ACADEMY 12313 1/48 F8F-1/2 USS Tarawa Model Aircraft Kit

The Grumman F8F Bearcat was designed as a point defense interceptor to protect US aircraft carriers from kamikaze attacks. Emphasizing the climb rate, the Grumman designers used lessons learned from the earlier F4F Wildcat and from captured Fw 190s. Entering service too late to see combat in WWII, the Bearcat would be used by the French in Indochina and also become a favorite air racer. This 1/48 scale kit from Academy includes over 75 plastic parts to recreate F8F-1 or F8F-2.

FEATURES:

• Accurately detailed panel lines & rivets
• Precisely engraved cockpit & landing gear
• Can be built as F8F-1 or F8F-2
• Cartographic decals
• Finishing decals for five fighters:
• F8F-1, VF-15A (later VF-151/192), USS Tarawa (CV-40), US Navy, 1948 & F8F-2, same unit, USS Boxer (CV-21), US Navy, 1950
• F8F-2, USS Valley Forge (CV-45), US Navy, 1949
• F8F-2, VF-111 ‘Sundowners’, USS Valley Forge (CV-45), US Navy, 1949
• F8F-2, VF-61 ‘Jolly Rogers’, USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVB-42), US Navy, 1949
• F8F-1, VF-3 ‘Felix Cat Squadron’ (later VF-31), US Navy, 1946