Tamiya 61126 Grumman FM-1 Wildcat/Martlet Mk.V 1/48

The F4F Wildcat is regarded as one of the most successful carrier aircraft designs of WWII. The FM-1 was built from August 1942 by the Eastern Aircraft Division of General Motors; its armament was reduced to four wing machine guns, and the Royal Navy flew it as the Martlet Mk.V. The aircraft operated mainly from escort carriers, protecting convoys and hunting submarines.

Kit 61126 from Tamiya's 1/48 Aircraft Series is 184 mm long with a 242 mm wingspan. The modified four-gun wing is faithfully depicted, and fine rivets and panel lines cover the surface. The complex landing gear is recreated with a limited number of parts without sacrificing detail on the gear or in its bays. The canopy can be built open or closed, and the Martlet rear-view mirror is a separate part. A seated pilot figure, canopy masking stickers and decals for three options are included: one British and two US Navy, among them aircraft of VC-33 and VC-58.

In 1/48 scale the fine riveting and characteristic Wildcat undercarriage are shown to good effect. The British option with Normandy invasion stripes makes an eye-catching display piece or the centrepiece of an escort carrier deck diorama. Paints and glues required for assembly are not included.

Nationality: USA · United Kingdom. Period: WWII.