1:72 FM-2 Wildcat Engine And Exhaust Set (Arma Hobby)

FM-2 Wildcat engine and exhausts in 1:72 scale — SBS Model

This is not an aircraft model but a replacement for the powerplant: a set of engine and exhausts for the FM-2 Wildcat in 1:72 scale. The box states that it is cut for the Arma Hobby kit. The Hungarian brand SBS Model makes resin and 3D-printed add-ons and at the same time released a similar engine set for another type from the same kit brand. On a radial engine the difference against plastic is noticed at once, because the cylinder heads are in view through the cowling.

The real subject

The FM-2 Wildcat is the version of the Wildcat carrier fighter built under license by General Motors. It differs from the older forms mainly in its engine: it received a single-row Wright instead of the twin-row engine of the original version, and because that changed the torque balance, the FM-2 has a taller fin. It was meant for the small escort carriers, where a low takeoff speed and toughness were valued, and it served in that role until the end of the war.

Building and painting tips

Wash the parts clean of print residue and cut off the supports; sand the marks down carefully and protect your breathing while sanding. They are glued with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue). Paint the engine while it is still loose: the cylinder heads in a metallic shade, the block dark, the exhausts in a burnt metal color with a rusty sheen. Suggest the wiring with a fine line. Glue the cowling on last and try it dry before painting, because once the coats are on, the clearance shrinks.

Who the set is for

• modelers who build the FM-2 Wildcat in 1:72 scale
• builds based on the Arma Hobby kit
• more experienced modelers working with resin
• collectors of detail sets for a single type

The set is supplied unassembled and unpainted. The kit, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.