Wildcat Groupbuild-Grumman/GM FM-2 Crop sprayer N58918

Late versions of FM-2 and both crop-sprayer has wheels with 6 spokes. Fortunately Tamiya designed his wheels with separated hubs. So it’s possible to replace the kit hub (closed dish) with an aftermarket item (modified hub for P-47). 

 

Fortunately I can use my own research material from 1998 🙂 

Tamiya released its Wildcat 1994. 27 years later despite Sword, Hobbyboss & Co this kit is the first choice for me to build each version of the Wildcat. Because of that I will go the same way as 1998.  

0,7 mm cooper wire as reinforcement (because the cowling is made of several parts). 

FM-2ˋs cowling is shorter and larger and has only 2 cooling flaps on the upper side.  

 

Fasteners “punched” with flattened 0,5 mm needle (orange). 

 

Wright R-1820 made by Metallic Designs. Very well created in resin, with very fine cylinder ribs. I found the pushrods a bit too thin and replaced them from 0,5 mm rod. Fasteners for the ignition wires (0,15 mm wire) are well visible. 4 x etched carburetor inlets (modified configuration compared with the F4F. 

 

Ignition wiring in place. New research results: both wires of each cylinder were installed on ONE pushrod. Except cylinder No.1 (12 o’clock). 

 

I already talked to the farmer about manure…🙂 

Propeller from the kit. Only the hub will be used after rotating 180 deg.  

Left: TBF prop (AM), blades from the same prop shortened by about 5mm. Modified hub. The very forward part is a half of a 250 lbs bomb in 1:72 

Completed FM-2’s prop minus usable axis on the rearside. 

 

Kit parts plus a about dozen of instrument bezels made by aero scale. Else 0,0 extra parts 🙂 

 

DF HeloStuff’s harness.  

Enlarging of the tail completed. 2x2x0,4 mm wire as enforcement included.  

 

Red arrows: position of the pylon.  

Each cylinder of the R-1820 has an own exhaust stack. No "bulge" on lower removeable panel (notch filled with plastic). 

2 x 2 stacks on the lower side.  

2 exhaust stack on the left side.  

Wright R-1820 (Metallic Designs) 

 

My special technique for installing radial engines in cowlings: in most cases 3 and this time 4 pieces of 0,4 mm wire glued with CA into the cylinder heads.  

The alignment of the engine is very easy and allows precision.  

 

5 minutes later: prominent ends of wire removed and surface cleaned with 800 grid flexifile.  

I add a 1 mm heigh ring of plastic for clear installation of the wheel disc without mess.  

 

 

Very subtle weathering on the blades (radial brushed with a wide brush and dark aluminum on the leading edge) 

 

How to install the new cowling & engine to the rest? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Masking tape trimmed in shape via template of 0,28 mm plastic. In this picture masked 2nd time for black.  

 

 

 

Sometimes you are just lucky: an old sheet with black letters by Carpena had exactly the correct letter size.  

The ant skid walk way made as usual of painted decal (undiluted dark grey and very low pressure). 

It seams that both crop sprayer used T-33 aux tanks.  

Not sure if the tanks were 1:1 used or equipped with a 2nd fin.  

 

 

Few maintenance hints. 

The sole 3 stack-group on top right.  

 

 

10 spraying „stacks“ per side. 0,5 mm brass tube.  

3D printed tanks. N58918 has no fins: notches filled with plastic. Pylons made of 1,5 mm thick plastic. 4x0,55 mm wire as attachment.  

After sanding the first “off white” coat. The 3D printer steps are well visible.  

Unfortunately I lost the rectangular kit part and have to scratch them.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Result of the (mini)groupbuild: N1352N and N58918 ready for next spraying task.