Arma Hobby 70031 - 1:72 FM-2 Wildcat - Expert Set

Plastic model kit of the American FM-2 Wildcat fighter in 1:72 scale – Expert Set

The FM-2 Wildcat was the last, lightest and most numerous member of the Wildcat family – the escort carrier fighter, recognisable by its more powerful Wright Cyclone radial and noticeably taller vertical tail. Arma Hobby kit 70031 renders it on the 2020 tooling, in the most comprehensive Expert Set boxing.

The model consists of 71 plastic parts and 5 clear ones. The brass photo-etched fret covers throttles, levers, the ignition harness and three sets of pulleys and chains for the landing gear mechanism – details that are hard to reproduce in styrene at this scale. The kit offers plenty of building options: posable horizontal tailplanes, two propeller spinner versions, two types of main wheels, covered or open tailwheel, separate windscreen and sliding canopy section, a clear gunsight, plus 6 rockets and 2 underwing drop tanks.

The Techmod decals cover six schemes: FM-2 'B6' of VC-10 from USS Gambier Bay flown by Ens. Joseph Dennis McGraw during the battle off Samar, 25 October 1944; FM-2 'B19' of VC-10 from USS Gambier Bay, Ltn Herman J. Hardess, Marianas, 15 June 1944; FM-2 '3' of VC-8 from USS Guadalcanal, Ltn F.H. Behlen III, North Atlantic, 30 May 1944; FM-2 '1' of VC-69 from USS Guadalcanal with rocket rails, North Atlantic, autumn 1944; FM-2 '2' of VC-96 from USS Rudyard Bay with rocket rails, Okinawa, April 1945; and Wildcat Mk VI JV768 'S-X' of 882 Sqn FAA from HMS Searcher during Operation Prefix off Trondheim, 26 March 1945, flown by S.Lt Ronald F. Moore RNVR. The sheet also includes two bonus schemes for Fleet Air Arm aircraft from the same operation.

What's in the box:

• Two plastic sprues (71 parts)
• One clear sprue (5 parts)
• Brass photo-etched fret: throttles, levers, ignition harness, three sets of pulleys and chains for the landing gear mechanism
• Pre-cut self-adhesive masks for the canopy and wheels
• 6 rockets and 2 underwing drop tanks
• Building options: posable horizontal tailplanes, two propeller spinner versions, two main wheel types, covered or open tailwheel, separate windscreen and sliding canopy, clear gunsight
• Techmod decals for six marking options plus two bonus schemes
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Catalogue number: 70031
• Manufacturer: Arma Hobby
• Assembled length: approx. 122 mm
• Assembled wingspan: approx. 161 mm
• Skill level: intermediate (photo-etched parts, many small details)

Please note: glue, paints and modelling tools are not included. The model requires assembly.

Building the model:

We suggest starting with the cockpit – it is nicely detailed and stays visible through the open canopy, so it is worth painting and finishing it before closing the fuselage halves. The brass photo-etched parts are mostly used for the levers, throttles and the engine ignition harness; cyanoacrylate glue and precision tweezers work best here. The separate pulleys and chains of the manually operated landing gear really bring the wheel bay and cockpit to life.

The American aircraft of 1944 and 1945 wore the tricolour scheme of Non-specular Sea Blue and Intermediate Blue over white, while later machines were finished overall in Gloss Sea Blue; the Fleet Air Arm Wildcat Mk VI carries Extra Dark Sea Grey and Dark Slate Grey over Sky. Applying the decals over a gloss coat reduces silvering, and a satin varnish suits the final finish. The self-adhesive masks noticeably speed up painting the canopy and wheels.

Tools you will need:

• Sprue cutters for removing the parts from the sprues
• Modelling knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding sticks for cleaning up gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Cyanoacrylate glue for the 3D-printed and photo-etched parts
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in a range of sizes or an airbrush
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Gloss varnish for decalling and satin varnish for the final finish
• Decal setting solution
• Wash for picking out panel lines and details

About the aircraft – FM-2 Wildcat:

The FM-2 Wildcat was the last and most numerous member of the Wildcat family. It was built by General Motors, which took over production of the fighter when Grumman concentrated on the much larger F6F Hellcat. The aim was a lighter and more powerful aircraft able to operate from the short decks of escort carriers.

The Twin Wasp gave way to a Wright R-1820-56 Cyclone 9 radial of about 1,350 hp, while the armament was reduced to four 12.7 mm machine guns, saving weight and allowing more rounds per gun. The extra torque of the new engine required a larger vertical tail – the taller fin is the easiest way to tell an FM-2 from earlier Wildcats. The type could also carry 5-inch HVAR unguided rockets.

FM-2s became the standard fighter of escort carriers in both main theatres. In the Atlantic they took part in anti-submarine operations, in the Pacific they covered landings and convoys, fighting among others off Samar and over Okinawa. In Fleet Air Arm service the same aircraft was known as the Wildcat Mk VI.

Original aircraft specifications (FM-2 Wildcat):

• Crew: 1
• Length: 8.81 m
• Wingspan: 11.58 m
• Powerplant: Wright R-1820-56 Cyclone 9 radial engine of approx. 1,350 hp
• Gun armament: 4 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 heavy machine guns in the wings
• External load: up to 6 x 5-inch HVAR unguided rockets or 2 x 250 lb bombs
• Maximum speed: approx. 530 km/h
• Service ceiling: approx. 10,500 m
• Distinguishing features: taller vertical tail, folding wings, manually retracted landing gear
• Production: approx. 4,700 aircraft built by General Motors

About the manufacturer – Arma Hobby:

Arma Hobby is a Polish model company from Warsaw, releasing plastic kits under its current name since 2016. Its roots go back to Attack Squadron and its resin detail sets, and that background is visible in the way the kits are engineered. The moulds are designed and produced in Poland, based on CAD work and scanning of surviving airframes. Typical features include subtle riveting and panel lines, thin wing and control surface trailing edges, clear transparencies and neatly printed decal sheets. The catalogue is built around 1:72 and 1:48 scales, with Polish aviation – PZL P.7a, PZL P.11c, TS-11 Iskra – and Allied Second World War aircraft. Several releases have been honoured in industry polls, including the Model of the Year title at the Nuremberg toy fair. The manufacturer consistently combines conventional injection moulding with 3D-printed parts and files offered for home printing.