ,,Bearcat"; Khmer National Aviation (Aviation Nationale Khmère; AVNK) Intervention Group; Pochentong airbase, Phnom Penh/Cambodia, 1970 (What-if/Monogram kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Pilot has been painted, too, as well as most of the landing gear - as a color twist the aircraft will receive a landing gear in USN colors (interior green wells, dark sea blue struts and wheel discs), because the AVNK Bearcats were taken over from the French Aéronavale, which carried the classic all-blue USN livery. I might also give the aircraft a blue replacement part later, e. g. an aileron, for a weird look, but that's TBD, because the machines will in 1970 already have carried their new AVNK livery for a while. But maybe the replacement part had been resurrected/cannilbalized from an old F8F wreck in storage...?

Pellson · June 13, 2021, 02:51:56 AM

I'm happy to send you a pair of leftover napalm canisters, should you want them. L er me know.

Dizzyfugu · June 13, 2021, 05:11:26 AM

Thanks a lot for the offer, but the scratched ones look pretty good and they already received their initial coat of paint.

Furthermore, I just glued the windscreen into its place and started working on small bits like better shackles for the underwing pylons, extra struts for the drop tank and antennae on/under the hull.

Gondor · June 13, 2021, 05:28:18 AM

I have one of those in my stash somewhere which has the adition of a detail set with it and mine will be a real world French aircraft so looking forward to how you deal with the kit.

Gondor

Dizzyfugu · June 13, 2021, 11:20:50 PM

Early day #3, and basic paint (Humbrol 56 for a silver lacquer look, with red accents) has been drying overnight. I eventually added the aforementioned blue replacement parts. I also gave the Bearcat some Skyraider-ish black anti-soot patches behind the exhausts. They might also have acted as anti-glare panels for the Skyraiders' exhausts at night, so I added small covers above the exhaust stub bundles on the F8F, too.

1:72 Grumman F8F-1B ,,Bearcat"; Khmer National Aviation (Aviation Nationale Khmère; AVNK) Intervention Group; Pochentong airbase, Phnom Penh/Cambodia, 1970 (What-if/Monogram kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Grumman F8F-1B ,,Bearcat"; Khmer National Aviation (Aviation Nationale Khmère; AVNK) Intervention Group; Pochentong airbase, Phnom Penh/Cambodia, 1970 (What-if/Monogram kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Overall black ink washing next, post-shading and detail painting. Progress is good so far.

Dizzyfugu · June 14, 2021, 02:31:40 AM

Quote from: Gondor on June 13, 2021, 05:28:18 AM
I have one of those in my stash somewhere which has the adition of a detail set with it and mine will be a real world French aircraft so looking forward to how you deal with the kit.

Gondor

Well, so far only small surprises. It's a typical vintage Monogram kit with raised (yet fine) details and vague fit - even though nothing fatal. PSR was basically necessary at any seam, esp. the unique wing/fuselage solutions calls for some filling. The cockopit interior is bare, but except for the (quite nice) seat and maybe the dashboard (which I improved with a dummy) nothing can be seen later. The clear parts (two pieces) are very clear, but came with lots of flash and the windscreen's attachment point to the sprue (at the front's base) create some wacky gaps on the kit. The landing gear is simple but O.K., very robust, but the wells are totally empty, and the oil cooler intakes are just holes - I filled them with bits of foamed styrene. There are certainly better F8F kits (e.g. the Art Model kit with resin parts), but for a "budget build" or a conversion this one is a good starting point.

NARSES2 · June 14, 2021, 04:31:35 AM

I've built a couple of these, one Monogram original and the second a Revell ? re-box. As you say typical Monogram of the period and a little bit of work will be rewarded.

DogfighterZen · June 14, 2021, 11:36:41 AM

I've built one of the Revell editions and i remember having lots of work with gaps so i know what you're going through.
I've had to stick some styrene strips to close the gaps on the wing to fuselage joints. It is an old and cheap kit so i guess we can't complain too much.
Just checked back on my build thread and found that the pics are missing, it was due to the Photobucket debacle...

Dizzyfugu · June 14, 2021, 11:45:08 PM

Day #4 has the model with paint on, some weathering, and also the decals have been added as well as some signs of wear and tear. Just added the landing gear - the F8F stands really tall!

1:72 Grumman F8F-1B ,,Bearcat"; Khmer National Aviation (Aviation Nationale Khmère; AVNK) Intervention Group; Pochentong airbase, Phnom Penh/Cambodia, 1970 (What-if/Monogram kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Grumman F8F-1B ,,Bearcat"; Khmer National Aviation (Aviation Nationale Khmère; AVNK) Intervention Group; Pochentong airbase, Phnom Penh/Cambodia, 1970 (What-if/Monogram kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

I'll admit that the livery is very simple, but there's also some attractiveness. And in the rather unusual silver-grey scheme the F8F reminds a lot of the bigger Skyraider!

PR19_Kit · June 15, 2021, 03:44:25 AM

Quote from: Dizzyfugu on June 14, 2021, 11:45:08 PM

- the F8F stands really tall!

It's got to because of that SOCKING great prop! And then they had to make the gear legs shrink to retract them.

Looking pretty darn good so far Thomas.

Dizzyfugu · June 15, 2021, 07:15:38 AM

Finish line draws closer: the Bearcat received some more weathering and a coat with matt acrylic varnish.