Arma Hobby 70034 - 1:72 FM-2 Wildcat Training Cats - Limited Edition

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

Not every Wildcat went to sea. Hundreds of them served with US Navy training, service and experimental units, where they wore markings and paint schemes quite unlike those of front-line aircraft. Arma Hobby kit 70034 is a limited edition devoted to exactly those machines.

The model represents the FM-2 with its distinctive tall vertical tail and Cyclone radial cowling, with finely reproduced surface detail including rivets and panel lines. The contents are the standard ones: plastic sprues, a clear sprue, decals and instructions. The real attraction of this boxing is its unusual selection of marking options.

The decals cover five options: FM-2 'U65' of the Carrier Aircraft Service Unit at MCAS Ewa, Hawaii, 1944; FM-2 'C50' of a training unit, 1945; FM-2 'LS03'; FM-2 'NAMU3/1' of the Naval Air Modification Unit at Johnsville, Pennsylvania; and FM-2 'M-F 48' from USS Solomons, operating off the east coast of the United States in May 1945.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with the airframe parts
• One clear sprue
• Decals for five marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Catalogue number: 70034
• Manufacturer: Arma Hobby
• Assembled length: approx. 122 mm
• Assembled wingspan: approx. 161 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate

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

Building the model:

Assembly is straightforward and involves no photo-etched parts, so the kit also works well as a first encounter with this manufacturer. We suggest painting and finishing the cockpit before closing the fuselage halves. It is worth planning the painting sequence in advance – training unit schemes can be colourful, and masking on such a small airframe takes patience.

The colours depend on the chosen option: training and experimental aircraft of 1944-1945 are found both in the classic tricolour scheme of Non-specular Sea Blue and Intermediate Blue and in overall Gloss Sea Blue, while service and experimental units often added highly visible identification markings. The instructions give the paint codes for each scheme. We recommend applying the decals over a gloss coat to reduce silvering, then finishing the model with a satin varnish.

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)
• 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.

Because so many were built, FM-2s ended up not only aboard escort carriers but also with training, service and experimental units across the United States. They were used to teach pilots carrier take-offs and landings, to test equipment and as unit hacks for rear-area organisations – often in paint schemes and markings noticeably different from those of operational aircraft.

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:

Founded in 2016, Arma Hobby is one of the best-known Polish makers of injection-moulded aircraft kits. The brand traces its origins to Attack Squadron, a Warsaw company that specialised in resin upgrade sets. All design and tooling work is done in Poland, using CAD and scans of preserved aircraft, which shows in the accuracy of the shapes. Kits are easily recognised by their delicate surface texture with rivets and panel lines, thin trailing edges, clear canopies and high-quality decals. The range spans 1:72 and 1:48 scales and combines Polish subjects – the PZL P.7a, PZL P.11c and TS-11 Iskra among them – with Allied WWII aircraft. The company's releases have been recognised in industry polls, including the Model of the Year award at the Nuremberg fair. Arma Hobby also continues to expand its use of 3D-printed parts and downloadable 3D files.