Valom 1/72nd Boeing XF8B-1 By Allan Wanta

Background

Boeing's Model 400 was designed to U.S. Navy requirements for a long-range carrier-based fighter bomber and a contract for three prototypes was placed with the company on May 4, 1943. The XF8B-1 designation indicated the primary fighting role of the new aircraft, but it was designed from the outset to carry an internal bomb-load of more than 3,000 lb, plus a similar external load, and had production ensued, a change of designation to one in the attack category would probably have been made. The first of the prototypes flew on November 27, 1944, and the Boeing type proved to be the largest and heaviest single-piston-engine fighter developed in the U.S.A. As with other Navy fighters, the wing outer panels folded upwards for carrier storage. The second and third prototypes were completed after the end of the war, by which time the need for the XF8B-1 had disappeared, and further development was soon discontinued.

The Kit

Along time ago, in a land far away, major aircraft companies were maneuvering for a military contract from the US government for a Fighter/bomber aircraft capable of carrier use. All the major players were involved, Boeing, Martin, Douglas to name a few. What are striking are the similarities of all the designs in one aspect or another. I did the Sigma AM-1 Mauler a few years back, so upon opening this kit it was like deja-vous, similar outlines, same landing gear configuration, big! The kit is pretty well done, a softish grey plastic, good scribed details and little if any flash, not bad for a low pressure molded kit. Included in this kit is a fret of photo-etched parts, a resin cowling and exhaust ports, and about 20 or so plastic bits, with of course decals for one aircraft.

The interior gets most of the PE parts, seeing that there is no side wall details every little bit helps, I don't think much is going to be seen through the small opening anyway. I dig these kits, simple and clean, although someone will no doubt super detail this kit, this one should be no problem for even the most novice of builder. And the paint finish, blue over the same color blue, how neat can that be?

A glitch occured at 6:45pm, the wing assembly refused to mate up with the fuselage, we called the Engineering department for help, they simply sent a Dremel tool, great. It's the one joint that's going to need some filler, everything else is cool. The stabilizers fit neatly into recesses so no worries about the dreaded butt joint. Another spot of trouble is the propeller, a two part affair that's supposed to pass itself off as counter-rotating, having not quite made the grade, back to Engineering.

For the most part, I had the same issues and concerns with this kit as I did on that AM-1, some of the smaller parts need some love and attention more than the bigger bits do. The landing gear are simplified copies of the real thing, even more so as they look and feel a bit under-scaled compared to the bulk of the aircraft they are supporting. Even with the model just sitting on the workbench, it shimmied and shook when I bumped the table, so they are a bit fragile. Other than the bit of filler and the thin landing gear legs, everything looks kosher.

Of the parts in the kit, only three are resin, which is a shame because so much more detail could have been lavished on the interior and other areas. Of the three pieces, one resin bit is the cowling. It's well done but tricky to remove from the large pour block, sand or cut too much off and you'll end up with an opening too large and a cowling too short. The other two pieces are the small exhaust stubs, either way they are easy to remove and require no clean up.

Paint! Paint it anything as long as it's Blue, Testors Dark Sea Blue. Gloss Blue, the shinier the better. Then decal it, not a lot to worry about there, the decals are very well printed and very opaque, easy to use and settle down with zero solvent. The BOEING decal on the cowling seems a bit small, but then that's just me I guess.

Now, do you build a model car or two, and ever try to replicate the smooth finish of a real life automobile? Hard to do with the wimpy clear coats on the market made for us modelers, and when it comes down to the final clear coat to seal the decals and smooth the entire model, one small glitch in all those layers of Future wax will ruin the whole thing. Answer, buy a quart of Urethane clear and activator, easy to do, go on E-Bay. The stuff may be a bit much for some, but one coat of this stuff and the clear coats are done, 24 hours later wet sand if you must and buff out the rest. Dull coat with the product of your choice and there you go. I've messed up too many kits in the past because of the clear coats running, or not covering completely, Urethane is bomb-proof when it dries, resists solvents, doesn't yellow with age, and if properly stored the cans will last a year.

What else can be said about this kit? Well, it's a good sized, well molded, easy to assemble for the most part, and a nice looking plane that would have made a big impression on Japanese shipping or infantry. Thanks to Chris for letting me review and build this nice kit, and a hearty thanks to Valom for putting in the effort to make this obscure aviation footnote in history.

I rate this 7 on the fun-o-meter, 8 for ease of assembly, and a 8 for that huge Boeing tail!