Navairfan Posted August 26 Report Posted August 26 (edited) I started this project with the intention of building the 1/48 Hobby Boss F8F-1 kit. But early in construction, I ruined the lower wings trying to install resin gear bays. I ended up pulling a Hobby Craft F8F-1 kit from the stash, and elected to use the Hobby Craft cockpit, wings, stabilizers and fuselage, and the Hobby Boss prop, cowl, landing gear, gear doors, canopy rear deck and roll-over brace. I used markings from Starfighter Decals that depict an F8F-1, Bureau Number 94759, attached to the Naval Air Facility/Naval Ordinance Test Station at Inyokern, Califoirnia in 1950. This Bearcat was used for HVAR (high velocity aircraft rocket) testing. Here's a link to a full build article: https://imodeler.com/2026/08/1-48-hobby-craft-hobby-boss-f8f-1-bearcat/ Edited August 26 by Navairfan added tags 3
Jmarc Posted August 26 Report Posted August 26 LLLLLLLLLLLLLooking great , love your choice of colors !...BBBBBBBBBRAVO for a job well done !
Navairfan Posted August 26 Author Report Posted August 26 10 hours ago, Jmarc said: LLLLLLLLLLLLLooking great , love your choice of colors !...BBBBBBBBBRAVO for a job well done ! Thanks very much, Jmarc!
ghodges Posted August 26 Report Posted August 26 Beauty of a Bearcat! Great paint scheme on an underappreciated airplane that never really got to prove itself in combat. Kudos to finding a way to overcome your setbacks during the build too! Gil
Navairfan Posted August 26 Author Report Posted August 26 4 hours ago, ghodges said: Beauty of a Bearcat! Great paint scheme on an underappreciated airplane that never really got to prove itself in combat. Kudos to finding a way to overcome your setbacks during the build too! Gil Thanks very much, Gil. I agree that the Bearcat is perhaps the mist underrated piston-engined fighter ever made.
Mark Deliduka Posted August 26 Report Posted August 26 Amazing work Drew! Especially given the issues you faced when building it. I learned something today as I never knew they used this for that test. Way to go man!
Navairfan Posted August 27 Author Report Posted August 27 1 hour ago, Mark Deliduka said: Amazing work Drew! Especially given the issues you faced when building it. I learned something today as I never knew they used this for that test. Way to go man! Thank you, Mark! Really appreciate your comments.
Stikpusher Posted August 28 Report Posted August 28 Beautiful F8F build! 👍🏼👍🏼 The Hobbycraft Bearcats are real gems of a kit. You showed how beautifully they can turn out.
Navairfan Posted August 28 Author Report Posted August 28 3 hours ago, Stikpusher said: Beautiful F8F build! 👍🏼👍🏼 The Hobbycraft Bearcats are real gems of a kit. You showed how beautifully they can turn out. Thanks, Carlos. I was pleasantly surprised at how well the Hobby Craft kit went together.
VMF211 Posted August 28 Report Posted August 28 Great job on a beautiful bird!! VERY unique paint scheme there! Some Hobbycraft kits are pretty good and the F8F is one of them. I was glad Academy re-boxed them.
Navairfan Posted August 28 Author Report Posted August 28 5 hours ago, VMF211 said: Great job on a beautiful bird!! VERY unique paint scheme there! Some Hobbycraft kits are pretty good and the F8F is one of them. I was glad Academy re-boxed them. Thanks, Keith. This was only the second Hobby Craft kit I've built, and it went together really well.
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