Trumpeter's 1/32 F4F-4 Wildcat
"The Cockpit"

by Rodney Williams

Surprise, yes indeed another one !!! The photos of the kit cockpit is compared to Verlinden's version. Then I tossed in the Eduard "PE" seat, and scratched a seat using flat styrene stock.

I was going to use the "PE" seat belts and shoulder harness buckles, ...... but at age 74.........I got shaky hands........thus....I just tore up some buckles, then I had to used Waldron buckles and made a spare set with Verlinden's copper ones.........

Dry fit assemble of both cockpit floors did not mate up with the fire wall in it's new forward position. I moved the fire wall to its' kit position, and they still did not mate up with the fire wall. I check out the side view of the "cut-a-way" drawing and it shows that the floor is secured to the fire wall. I added an extension to the floor, then attached it to the fire wall.

I used Eduards "PE" instrument panel over the kit panel as requested by my client. I glued on some white flat styrene, thus.....when you put on the dials, they show up better. Most times, I just paint the panel white, then mask it off and shoot on the instrument panel colors. There's really nothing wrong with the kit panel if you are building a model out-of-the box. I made some control handles, and a few other items.

There are a few other things wrong with all the cockpit parts, so I just wrote it down on the photos. To me, it's easier for me to understand what is wrong, when I see the photo and can read the words at the same time.

My next story concerns the fuselage. You will witness yet another surprise.

Building this model has not been fun. Its' been a real pain in the rear end.

No Happy Modeling Here !

© Rodney Williams 2006