"AMT/Ertl F7F Tigercat firebomber, TBM Aviation, Seqouia Feild, California, 1970's.

Here is Amt/Ertls Tigercat, a welcome kit that had some nice points, and a few kinks that were easy enough to overcome. When I found out that TBM (which my best freind worked for as a mechanic) had flown these, I had to build one. Bright colors is not my forte, nor is NMF, but I bored on. Starting with a demilitarized kit, I found that Lone Star resins had a kit for the belly tank. I knew the kit was a tailsitter and added a ton of weight in the nose, the weight of the resin tank did nothing to help the landing gear, so I reinforced them with wire. I used the kits vinyl tires, which eventually melted the entire plastic wheel (use the resin, trust me). I hand painted the markings from a company patch (this was about a year before the Aeromaster decal set became available).

The finish is Model Master red and white over "old" Alclad--Man, what great stuff that was!! Absolutely bulletproof! My markings were rub on transfers, with a ficticious tail number (so that I could end it as TBM). I found with the Tigercats and the Stoofs that I could cut away the nav light lenses, cut a big block of clear plastic sprue, sand that to fit the notch, drill a hole for the navlight and paint it the corresponding color, then polish the clear plastic for a great nav light lens. That looks far better than using just clear red or green paint!

I talked to the owner of TBM Aviation about the Tigercat's service with the company and he told me that there were several versions of the markings over time, and that the tank was built as a stock unit down in Long Beach. Another addition that I didn't know about at the time was the removal of the Grumman canopy, and the use of a "Malcolm Hood" for greater visibility. Remember that at that time, those were easy enough to get ahold of, and most of the pilots who flew the Tigers then had flown during the Korean war. He also gave me some insight on the cowlings: he stated that the cowlings are far too squared off at the inlet lip, and that they need to be shaved down to be more accurate. The Aeromaster decals are readily available, and fairly easy to use, well printed and in register. The black cheat stripe was nice but hard to use, so I painted it on by hand on the second kit."

(you can also see this picture on David's website, "Hover Lovers Model Page" as well as the Gallery section of Aircraft Resource Center)