Navairfan Posted Wednesday at 01:52 AM Report Posted Wednesday at 01:52 AM (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 Wednesday at 01:55 AM by Navairfan added tags 2
Jmarc Posted Wednesday at 07:03 AM Report Posted Wednesday at 07:03 AM LLLLLLLLLLLLLooking great , love your choice of colors !...BBBBBBBBBRAVO for a job well done !
Navairfan Posted Wednesday at 05:23 PM Author Report Posted Wednesday at 05:23 PM 10 hours ago, Jmarc said: LLLLLLLLLLLLLooking great , love your choice of colors !...BBBBBBBBBRAVO for a job well done ! Thanks very much, Jmarc!
ghodges Posted Wednesday at 05:42 PM Report Posted Wednesday at 05:42 PM 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 Wednesday at 09:57 PM Author Report Posted Wednesday at 09:57 PM 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 Wednesday at 11:36 PM Report Posted Wednesday at 11:36 PM 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 yesterday at 01:12 AM Author Report Posted yesterday at 01:12 AM 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 5 hours ago Report Posted 5 hours ago Beautiful F8F build! 👍🏼👍🏼 The Hobbycraft Bearcats are real gems of a kit. You showed how beautifully they can turn out.
Navairfan Posted 1 hour ago Author Report Posted 1 hour ago 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.
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