1:72 Wildcat F4F-3/4 intercooler scoops for Arma Hobby kit

Intercooler scoops for the Wildcat, 1:72

An accessory set of intercooler scoops for a model of the American Wildcat carrier fighter in the F4F-3 and F4F-4 versions, in 1:72 scale. It is not a model of the aircraft but a replacement part. In a small scale a plastic scoop is necessarily blind and the lip of the mouth is too thick, because the mold could not make it any thinner, and that is precisely what a cast or printed part can put right.

What it is for

• Replacing the plastic scoops with a part that has an open mouth and a thin lip.
• Removing the mold parting line that runs across the scoop on the plastic part.
• A more accurate shape of the mouth on the sides of the cowling.
• Repairing a model with a damaged part.

Building and painting tips

Separate the parts from the carriers with a fine saw and sand the cut face smooth. Wash the material in lukewarm soapy water and degrease it before painting. It is glued with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue). In 1:72 scale the parts are very small, so work with tweezers and over a light-colored surface. Try the mating surface dry and blacken the inside of the mouth; the duct then looks deeper.

Who the set is for

• Builders of carrier fighters in 1:72 scale.
• Modelers who are bothered by blind plastic scoops.
• More experienced builders who work with small parts.

Put the small parts in a shallow dish once you have cut them off, not loose on the table. One careless move of a sleeve and the search takes longer than the whole build.

The set contains only the scoops. Glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.