Grumman F3F-1, Accurate Miniatures. 1/48th

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Reviews : American

Last Updated: Aug 21st, 2020 - 13:06:35

Grumman F3F-1, Accurate Miniatures. 1/48th
By Roger Wallsgrove, MM Pub
Apr 7, 2006, 22:20

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Aftermarket accessory companies must hate AM. Their kits really leave no opportunity for accessories and extras – replacement resin cockpits are likely to be worse than the kit version, there’s very little scope for etched brass bits, and only new decals are really an option. With their latest kit, AM have covered even that – they supply sufficient markings to make just about any service F3F-1, Navy or Marines! They don’t supply the information needed to use all the decals, mind, but that’s another matter.

What of the kit itself? Being AM’s first biplane, it’s interesting to see how they’ve approached it. Whilst I’m still early in the building process, it seems that they have produced the nearest thing to a ?foolproof? biplane that you can imagine, though doubtless some fool will prove me wrong! Cabane struts are moulded in with the fuselage halves, all strut attachment points are solid and secure, and the method of assembly should ensure perfect alignment and fit. This being an AM kit, the parts fit just about perfectly of course. I had my doubts about etched steel bracing wires, but even here I think AM have triumphed. As they point out, the F3F used streamline-section wires, so the flat etched parts are very close to being correct, and their chosen attachment method is spot-on.

But I’m way ahead of myself here. AM’s latest gem is one of the delightful family of portly Grumman biplane fighters which, resplendent in aluminium lacquer and chrome yellow, were such a colourful part of the aviation scene in the ‘30s. The kit in essence is an F3F-2, with parts to back-date it to an F3F-1. A ?real? F3F-2 will follow soon. Clever kit design means the major changes (front fuselage, engine and cowling) are neatly done, and AM’s instructions point out a bit of minor surgery needed on the extreme tail to produce an F3F-1. They miss out another couple of changes also needed, however – the little intakes just above the tailplane leading edges are exclusive to the –2, and none of the pictures I’ve seen of F3F-1s show a step on the port fuselage side. So these details needed to be carefully sanded and filled (CAREFULLY! The surface detail is fine and accurate, and you’d hate to ruin it!). Both features are of course quite correct for the –2.
Otherwise we get a standard AM kit, superbly moulded, finely detailed, and extremely well engineered. Cockpit detail is comprehensive, though the painting instructions are perhaps over-simplistic. I’ve not found a picture of an F3F-1 cockpit, but the shot of a –2 cockpit in the S/S book suggests plenty of scope for additional detail painting. There’s even an etched seat belt, as well as the usual AM decal. Having noted with surprised delight the offset fin on the ICM MiG-3, I shouldn’t be surprised that AM have incorporated the feature into this kit - they don’t miss much!
So far everything is going together very well, as expected. I’m already worrying about how best to paint the model, as the major assemblies really need to be sprayed before final construction. There’s going to be some tricky masking required, and ultra-neat final assembly! Unlike the FF-1 dealt with by Peter Westbrook in an earlier issue, F3F fuselages really were painted in aluminium, not light grey (AM quote official Grumman records, and it’s obvious from photos). This was lacquer over chromate primer, but from the modelling point of view this is not significant – service F3Fs were kept in immaculate condition! It does mean differentiating the aluminium doped fabric wings from the lacquered fuselage, so a bit of experimentation is called for.
The engine is a little gem, superbly moulded, and comes with etched brass ignition wires. Carefully painted it looks great, but if you plan to leave the cowling off to display it more work is needed, such as fabrication of all the exhausts! Likewise the undercarriage is beautiful, with a choice of tyres, weighted or not. (I have fond memories of the Monogram Gulfhawk/F3F-2 in 1/32nd, with its working retractable u/c. Pull out the prop to retract or extend - fun yes, accurate no!)
The one problem starts when we have to decide what aircraft to finish the model as. AM provide sufficient markings to reproduce just about any F3F-1, with a plethora of unit markings, numbers, and so on, in all the necessary styles. From my (limited) references, I reckon the only additional decals needed are the larger numbers applied to the fuselage of trainers, once the –1’s had been phased out of front-line units. Sadly AM give details of only one aircraft, as depicted on the box top – you are on your own for any other F3F-1. This is not a huge problem if you have access to any references, and here I strongly recommend two S/S books – ?Grumman Biplane Fighters In Action?, and ?USN Colours? by Dana Bell. The former has a decent set of pictures (and drawings to help with the –1/-2 differences), and the latter’s description of ‘30s USN/USMC colours will help you identify the individual markings on any given F3F (tail and unit markings followed a rigid standard scheme). I think I shall finish mine as a USMC machine, with rudder stripes and a neutrality star, as pictured in the ?In Action?, but may yet change my mind!! The pale grey XF3F-1 (below) is an intriguing alternative ?.
In addition to the bracing wires, the etched frets also includes the seat belt and one other cockpit part as already mentioned, gun sight cross-hairs, wing aerial posts and bomb rack sides. These latter fit onto the moulded plastic racks, and look great (especially if you then drill out the major holes!). There is also the wiring harness for the engine. The wires, bomb rack and gun sight parts are in steel, hence strong and stiff, and the harness (seat and engine) in soft brass, so they can be easily moulded to shape. As you might expect from AM, intelligent and appropriate use of etched metal, even though I did swap one part for a plastic alternative!
(I can thoroughly recommend AM’s own Web pages for more information on this kit. The site includes an illustrated guide to building the kit, with some excellent tips and lots of good sense (and humour!). Go to: http://www/accurateminiatures.com/ and follow the links.)
Whatever you might think, I have no financial stake in AM and am not paid by them to write rave reviews – I just love their kits! They are not perfect, but I’ve yet to come across better kits in 1/48th (or any other scale!). This latest is simply typical AM, a delight to build and as accurate as they come. Buy, build and enjoy, and save up for those B-25s!

Roger Wallsgrove