1/48 Hobby Craft/Hobby Boss F8F-1 Bearcat

[Navairfan]

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 20 hours ago by Navairfan
added tags

[Jmarc]

LLLLLLLLLLLLLooking great , love your choice of colors !...BBBBBBBBBRAVO for a job well done !

[Navairfan]

10 hours ago, Jmarc said:

LLLLLLLLLLLLLooking great , love your choice of colors !...BBBBBBBBBRAVO for a job well done !

Thanks very much, Jmarc!

[ghodges]

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]

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.