F4F-3 Wildcat Late Version, 1/32 by Trumpeter, Model Airplane

Contains 267 parts and markings for Robert Glaer, VMF-244 Guadacanal 1942. Grumman's short and stubby-winged F4F Wildcat is one of its best-known and successful fighters. The F4F-3 Wildcat had a rather short, rounded fuselage with mid-wings of rectangular shape. The wings did not fold for carrier storage. This concentration of weight made for a quick handling, maneuverable fighter. Its Pratt & Whitney 1200hp, 14-cylinder, air-cooled, twin row radial engine (R-1830-76 or 86) gave it a top speed of 330 mph. The F4F-3 had a range of 845 miles. The standard armament was four .50 caliber wing mounted machine guns. Service ceiling was 37,500 ft. The F4F-3 offered good durability, pilot armor, and a high dive speed. It also had good maneuverability, although it was soon discovered that it could not compete with the Japanese Zero in this area. A common complaint from pilots was the manual hand-cranked retracting landing gear, which required 30 cranks. One slip could result in a serious wrist injury. Powerplant: P&W 1,200hp R-1830-36 14-cylinder radial engine. « less