S.E Melbourne Scale Modelling Page

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This is a conversion of the Hobbyboss F4F-3 in 48th scale.
The F4F was taken on by the British Fleet Air Arm as part of an interim replacement for the Fairey Fulmar. The Fulmar was a two seat fighter with good range but at a performance disadvantage against single seater fighters; navalised Supermarine Spitfires were not being made available because of the greater need of the Royal Air Force.[9] In the European theater, the Wildcat scored its first combat victory on Christmas Day 1940, when a land-based Martlet (as the type was then known in British service) destroyed a Junkers Ju 88 bomber over the Scapa Flow naval base.[10] This was the first combat victory by a US-built fighter in British service in World War II.[10] The type also pioneered combat operations from the smaller escort carriers.[11]

Six Martlets went to sea aboard the converted former German merchant vessel HMS Audacity in mid-1941 and shot down several Luftwaffe Fw 200 Condor bombers during highly effective convoy escort operations.[12] These were the first of many Wildcats to see shipboard combat.

The Fleet Air Arm was later to abandon the practice of using its own unique names for US-provided aircraft in British naval service, and began to use the US Navy's aircraft names instead.[13]

The MK.III variant was not equipped with folding wings and was only used for land-based operations.[citation needed]

In March 1945, Wildcats shot down four Bf 109s over Norway, the FAA's last victory with a Wildcat

[iwragg]

This is the start of this build. I will use a wind shield from a F4F-4 and a reflector gun sight to upgrade the model. Decals are coming from the library:

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[iwragg]

A far bit of paint weathering and chipping to match the conditions. Stretched
spu was used for the antenna and it was painted with mettallic grey.