Hasegawa 1/72 FM-2 Wildcat Conversion by Jumpei Temma

Hasegawa 1/72 scale conversion
Grumman FM-2 Wildcat

by Jumpei Temma

Grumman FM-2 Wildcat

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Background

Recently, I got a set of factory drawings of FM-2 from "The AirCorps Library". Then I revised my original five view drawings using these factory drawings.

In addition, official manuals and photos of actual aircraft were used for checking of outline shapes and details.

Full size drawings are here:

http://www.geocities.jp/yoyuso/fm2/fm2e-1.html#drawings

Anyone may use my drawings without permission for any purpose including commercial use.

Construction

The Cyclone R-1820 engine and the cowl were from Hasegawa SBD Dauntless. The kit cowl parts were a little large in a diameter. So parts were divided into four pieces and glued again.

The cockpit was moved backward by 1mm (0.04"). The True Details resin cockpit was set in the fuselage. The width and height of the kit fuselage were enlarged according to my drawings. The tail fin was extended using one more kit parts.

The oil cooler and outer gun were removed from kit wing parts. The upper aileron code was shortened by 1mm (0.04"). Some panel lines were corrected. The ammunition panel was enlarged and the landing light was moved to the port leading edge.

The kit clear part is a little narrow and short. So, it was scratch-built with 0.5mm (0.02") acrylic sheet. The kit canopy was used for the wooden mold. Acrylic sheet was heat formed, cut, trimmed and fit to the fuselage. Frames were engraved with handmade double needles.

Propeller blades were from Tamiya Mosquito. The shape and diameter were corrected. The late style shell shape spinner and pilot seat were from Tamiya P-47. The seatbelt was Fine Molds Nano Aviation.

Shades of two blue colors were carefully prepared. Because, Insignia Blue is darker than Gross Sea Blue. That’s why I didn’t use decals. Stars and bars of wing insignias, unit markings and aircraft numbers were custom-made dry decals. The position was adjusted with masking tape.

After applying dry decals, clear varnish was sprayed, then the surface was polished with Mr. Raplos #6000 to #8000.

Completion

Finally, my FM-2 was completed. The camouflage and markings are Lt. McElroy’s aircraft of USS Sargent Bay VC-83, in 1945.

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