Beetle Bomb Bearcat
Kommentit
50 15 March 2021, 09:02
Robert PodkońskiThanks a lot. When "Blue Angels" begun to perform in June 1946 the routine included "shooting down" yellow painted North American SNJ-6 'Texan' with hinomarus applied on the wings and fuselage, that descended trailing fake smoke and parachuted a dummy pilot, who was next "captured" by a detachment of Marines on the ground. Since a plane with hinomarus was still not very much welcomed by the spectators, these were next removed from the yellow Texan and substituted with blue titles "US Navy" and the plane earned a nickname "Beetle Bomb". When the team transitioned to Bearcats (August 1946!) one of them inherited the name and the role - allegedly the "dummy" pilot was carried under the wing and dropped after being "shoot down" - but I have found no photos to confirm that. Interestingly - the "Beetle Bomb" Bearcat was a part of the team still when "Blue Angels" flew F7U-1 "Cutlass"-es, but only as a support plane (whatever it means).
15 March 2021, 12:30
Robert PodkońskiPerhaps it is too heavy, but I assumed that there must had been added something to fuel, if during the show it "went down trailing smoke"... Actually I used weathering pencils and dry pastels here.
28 January 2022, 08:10
Charlie Spitfireoh i do have a airbrush and after finishing construction of my brstol blenheim i want to use it to make some smoke lines but i think i will have to bore out the ends of the pipe first if you want go check it out on my page i would appreciate some feed back as i do not usually have to opportunity's for actual modelist to help me
28 January 2022, 08:38
Thomas KolbYou got the yellow finish really radiant, what primer did you use underneath?
1 March 2022, 22:00
Robert PodkońskiThank you, Thomas. As far as I remember first I spray painted Tamiya light gray primer and next white finishing primer (but forgot to paint the cowling white). Then I airbrushed Tamiya yellow 50:50 flat and gloss. The addition of flat yellow gave better coverage, I think.
2 March 2022, 14:24
Boris BI had missed that one too, until now... Nice build ! I was thinking about doing it in 1:48, but ended up making the SNJ version (i'm still missing the proper 'US Navy' decals), and will probably make a 'normal' Blue Angels Bearcat.
I was going to say something about those airplanes being kept very clean, but you have already answered that comment.
Did you use the box decals ?
9 March 2022, 22:43
Robert PodkońskiThank you, Boris, for your interest and kind words. Yes, I used the decals from the box, they behaved very well, actually.
10 March 2022, 06:49
Johan van MeerlooI just bought a Bearcat a month ago I think
but this looks great in yellow
6 May 2023, 08:06
Robert PodkońskiIt looks unusual for sure in this livery - perhaps you've noticed Johan that I have a soft spot for unusual planes and liveries 😉
6 May 2023, 08:16
Johan van Meerlooyeah, Im not sure yet for my bearcat, on the stream with mos6510 we always have fun with the bearcat jokes on mondays.
I got some 19th air wing colour decals for a bearcat so that might be nicer then what came with the kit.
but this yellow one looks stunning!
6 May 2023, 10:53
