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

by Rodney Williams

Remember, this model was to be built "OOB." Then tell me why I choose to change the kit's tail wheel so that it would rotate 360 degrees? Well, that's me, I just like to do challenging things like this.

Before I put the two sections of the stabilizer's together, I enlarged the openings a bit where the kit's metal hinges would slip into when you attach the two elevators. These holes got filled up with "CA" on my Trumpeter Corsair so I had to drill them out.

I added the kit rod/hinge parts to the rudder and the elevator's. Using more flat aluminum stock I added a hand made antenna post to the rudder. I used brass rod to make a couple of tiny antenna posts for the tips of the elevators.

Then came the question (?) What and how am I going to make a "Jury Strut" attachment bar and brackets? To make all the parts fit and work A-OK, I had to build the right wing. My client wanted the right wing folded back. (That story is forth coming).

Using more aluminum, these big hands of mine, along with some small razor saws, tiny files, and little drills.........presto, the parts were made. The end results are 99% to perfection as to fitting and holding the wing in position, once it was folded back on the moveable wing hinges.

I guess you can just look at my photos and go from there. All I can say is that the kit rod that Trumpeter supplied for the "Jury Strut" is for the birds, including the location's on the stabilizer and wing tips.

In my third story you will see how I revised the right wing fold area.

Happy Modeling

© Rodney Williams 2006