Subject: Re: Submission: 1/48 Hobbycraft F7U-3 Cutlass THANKS!
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "Eric Hargett" <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2008 19:19:10 -0700

Hi,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks again for sending it in.

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: Eric Hargett 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2008 7:36 PM
  Subject: Submission: 1/48 Hobbycraft F7U-3 Cutlass THANKS!

  Gallery Template #05

  1/48 Hobbycraft F7U-3 Cutlass

  by Eric Hargett
  --------------------

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

  One of the most unique designs to fly in the post World War II era, the Chance-Vought F7U Cutlass had a very short but notable career.  Because of its poor performing Westinghouse engines and handling and stability problems, it equipped U.S. Naval fleet squadrons for only three years from 1955-1957.  The F7U-3 was an improved version with an uprated engine and forward fuselage modifications.  The F7U-3M was the Navy's first missle interceptor carrying the first generation AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missile.  Several existing F7U-3 airframes were later upgraded to the F7U-3M standard to carry the AIM-7 Sparrow missile.  Unfortunately the upgrades offered little improvements and the aircraft continued to be plagued by the underpowered Westinghouse engines.  Earning its fleet nickname as the 'Gutless Cutlass', the short career of this early U.S. Navy jet ended with the onset of the F8 Crusader.  My kit represents an upgraded F7U-3 of VA-151 aboard the USS Lexington in April 1956.  

  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 
       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 

  This is Hobbycraft's first release of its 1/48 F7U-3, not the recently re-released version with new decals.  Overall the kit is satisfactory with decent fit and moldings.  The biggest drawback with this kit is the deeply engraved panel lines and the lack of cockpit detail.  An excellent aftermarket resin cockpit made by Lone Star Models in Texas replaced the factory representation.  I used a combination of kit decals and a great aftermarket set purchased from Condor Decals out of Argentina.  To my knowledge, Lone Star Models and Condor Decals are the only companies around that make an aftermarket resin cockpit and decals, respectively, for this kit.  Look for both companies on the web.

  Construction was straightforward with minimal filler and sanding.  Most filler was needed along the air intake/fuselage joins.  My construction efforts mainly focused on the installation of the resin cockpit which fit perfectly once the correct cuts and sanding were performed.  Work slowly, dry fit often and the cockpit will fit nicely into the factory kit pieces.  Because of the very long nose landing gear strut for high 'angle of attack' takeoffs, you'll need a lot of weight in the nose to keep its stern off the ground.

  A lot of time was invested in painting.  I wanted that faded salt/sea/sun look of U.S. Naval aircraft, but not too weathered since this aircraft never participated in combat and had a very short career.  I began by pre-shading all panel lines and 'shadow' areas with flat black.  Tamiya White Primer was applied to the ventral surfaces and finished with a few light coats of Tamiya Flat White, focusing on the panel centers.  Next, I applied a few light coats of Aeromaster Light Gull Gray to the dorsal surfaces, followed by progressively lighter tints of the color within the panels for that even un-even look.  The outer leading edges and engine were painted with Model Master Aluminum and buffed.  The interior leading edges were painted Pollyscale Signal Red.  After several coats of Future, the decals were applied.  The kit decals needed quite a bit of help with Sovaset and MicroSol/Sealer to get them to conform to the surface.  A lighted Neutral Gray wash was applied to the panel lines.  Another coat of Future followed by Clear Flat was applied to the kit to prepare it for further weathering.  Repeated applications of pastels, minimal oils to simulate grime and oil/hydraulic leaks, and a fine mist of lightened Light Gull Gray helped me get the weathered look I wanted.  A similar process was performed on the ventral surfaces using various tints of white, oils and pastels.  I focused attention around the engine where leaks became apparent after extended use.  

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

  I finished the kit with several light coats of Future followed by a fine mist of Clear Semi-Gloss to 'scale-down' the glossy finish.  I spent roughly 35+ hours on the kit, most of which involved painting and weathering.  Overall, this was a great build of an almost forgotton early U.S. Naval jet.

  Click on images below to see larger images

        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 
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 09.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 09.jpg 
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 10.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 10.jpg 

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 11.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 11.jpg 
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 12.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 12.jpg 
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 13.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 13.jpg 
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 14.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 14.jpg 

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 15.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 15.jpg 
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 16.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 16.jpg 
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 17.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 17.jpg 
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 18.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 018.jpg 

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 19.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 19.jpg 
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 20.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 20.jpg 
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 21.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 21.jpg 
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 22.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 22.jpg 

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 23.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 23.jpg 
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 24.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 24.jpg 
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 25.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 25.jpg 
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 26.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 26.jpg 

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 27.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 27.jpg 
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 28.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 28.jpg 
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 29.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 29.jpg 
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 30.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 30.jpg 

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 31.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 31.jpg 
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 32.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 32.jpg 
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 33.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 33.jpg 
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 34.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 34.jpg 

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 35.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 35.jpg 
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 36.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 36.jpg 
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 37.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 37.jpg 
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 38.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 38.jpg 

  Photos and text © by Eric Hargett