IWA-50
John Jenkins Designs
The Grumman F4F Wildcat is an American carrier-based fighter aircraft that began service with both the United States Navy and the British Royal Navy in 1940 where it was initially known by the latter as the Martlet.
The F4F was Grumman’s first monoplane fighter design and was to prove to be one of the great naval fighter aircraft of World War 2. In 1939 Grumman were successful in obtaining a Navy order for 54 F4F-3’s. The RAF also received 81 F4F-3’s which were named the Martlet I. The initial deliveries to the US navy were in December 1940, with the first of the planes going to the USS Ranger and USS Wasp.
These were the only carriers which had the F4F-3’s when war broke out.
The period of aluminum finish, with yellow wings and colored tails for the F4F-3, spanned only a brief period between December 1940 and March 1941. After which, most aircraft were to be seen in either overall light grey or the patrol colors of blue grey over light grey.
USS Wasp was occupied with Atlantic Neutrality Patrols during 1941.
Acrylic stand, figures and base sold separately.
PLEASE NOTE that the fuel tanks originally included in April's release pictures have now been removed, as it was pointed out by several collectors that it was not possible to mount fuel tanks on the F4F3, as the structural support in the wings was not in place to accommodate this. The later F4F4 could mount the extra fuel tanks, but did not do so until mid/late 1942 during the Guadalcanal campaign.