Fly 72069 - 1:72 F7F Tigercat Power Pack American Heavy Fighter-Bomber Aircraft - 2 Kits + 3D Parts

Plastic model kit of the American Grumman F7F Tigercat in 1:72 scale - "Power Pack" edition (2 kits)

Fly 72069 is the "Power Pack" release of the Grumman F7F Tigercat - the twin-engined, heavily armed carrier fighter of the US Navy. The box contains two complete kits, allowing two different versions to be built, along with 3D-printed parts that raise the level of detail.

The eight marking options span the Tigercat's career: Marine Corps night fighters from the Korean War, F7F-3P photo-reconnaissance aircraft, the rare F7F-4N, and civilian warbirds still flying the airshow circuit in the United States today.

The kit is produced using short-run injection moulding. It is aimed at experienced modellers who accept more careful test-fitting in exchange for a subject absent from the mainstream manufacturers' ranges.

What's in the box:

• Two complete plastic kits
• Clear parts with canopy variants and gunsight
• 3D-printed parts
• Self-adhesive masks for the canopy and wheels
• Two decal sheets - marking options and stencils
• Colour instructions with painting profiles

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Catalogue number: 72069
• Manufacturer: Fly
• Assembled model length: approx. 192 mm, wingspan: approx. 218 mm
• Contents: two kits in one box
• Skill level: intermediate/advanced (short-run injection kit)

Marking options:

• F7F-3N, BuNo 80506, VMF(N)-542, Korea, August 1950
• F7F-3, BuNo 80483, civilian warbird N6178C, 2016
• F7F-3P, BuNo 80390, Texas, civilian warbird, 2010
• F7F-3P, BuNo 80448, VMP-254, Oakland, California, 1946
• F7F-2N, VMF(N)-533, Nan Yuan Field, December 1945
• F7F-2D, BuNo 80349, Texas, 1950
• F7F-3P, BuNo 80390, Texas, alternative scheme, 2010
• F7F-4N, BuNo 80609, first of twelve built, 1946

Note: Glue, paints and modelling tools are not included. This kit requires assembly.

Building the model:

This is a short-run kit - parts generally have no locating pins and edges need clean-up. Dry-fitting is recommended, with particular care over mating the engine nacelles to the wings, the most demanding stage of the build. Some options require holes to be opened or nose and tail parts to be swapped according to the instructions - reading them through before starting is worthwhile.

Korean War Marine aircraft were finished in overall Glossy Sea Blue, the simplest scheme in the box. The civilian warbirds carry colourful, high-contrast schemes with plenty of chrome and polished metal, offering scope for work with metallic paints. Applying decals over a gloss coat reduces the risk of silvering; a satin finish suits the military aircraft.

3D-printed parts are best removed from their supports with a sharp knife or razor saw, cleaned up and washed before painting. Use cyanoacrylate glue to attach them - resin does not bond with plastic cement.

Tools you will need:

• Sprue cutters
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper
• Modelling putty
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Cyanoacrylate glue for the 3D-printed parts
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel), including metallics for the civilian options
• Panel wash to bring out detail

About the aircraft - Grumman F7F Tigercat:

The Grumman F7F Tigercat was the first twin-engined fighter designed for US carrier aviation and one of the fastest piston-engined fighters ever to enter service. Ordered in 1941 and first flown in December 1943, it was intended to operate from the new Midway-class carriers. Its strengths were two 2100 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp radials and exceptionally heavy armament - four 20 mm cannon in the wing roots and four heavy machine guns in the nose.

The Tigercat did not see combat in the Second World War. Difficulties with carrier qualification meant most aircraft went to land-based Marine Corps squadrons. Its real combat career began in Korea, where F7F-3N night fighters of VMF(N)-513 and VMF(N)-542 flew ground-attack and night patrol missions using the radar housed in the lengthened nose.

A total of 364 aircraft were built across all versions: day fighters, radar-equipped night fighters, F7F-3P photo-reconnaissance aircraft and a small number of carrier-capable F7F-4Ns. After retirement some airframes served as forest fire bombers, and a handful still fly today as airshow warbirds.

Original aircraft specifications (Grumman F7F-3 Tigercat):

• Length: 13.83 m
• Wingspan: 15.70 m
• Height: approx. 5.06 m
• Crew: 1 (day versions) or 2 (night fighters)
• Powerplant: 2 x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-34W Double Wasp radials, 2100 hp each
• Maximum speed: approx. 740 km/h
• Armament: 4 x 20 mm cannon in the wing roots and 4 x 12.7 mm machine guns in the nose (day versions; night fighters replaced the nose guns with radar)
• External stores: bombs, rockets, torpedo
• First flight: December 1943
• Production: 364 aircraft of all versions

About the manufacturer - Fly:

Fly is a Czech model company specialising in aircraft kits produced using short-run injection moulding. Its catalogue covers 1:32, 1:48 and 1:72 scales, and its hallmark is subjects rarely tackled by the large manufacturers - the Hurricane in 1:32, the F7F Tigercat, the Bristol Freighter and the experimental NASA AD-1. Fly kits frequently include masks, and for several years the company has also developed its own line of 3D-printed upgrade parts. The brand is valued by modellers looking for unusual subjects unavailable from mainstream producers.