By late 1930s the primary carrier fighter aircraft United States Navy was fast approaching obsolescence. The Grumman F3F biplane fighters needed to be replaced, with a modern monoplane fighter. Capable of carrier operations. Naturally Grumman began to develop a modern replacement to its series of biplane fighters. However, the extended development of the XF4F. Lead the U.S Navy to award a production contract for the first United States carrier-based naval monoplane to the Brewster Aeronautical Corporation.
However, issues with the Brewster F2A Buffalo, resulted the U.S Navy adopting the new Grumman fighter into service by late 1940. The Grumman F4F Wildcat equipped both Naval and U.S Marine fighter squadrons. The type would also enter service with the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm. Being designated as the Marlet in FAA service.
After war erupted in the Pacific, the Grumman F4F Wildcat was the primary fighter against the air power of the Imperial Japanese Navy. The F4Fs of both USN and USMC saw action at Wake Island and in the battles for the Coral Sea, Midway, and Guadalcanal. Wildcat pilots encountered Japanese pilots flying the Mitsubishi A6M Zero. The legendary Zero could outmanoeuvre the F4F. However, the Wildcat's heavy armament and solid construction gave it an advantage when flown by skilled pilots.
By 1943, Grumman was ready to introduce a new naval fighter, the F6F Hellcat, but the Navy still needed the F4F. The Wildcat's small size and modest weight made it suitable to operate aboard convoy escort carriers. To make room for Hellcat production at the Grumman plant, the company transferred Wildcat manufacturing tools and equipment to the Eastern Aircraft Division of General Motors. GM built two versions of the F4F that the Navy designated the FM-1 and FM-2.
In its role as the primary fighter of the smaller convoy escort carriers. The Wildcat continued to faithfully serve in the war against Japan, in the Pacific. But also, in the Atlantic Ocean against the U-Boat menace. At the end of the Second World War the Wildcat was retired from both US and Royal Navy service.
THE KIT
The model kit by Academy dates to the year 1987. That offers a nice and simple build, with no cockpit detail. And as a bonus its own display stand. I brush painted the model in Vallejo Acrylics, with decals from the spares box. Making a model of an F4F Wildcat from the escort carrier the USS Manila Bay.
I hope you all enjoyed this video. Thank You for watching this video. And Good luck with all your ongoing projects.
Peter of Shuttle Factory Scale Models
CREDITS
Music: The KZfaq Audio Library
Kevin MacLeod- incompetech.com/
Archive Footage: Public Domain
Model Construction Footage: Peter Holland/ Shuttle Factory Scale Models