Modelling the F4F Wildcat (Osprey Modelling)

This book details projects that encompass four variants of the Grumman F4F / Eastern FM-2 Wildcat/Martlet. They range from "intermediate" to "master " builder levels of difficulty. For anyone new to the Wildcat, it represents an amazing collection of information in one place. As you would expect from a title like "Modelling" it covers a lot of techniques and products.I learned a LOT- and I already had decades of modelling magazines, and at least six other Wildcat reference books dating to the mid-1960s.The 2007 book covers the not-especially-available Hasegawa 1/72 kit, and the Tamiya 1/48 F4F-4. There are several newer kits that have come onto the market since this was published. That does not change the value of the book. These kits are reviewed on-line and elsewhere.My only disappointment:The Chapter on McCuskey's Battle of Midway WildcatI bought the book specifically because it highlights detailing McCuskey's Wildcat as his "Midway Ride."After all, that is the big, colorful Wildcat photo on the cover.I had spent a lot of time trying to pin down the specific aircraft markings and variants and serial numbers for McCuskey and his wingman, the late Captain J.P. Adams during the epic weeks that spanned the Battle of Coral Sea and Midway. Years ago, I had several extended conversations with Adams, and wanted to pin down exactly how to replicate their squadron's version of Wildcat and their Wildcats' markings.Did all the aircraft's rudder stripes really disappear in May of 1942? Did they really fly the six gun F4F-4 at Midway?So here was "THE" book with the implied promise of answering what every other reference so far had failed to supply.BUTOn page 38, thirty-six photos into the McCuskey Midway Wildcat chapter is this one lone caption:"There is some question as to whether Lt. McCuskey actually flew a -3 or -4 Wildcat at Midway,and if he would have had the six kill markings at the time."REALLY?Auugh! At the end of the chapter, this little photo caption note says the markings might be wrong, and the whole modelling exercise of backdating to the non-folding F4F-3 wing of this kit might not have been appropriate or necessary!This individual aircraft had a lot to do with why I bought this particular book.(I stopped writing here for an hour and did some additional fact checking...I still cannot tell you about McCuskey's MIDWAY Wildcat, but here is what I can tell you about the model shown in the book.)McCuskey's F4F-3 Wildcat, coded black F-2, Bureau Number serial 2531 sank with the carrier USS Lexington at Coral Sea on May 8, 1942, the same day he shot down his FIRST Mitsubishi Zero.The overlapped/oversized stars show up only on one VF-6 Wildcat on the USS Enterprise in a March 1942 photo showing many conventionally marked Wildcats... There is no particular reason to think this feature shows up on any of McCuskey's Wildcats.Since 5 of his kills (shown in the fuselage kill markings) were achieved a whole month later *at* Midway, in June 1942, in a folding wing F4F-4 as part of VF-3, flying with no red and white rudder stripes, and no red dots in the stars, the subject model of chapter three's elaborate conversion has nothing at all to do with the Battle of Midway.What we now have established from other published Wildcat books and on line USN aircraft serial number sources is this:There is no question about the fixed wing, rigid wing F4F-3 represented in this book.It never existed as shown.It sank with the USS Lexington a month before Midway.After the May 1942 Battle of Coral Sea, where he had one kill, McCuskey's squadron's (VF-42) remaining pilots were combinedinto Jimmy Thatch's squadron - VF-3 (Felix the Cat).They went to Pearl Harbor and re-equipped with F4F-4 Wildcats, and went back to sea for the June 1942 Battle of Midway.There seems to be no reason to believe Lt. McCuskey's Midway Wildcat was not a newer F4F-4 with six guns and folding wings.There is no reason to think there was ever an older F4F-3 with his Midway tally painted on the fuselage.Hindsight being 20/20, it probably would have been better to omit the kill markings, and identify it as McCuskey's Coral Sea airplane from VF-42.This nice book is less of an authoritative, comprehensive reference on the F4F Wildcat fighter, and much more of a helpful "how to modify and enhance" a Wildcat kit.In that vein, there is nothing like it.

I like this book.As a fan of the Osprey Modelling series and a fan of the F4F Wildcat I have found this to be a good addition to my modeling bookshelf. The modeling information included by the author, Mark Glidden, would prompt me to purchase other titles by him.I look at the Wildcat as an unsung hero of WWII. Although out-maneuverd by the likes of the A6M Zero, it allowed the US Navy and Marine pilots that flew it to hold on and begin the advance back thru the Pacific until better aircraft were available. They also served with distinction in the Med and North Atlantic.I've rated the book as four stars because I thought there was more material to be covered. More discussion as to the uses the aircraft was put to, the different services that used it, the numerous different schemes it was painted in would have been nice to see. Also a review of some of the available kits, how to modify them into different versions, etc. Maybe there will be a Volumn 2?!?

Great ideas for the advance modeler

Great pictures and descriptions. Lot's of good research to create the most authentic model. One gaffe, though, Scott McCuskey flew the modeled plane (shown on cover) at Coral Sea, not Midway.

Not all modeling guides are as well done as this one. I cannot recommend it enough. The Kindle version was excellent. Highly recommended!

Excellent

Great!

I really enjoyed this book. It shows you, step by step, how to construct intermediate through master class builds. I only wish the author had included a 1/32 scale build as well. I look forward to more books from Mr. Glidden.

The Osprey Modelling books are great for reviewing other builder's attempts and getting some ideas for your own build.This book covers builds for the following:1/72 Hasagawa Martlet III1/48 Coverting Tamiya's F4F-4 to an F4F-31/48 Using Tamiya's F4F-4 to improve Sword's FM-21/48 Converting Tamiya's F4F-4 to an F4F-3S Wildcatfish (with floats)There is a good section on building techniques and other reference information.The builds are presented with many photos so you can see what the builder actually did and also reference paint colors for your own build.There is no 1/32 scale build included which was disappointing given the Revell 1/32 Wildcat has been around for a long time and now Trumpter has a few versions as well in that scale now.Overall a good read and consistent with the other Osprey Modelling books.If you are building a Wildcat in any scale this is a good reference but I'm sure you can also find many good build reports on the internet too.

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Osprey books are the very best if detail on your model is important. The detailed information on the different paint colours during WW11 are vital. I have a number of Osprey books on various aircraft and would highly recommend this book.

Very happy with my purchases!

great modelling book has some very good tips on modelling great photos going to come in handy building tamiya wildcat.well worth the money.