RN Bearcat II

[philp]

Hi all,
Well, since I took over the US What IF Sig it is kind of appropriate that my first finished build of 2026 is a what if one.

This is the the 1/72nd Hobby Boss kit with a spinner and prop from an Academy Typhoon.

It is based loosely on Andrews lovely Super Bearcat series though I went for an earlier version with less modifications.

Other than modifying the prop to work on the HB kit I added some bits and bobs in the wheel well fuselage to cut down the see thru view.

It is also the first time I have had to deal with the canopy seam but some finer grade sanding and some Future solved that to my satisfaction.

Paint was an old rattle can of Model Master US Navy Blue and the markings came from an Eduard Hellcat kit.

[DogfighterZen]

Looks very good! 
I did the same when i built my Monogram kit but i used the kit's original propeller with the Italeri Spitfire Mk. IX spinner.

[kitbasher]

👍 nice 👍

Inspiration for some Op Downfall GB Bearcats, I think.

[PR19_Kit]

That's a BIG prop on such a small aeroplane. 

But it  looks really good in that scheme. 

[comrade harps]

I really like those dark sea blue and white markings looks of late Pacific war RN planes, and you've used it to great effect on the Bearcat 

[NARSES2]

That's a BIG prop on such a small aeroplane. 

But it  looks really good in that scheme. 

BUt somehow the spinner in particular seems to mark it out as a RN example ? And she certainly suits that scheme   

[Captain Canada]

Very nice ! Rather pugnacious looking.....and it probably does bite !

[The Wooksta!]

It's nice.  I did something similar a good twenty years ago from the old Monogram kit.  I discovered another one assembled but unprimed a day or so back.

[philp]

Thanks guys.

Originally I started the Monogram kit and was going to put it in the Korean War Sea Fury markings.  I was debating using the 5 blade spinner but never got that far.

When I saw Andrew's profile I knew I had to do that and the Hobby Boss kit was at my LHS so...

[zenrat]

Looks great Philp.   

...Originally I started the Monogram kit and was going to put it in the Korean War Sea Fury markings...

Done that (well RAN FAA markings anyway).

Grumman F8F Bearcat - 5 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

[Dizzyfugu]

Reminds me that I have the plan to mount a Centaurus on a Bearcat, in some Post-WWIImarkings (Australian Navy?) some day...

A Sabre on an F8F already worked well:


1:72 Grumman Sabrecat Mk. II; aircraft "C-3M/JZ931 of 800 NAS, Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm; Trimcomalee, May 1945 (Whif/Kit conversion) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

[chrisonord]

Nice one 

[philp]

Nice stuff guys.

[The Rat]

   Sharp looking finish!