Academy 1:72 Grumman F4F (Gary's Stuff - item longest in stash team build)

Monte
Academy 1/72 Grumman F4F-4. Being one of the cheapest kits I have (I spent 6 bucks I think?), I was really surprised with the kit quality. If it wasn't for that #$%^ undercarriage, I would actually give it top marks for a beginners kit. Now, it does have several technical issues for purists in its depiction of an F4F-4 (and oh gosh - the pilot figure is wanting, but you can only build this with a closed canopy anyway). Still, it went together well, and I think looks fine, out of the box, when painted. I am trying to learn the middle road for weathering, and have gotten more comfortable making my own canopy masks. I have to go early Pacific war markings whenever possible, so I got 3rd party decals from PrintScale. Markings are for one of my favorite pilots: "Swede" Vejtasa of VF-10, USS Enterprise, markings from October 26, 1942, Battle of Santa Cruz. Swede flew two Combat Air Patrols. Shot down two Japanese torpedo bombers in the first CAP, and 5 dive bombers later the same day. An Ace in a day. However author John Lundstrom states that Japanese records only list two dive bombers lost in that attack, oh well.

7 May, 05:43