F-4F Wildcat (oz6847)

About this Plan

F-4F Wildcat. Control line profile semi-scale model. For .35 power.

Quote: "This profile version of the F4F is an ideal .35-powered plane for sport-profile carrier. F4F Wildcat, by Joe Demarco.

THE GRUMMAN F4F's history is one of evolution and change. The plane started out as the XF4F-1 biplane, an updated version of the F3F biplane. Later it became a monoplane and was entered in Navy competition with the Brewster Buffalo. The Buffalo was better suited to the Navy's purposes and won.

The next version, the XF4F-3, proved itself a more suitable fighter. It had greater power and wingspan, and was later to become the G-36A export version that was intended for France, but ended up in England.

As the US became more involved in World War II the F4F, now known as the 'Wildcat,' was treated to a new set of folding wings for carrier operation, along with six .50 caliber machine guns. It could not out-maneouver its most ardent opponent in the Pacific, however, the Japanese Zero. After fighting tactics more suitable to its strengths and weaknesses were developed, it became quite a useful fighter. The F4F Wildcat was also to become the first of the US Navy's fighting 'cats', a style that continues up to today with the F-14 Tomcat...

My involvement with the Wildcat started a feu years ago when the now-extinct Shore Modelers Club wanted to build a carrier deck for sport-profile carrier. Since I had been elected to build the deck, I wanted to have a plane ready to use on it. I built two: a Grumman F4F, the subject of this article, and a Grumman F9F.

When completed, the landing deck used five arresting cables rather than the AMA-required ten, and it worked extremely well. Out of the first 25 attempts there was only one unarrested landing - even though none of us had used a deck before!

The model F4F Wildcat was coneived strictly as a sport flyer so I could fully utilize the new deck. I didn't intend anything fancy, aside from the kick-over rudder and landing hook. The plans was also used as a test bed for some scale weathering effects I wanted to try, so the model looks a little war weary.

The stubby nose caused an unforeseen problem in mountning the fuel tank. I had to come up with a remedy, so I attached a six-ounce fuel tank under lite wing and used muffler pressure. It worked out very well.

The Model is not super fast, but it is as steady as arock. The large, profile fuselage lends itself to hanging out on the lines during slow flight with only a whisper of a breeze. Downwind touch-and-goes are a snap for the first-time pilot, and the plane has a hard time stalling. It just settles in for smooth landings and taxiing. A different wing would improve it's high-speed flying..."

Quote: "Steve I found this F4F Wildcat and resized it to 38-1/2in wingspan per my original model plan. This C/L aircraft is powered by a .35 sized engine. Details are clear to read."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, text and pics, thanks to Carlo.

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