Bandai
Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat
Item Number:
ARMA70090
ARMA70090
Manufacturer
ARMA HOBBY
ARMA HOBBY
Scale:
1:72
1:72
The Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat was the US Navy's primary carrier-based fighter during the early stages of the Pacific War. This specific version saw action following the attack on Pearl Harbor, at a time when the American fleet needed to halt the Japanese advance.
Although less maneuverable than the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, the Wildcat was considered rugged and—compared to enemy aircraft—well-protected; it was also capable of returning to base even after sustaining heavy damage.
The F4F-3 featured fixed, non-folding wings and was armed with four .50-caliber machine guns. It was valued for its robust construction, stability as a gun platform, and reliability during operations over the open ocean.
During the war's opening months, Wildcats participated in a series of American carrier strikes against forward Japanese bases in the Pacific. Their primary mission was to escort carrier-based bombers and defend the task force against enemy attacks. Even at this early stage, a number of pilots achieved their first aerial victories in the F4F-3, laying the groundwork for their eventual status as fighter aces.
The F4F-3 played a significant role in the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942—history's first naval battle fought exclusively by carrier-based aircraft. In this engagement, Wildcats protected friendly ships as well as the strike aircraft.
One weakness of the F4F-3 was its non-folding wings, which limited the number of aircraft that could be carried aboard aircraft carriers. For this reason, following the Battle of the Coral Sea, the units were rapidly re-equipped with the newer Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat, while the older F4F-3 aircraft were gradually relegated to secondary roles.
Although the F4F-3’s frontline service was brief, this specific variant bore the brunt of the air combat during the war's most critical phase, when the outcome of the Pacific conflict remained uncertain.
Plastic model kit
unbuilt / unpainted
Paint and glue not included
Although less maneuverable than the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, the Wildcat was considered rugged and—compared to enemy aircraft—well-protected; it was also capable of returning to base even after sustaining heavy damage.
The F4F-3 featured fixed, non-folding wings and was armed with four .50-caliber machine guns. It was valued for its robust construction, stability as a gun platform, and reliability during operations over the open ocean.
During the war's opening months, Wildcats participated in a series of American carrier strikes against forward Japanese bases in the Pacific. Their primary mission was to escort carrier-based bombers and defend the task force against enemy attacks. Even at this early stage, a number of pilots achieved their first aerial victories in the F4F-3, laying the groundwork for their eventual status as fighter aces.
The F4F-3 played a significant role in the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942—history's first naval battle fought exclusively by carrier-based aircraft. In this engagement, Wildcats protected friendly ships as well as the strike aircraft.
One weakness of the F4F-3 was its non-folding wings, which limited the number of aircraft that could be carried aboard aircraft carriers. For this reason, following the Battle of the Coral Sea, the units were rapidly re-equipped with the newer Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat, while the older F4F-3 aircraft were gradually relegated to secondary roles.
Although the F4F-3’s frontline service was brief, this specific variant bore the brunt of the air combat during the war's most critical phase, when the outcome of the Pacific conflict remained uncertain.
Plastic model kit
- Three marking options:
- F4F-3 Wildcat "F-5", VF-2, USS Lexington, flown by Lt. Albert O. Vorse Jr., Battle of the Coral Sea, May 1942
- F4F-3 Wildcat BuNo 4019 "211-F-11", VMF-211, Wake Island, December 1941
- F4F-3 Wildcat "F-13", VF-3, USS Lexington, early 1942
- Free digital file – download code included
unbuilt / unpainted
Paint and glue not included
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