Academy
1/48 F8F-1/2 Bearcat
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Overview
The Bearcat was the final and without a doubt the ultimate single engine,
single seat, piston driven fighter produced by the Grumman company for
the US Navy. Some even argue that it was the best performing WWII fighter
ever produced. Delivery of the Bearcat had begun in February of 1945 however
fleet deployment was not accomplished prior to the end of hostilities.
Sporting the powerful, battle tested, Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engine
along with a lightweight airframe and short wing span the  F8F
had a rate of climb and maneuverability unmatched by it contemporaries.
It’s excellent low level capabilities are even evident today to
those who are familiar with the air race circuit. Although denied the
role for which it was designed, it eventually did see combat in South
East Asia.
The Kit
Academy’s Bearcat is once  again
a reboxing of a Hobby Craft kit. However, unlike the Hobby Craft offering
Academy gives you the optional parts to do either the F8F -1B or the taller
tailed F8F-2 in the same box. There are eight sprues molded in gray plastic
and of course, one other containing the clear parts. The kit also gives
you a bundle of under wing stores including four 5” rockets, two
500lbs bombs, two napalm tanks, and two styles of external fuel tanks.
However, I feel that the highlight of this reboxing is the decal sheet
which gives the builder four very interesting and new choices, including
two USN operational squadrons, a Blue Angel, and a French Air Force 1B
that operated in Indochina.
 The
Bearcat kit is very well done. The engraved panel lines are crisp but
not overstated. Attention to detail, such as the engine, wheel wells,
and the cockpit is good but not at the expense of being overly complicated
to assemble. Actually assembly is extremely straightforward, almost simple.
For those of you who are into something extra this would be an excellent
subject to work with. Possible enhancement could be folding the wings,
opening an engine panel and super detailing a section of that R-2800,
and of course landing gear and wheel wells are always a good area to add
some hydraulic lines and/or wiring.
 Decals
As I noted above I believe the highlight of this kit is the four new
markings Academy has added. The first, and the subject of the box art
is a French Air Force F8F-1B that operated in Indochina (Vietnam) 1954.
The next is the Blue Angel 1B scheme but with the choice of doing aircraft
1 through 4. The final two schemes are for F8F-2s that were in use by
operational US Navy squadrons. They included VF-82 circa 1952 and VF-61
that was assigned to the Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42) in 1949.
 Conclusion
The F8F Bearcat represents the end of an era and the last of the piston
powered fighters. As such it a very interesting subject for a kit. Hobbycraft/
Academy have indeed done this aircraft justice and I would highly recommend
this kit for its historical uniqueness, its quality, and for its multiple
building and marking options.
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