In Box Review of AMT-ERTL 1/48th Scale
Grumman F7F-3 Tigercat
Kit no. 8843
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1995
I paid $7.00 for my kit at the AMT-ERTL factory discount store in Dyersville, IA years ago.
Out of production.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1995
I paid $7.00 for my kit at the AMT-ERTL factory discount store in Dyersville, IA years ago.
Out of production.
HISTORY:
The Grumman F7F Tigercat is a heavy fighter aircraft that served with the United States Navy (USN) and United States Marine Corps (USMC) from late in World War II until 1954. It was the first twin-engine fighter to be deployed by the USN. While the Tigercat was delivered too late to see combat in World War II, it saw action as a night fighter and attack aircraft during the Korean War.
Designed initially for service on Midway-class aircraft carriers, early production F7Fs were land-based variants. The type was too large to operate from older and smaller carriers, and only a late variant (F7F-4N) was certified for carrier service.
Based on the earlier Grumman XP-50 that was eventually canceled, the company developed the XP-65 (Model 51) further for a future "convoy fighter" concept. In 1943, work on the XP-65 was terminated in favor of the design that would eventually become the F7F. The contract for the prototype XF7F-1 was signed on 30 June 1941. Grumman's aim was to produce a fighter that outperformed and outgunned all existing fighter aircraft, and that had an auxiliary ground attack capability.
Performance of the prototype and initial production aircraft met expectations; the F7F was one of the fastest piston-engine fighters, with a top speed significantly greater than single-engine USN aircraft — 71 mph faster than a Grumman F6F Hellcat at sea level. Captain Fred Trapnell, one of the premier USN test pilots of the era, stated: "It's the best damn fighter I've ever flown." The F7F was to be heavily-armed — four 20 mm cannon and four 50 caliber (0.50 in; 12.7 mm) machine guns, as well as underwing and under-fuselage hardpoints for bombs and torpedoes.
This speed and firepower was bought at the cost of heavy weight and a high landing speed, but what caused the aircraft to fail carrier suitability trials was poor directional stability with only one engine operational, as well as problems with the tailhook design. The initial production series was, therefore, used only from land bases by the USMC, as night fighters with APS-6 radar.
While the F7F was initially also known as the Grumman Tomcat, this name was abandoned, because it was considered at the time to have excessively sexual overtones; (from the 1970s, the name Tomcat became commonly associated with, and officially used by the Navy for, another Grumman design, the F-14 twin-jet carrier-based interceptor). The first production variant was the single-seat F7F-1N aircraft; after the 34th production aircraft, a second seat for a radar operator was added and these aircraft were designated F7F-2N.
A second production version, the F7F-3, was modified to correct the issues that caused the aircraft to fail carrier acceptance, and this version was again trialled on the USS Shangri-La. A wing failure on a heavy landing caused the failure of this carrier qualification as well. F7F-3 aircraft were produced in day fighter, night fighter, and photo-reconnaissance versions.
The final production version, the F7F-4N, was extensively rebuilt for additional strength and stability, and did pass carrier qualification, but only 12 were built.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Crew: 2
Length: 45 ft 4 in (13.82 m)
Wingspan: 51 ft 6 in (15.70 m)
Height: 16 ft 7 in (5.05 m)
Wing area: 455 sq ft (42.3 m2)
Airfoil: root: NACA 23015; tip: NACA 23012[31]
Empty weight: 16,270 lb (7,380 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 25,720 lb (11,666 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-34W Double Wasp 18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 2,100 hp (1,600 kW) each
Propellers: 3-bladed constant-speed fully-feathering propellers
Maximum speed: 460 mph (740 km/h, 400 kn)
Range: 1,200 mi (1,900 km, 1,000 nmi)
Service ceiling: 40,400 ft (12,300 m)
Rate of climb: 4,530 ft/min (23.0 m/s)
Armament:
Guns: 4 × 20 mm (0.79 in) AN/M3 cannon (200 rpg, wing roots) or 4 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine gun (400 rpg, in nose) (normal fighter versions only; replaced by radar unit in the -3N nightfighter)
Bombs: 2 × 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs, or 8 x 127mm unguided rockets under wings and 1 x 150 gallon fuel or napalm tank under fuselage, or 1 × torpedo under fuselage (day fighter only)
The Grumman F7F Tigercat is a heavy fighter aircraft that served with the United States Navy (USN) and United States Marine Corps (USMC) from late in World War II until 1954. It was the first twin-engine fighter to be deployed by the USN. While the Tigercat was delivered too late to see combat in World War II, it saw action as a night fighter and attack aircraft during the Korean War.
Designed initially for service on Midway-class aircraft carriers, early production F7Fs were land-based variants. The type was too large to operate from older and smaller carriers, and only a late variant (F7F-4N) was certified for carrier service.
Based on the earlier Grumman XP-50 that was eventually canceled, the company developed the XP-65 (Model 51) further for a future "convoy fighter" concept. In 1943, work on the XP-65 was terminated in favor of the design that would eventually become the F7F. The contract for the prototype XF7F-1 was signed on 30 June 1941. Grumman's aim was to produce a fighter that outperformed and outgunned all existing fighter aircraft, and that had an auxiliary ground attack capability.
Performance of the prototype and initial production aircraft met expectations; the F7F was one of the fastest piston-engine fighters, with a top speed significantly greater than single-engine USN aircraft — 71 mph faster than a Grumman F6F Hellcat at sea level. Captain Fred Trapnell, one of the premier USN test pilots of the era, stated: "It's the best damn fighter I've ever flown." The F7F was to be heavily-armed — four 20 mm cannon and four 50 caliber (0.50 in; 12.7 mm) machine guns, as well as underwing and under-fuselage hardpoints for bombs and torpedoes.
This speed and firepower was bought at the cost of heavy weight and a high landing speed, but what caused the aircraft to fail carrier suitability trials was poor directional stability with only one engine operational, as well as problems with the tailhook design. The initial production series was, therefore, used only from land bases by the USMC, as night fighters with APS-6 radar.
While the F7F was initially also known as the Grumman Tomcat, this name was abandoned, because it was considered at the time to have excessively sexual overtones; (from the 1970s, the name Tomcat became commonly associated with, and officially used by the Navy for, another Grumman design, the F-14 twin-jet carrier-based interceptor). The first production variant was the single-seat F7F-1N aircraft; after the 34th production aircraft, a second seat for a radar operator was added and these aircraft were designated F7F-2N.
A second production version, the F7F-3, was modified to correct the issues that caused the aircraft to fail carrier acceptance, and this version was again trialled on the USS Shangri-La. A wing failure on a heavy landing caused the failure of this carrier qualification as well. F7F-3 aircraft were produced in day fighter, night fighter, and photo-reconnaissance versions.
The final production version, the F7F-4N, was extensively rebuilt for additional strength and stability, and did pass carrier qualification, but only 12 were built.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Crew: 2
Length: 45 ft 4 in (13.82 m)
Wingspan: 51 ft 6 in (15.70 m)
Height: 16 ft 7 in (5.05 m)
Wing area: 455 sq ft (42.3 m2)
Airfoil: root: NACA 23015; tip: NACA 23012[31]
Empty weight: 16,270 lb (7,380 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 25,720 lb (11,666 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-34W Double Wasp 18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 2,100 hp (1,600 kW) each
Propellers: 3-bladed constant-speed fully-feathering propellers
Maximum speed: 460 mph (740 km/h, 400 kn)
Range: 1,200 mi (1,900 km, 1,000 nmi)
Service ceiling: 40,400 ft (12,300 m)
Rate of climb: 4,530 ft/min (23.0 m/s)
Armament:
Guns: 4 × 20 mm (0.79 in) AN/M3 cannon (200 rpg, wing roots) or 4 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine gun (400 rpg, in nose) (normal fighter versions only; replaced by radar unit in the -3N nightfighter)
Bombs: 2 × 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs, or 8 x 127mm unguided rockets under wings and 1 x 150 gallon fuel or napalm tank under fuselage, or 1 × torpedo under fuselage (day fighter only)
THE KIT:
AMT-ERTL was a plastic farm toy manufacturer based in Dyersville, IA (50 miles north of me.) They did some plastic model kits for a while, before they sold the company to another toy manufacturing company.
This kit came in a blousy ,shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. The box is 3” too long.
The cover art shows a color illustration of an F7F-2 Tigercat in flight over a shore-line. It is overall Navy-blue with cowlings that are in white, orange and white bands. Bands are on the top of the wings, with Marine Corps star with bars on them and also on the fuselage sides. A large yellow A is above the left wing and yellow A-99 is stenciled on the rudder sides.
The lower left corner of the box art says: Grumman’s last prop-driven aircraft, the powerful twin-engine Tigercat.
One side-panel of the box lists the kit’s features: Decals for two Marine Corps and one U.S. Navy F7F-3 Tigercat. Over 120 parts with complete assembly instructions. Engraved panel lines. Highly detailed cockpit, landing gear and Pratt & Whitey R-2800-34W engines. Paint and cement not included.
Followed by 3 color walk-around type photos of the model made up in the box art scheme.
AMT-ERTL was a plastic farm toy manufacturer based in Dyersville, IA (50 miles north of me.) They did some plastic model kits for a while, before they sold the company to another toy manufacturing company.
This kit came in a blousy ,shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. The box is 3” too long.
The cover art shows a color illustration of an F7F-2 Tigercat in flight over a shore-line. It is overall Navy-blue with cowlings that are in white, orange and white bands. Bands are on the top of the wings, with Marine Corps star with bars on them and also on the fuselage sides. A large yellow A is above the left wing and yellow A-99 is stenciled on the rudder sides.
The lower left corner of the box art says: Grumman’s last prop-driven aircraft, the powerful twin-engine Tigercat.
One side-panel of the box lists the kit’s features: Decals for two Marine Corps and one U.S. Navy F7F-3 Tigercat. Over 120 parts with complete assembly instructions. Engraved panel lines. Highly detailed cockpit, landing gear and Pratt & Whitey R-2800-34W engines. Paint and cement not included.
Followed by 3 color walk-around type photos of the model made up in the box art scheme.
The other side-panel of the box shows one more color photo of the model made up in the cover art scheme. Followed by specifications of the Tigercat, ERTL’s address and phone number. A white sticker says MADE IN MEXICO. Skill level of the kit is 2.
The AMT kit is actually an F7F-3P as it is the only one of the -3 subtype that was used much. It served with at least four USMC squadrons for a number of years, with some being replaced by -4Ps. The kit decal is very wrong and nearly useless. The circles with stars should be blue and not grey, like on the kit’s sheet.
The white bars should be outlined in blue also. The bars that are white red white are wrong. The red should be orange. The third marking option, shown in the instructions, has the number 462 on the sides of the nose. However, this number is not on the decal sheet. The biggest problem will be to find decals for this kit. You may have to mix and match the ones you get.
The kit is molded in a rather soft medium grey plastic with fine engraved panel lines. Looking at a number of photos and drawings of F7Fs, a number of the panels are either of the wrong shape for this subtype or added or missing. This leads me to believe that AMT had given us a generic Tigercat.
The truly nitpicky will have some filling and rescribing to do.
IF you want an open canopy to show off the interior, the kit transparency is way too thick. In order to get it to fit in the open position, the radio mast has to be removed and located farther aft.
The rubber tires eat plastic.The rubber tires with this kit will succeed in melting the wheels after about 6 months. You will need to replace the wheels, so do yourself a favor and get a set when you buy the kit. (if you can find one for sale anywhere anymore).
The white bars should be outlined in blue also. The bars that are white red white are wrong. The red should be orange. The third marking option, shown in the instructions, has the number 462 on the sides of the nose. However, this number is not on the decal sheet. The biggest problem will be to find decals for this kit. You may have to mix and match the ones you get.
The kit is molded in a rather soft medium grey plastic with fine engraved panel lines. Looking at a number of photos and drawings of F7Fs, a number of the panels are either of the wrong shape for this subtype or added or missing. This leads me to believe that AMT had given us a generic Tigercat.
The truly nitpicky will have some filling and rescribing to do.
IF you want an open canopy to show off the interior, the kit transparency is way too thick. In order to get it to fit in the open position, the radio mast has to be removed and located farther aft.
The rubber tires eat plastic.The rubber tires with this kit will succeed in melting the wheels after about 6 months. You will need to replace the wheels, so do yourself a favor and get a set when you buy the kit. (if you can find one for sale anywhere anymore).
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds 7 medium-grey parts trees, a clear tree and 3 black rubber tires in 4 sealed clear cello bags.
There are two instruction sheets.
The first one consists of a single sheet that accordion-folds out into 6 page in 7 ¼” x 17 ½” page format, folded twice more to fit the box..
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art. Over the history of the Tigercat, IMPORTANT INFORMATION, recommended tools and BUILDING TIPS.
Pages 2 & 3 have painting and marking guides across them
Shown are two 4-views.
One is the box art scheme (already described above).
The second one is overall Navy-blue, with white star and bar above the left wing and below the right wing and on the fuselage sides. It has a small stenciled yellow G-142 on the sides of its nose and larger ones atop the right wing and below the left one. It has yellow Marine Corps below the rudder on its sides.
It is how it looked when with the U.S. Marine Corps, June 1946.
Page 5 & 6 gives another painting and marking guide of a Tigercat. It is overall Navy-blue, with a white 462 on the sides of the nose, star and bars above the left wing and below the right and on the fuselage sides.
It is in a delivery scheme for the U.S. Navy, 1945.
At the bottom of page 5 is ERTL’ street address in Dyersville, IA.
At the bottom of page 6 is DECAL APPLICATION instructions.
The second instruction sheet is the same page format as the first instructions.
It shows the assembly instructions.
The pages show 11 assembly steps across them.
Parts are called out by their names and part numbers.
Trees are not alphabetized or illustrated in the instructions.
Two medium-grey trees are similar. They hold the halves of both wings (2 part ea.)
This kit holds 7 medium-grey parts trees, a clear tree and 3 black rubber tires in 4 sealed clear cello bags.
There are two instruction sheets.
The first one consists of a single sheet that accordion-folds out into 6 page in 7 ¼” x 17 ½” page format, folded twice more to fit the box..
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art. Over the history of the Tigercat, IMPORTANT INFORMATION, recommended tools and BUILDING TIPS.
Pages 2 & 3 have painting and marking guides across them
Shown are two 4-views.
One is the box art scheme (already described above).
The second one is overall Navy-blue, with white star and bar above the left wing and below the right wing and on the fuselage sides. It has a small stenciled yellow G-142 on the sides of its nose and larger ones atop the right wing and below the left one. It has yellow Marine Corps below the rudder on its sides.
It is how it looked when with the U.S. Marine Corps, June 1946.
Page 5 & 6 gives another painting and marking guide of a Tigercat. It is overall Navy-blue, with a white 462 on the sides of the nose, star and bars above the left wing and below the right and on the fuselage sides.
It is in a delivery scheme for the U.S. Navy, 1945.
At the bottom of page 5 is ERTL’ street address in Dyersville, IA.
At the bottom of page 6 is DECAL APPLICATION instructions.
The second instruction sheet is the same page format as the first instructions.
It shows the assembly instructions.
The pages show 11 assembly steps across them.
Parts are called out by their names and part numbers.
Trees are not alphabetized or illustrated in the instructions.
Two medium-grey trees are similar. They hold the halves of both wings (2 part ea.)
The 3rd medium-grey tree holds: the engines, drop tank, dash, main landing gear, wheels etc. (19 parts)
The 4th medium-grey tree holds: a propeller, rockets, nose landing gear & wheel tail support, horizontal tail wing (this kit is tail heavy and needs this below to make it sit on all the wheels) (28 parts)
The 5th medium-grey tree holds: the other propeller, other horizontal tail wing, seat, wing flaps etc. (21 parts)
The 6th medium-grey tree holds: the cowlings and bombs etc.(8 parss)
The 7th medium-grey tree holds: the fuselage halves and engine pods (6 parts)
The clear tree holds the cockpit windows (2 parts)
The three black rubber tires and the decal sheet complete the kit's contents.
Good detail.
Recommended.
Recommended.