Subject: Re: Hi!!, 4th: F4F-3S_Fher
From: "Steve Bamford ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "Fernando Azurdia" <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 08:38:03 -0700

Hi Fernando,
Thanks for sending in your "Catfish"article.  I love the photos and story!!  Well done.  I'll e-mail you when it goes on ARC.

Steve Bamford
Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com
 
Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Fernando Azurdia 
  To: [email-masked]' 
  Sent: Friday, October 24, 2003 8:11 AM
  Subject: Hi!!, 4th: F4F-3S_Fher

  Gallery Template #08
  1/72 F4F-3S "Wild Catfish"

  Conversion of Academy´s 1/72 F4F-4 "Wildcat"

  by "Fernando Azurdia"
  --------------------

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 01.jpg here 

  History

  Due to the successful use of fighter seaplanes by Japanese forces in the Pacific, in 1942 Grumman experimented with a new development of its F4F-3 Wildcat, in the creation of a floatplane version of this fighter. The conversion of a standard production aircraft was undertaken by Edo Corp. in the space of three months from the Navy request being made; the floats themselves were specially designed for the "Wild Catfish", as this prototype became known, and the entire airframe was subjected to stress analysis and some strengthening. To compensate for the decreased yaw stability resulting from the extra side area of the floats forward of the aircraft center of gravity, additional rudder area was required, and this was provided by fitting small additional surfaces at the tips of the tailplane, with an interconnection with the main rudder. The F4F-3 floatplane, sometimes referred to as the F4F-3S, first flew on February 28, 1943 and under Navy contract Edo provided 100 sets of floats in great haste, but the changing nature of the war in the Pacific made it unnecessary to proceed with further floatplane conversions, and the project was canceled.

        Click on images below to see larger images
       
        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 03.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 03.jpg 

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 04.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 04.jpg 

       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 05.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 05.jpg 

  The kit is the Academy 1/72 F4F-4, plus the floats that some friend gives to me in exchange for other stuff, and still don't know who manufactured it. Suports were made with standard clips w/masking tape, float  rudders  were from a Revell Ar-196A2 and the aditional  surfaces: plastic  sheet .

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 02.jpg here 

  A lot of work, spetialy in te float suport areas.

  Cheers!!!

        Click on images below to see larger images
       
        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 06.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 06.jpg 

       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 07.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 07.jpg 

       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 08.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 08.jpg 

  Photos and text © 2003 by "Fernando Azurdia"