F7U-3 Series Model Kits

In our F7U-3 book (click HERE), Al Casby and I had intended to include an appendix covering all the F7U-3 series model kits available. We decided to cut it in part because of the size of Al's F7U-3 kit and toy collection ("I’ve got enough material and photos to do an entire monograph on them") but also because of the transient nature of the availability of even the more recent plastic and resin kits. 

However, before we decided not to, we had created draft text describing most of the model kits and obtained or created illustration to accompany it so this post has the benefit of that. Note that it is a work in progress that I will need to update in the near future with corrections and additions.

Fujimi 1/72 scale

Fujimi released injection-molded kits of all three F7U-3 Cutlass variations, the -3, -3M, and -3P. While these are complete, including positionable ailavators and leading edge slats, and with few exceptions accurate straight from the box, there are corrections and aftermarket improvements. This is Paul Boyer's build of the F7U-3M.

 

F7U-3: The kit includes the belly-mounted rocket pack, inboard pylons, and 150-gallon external tanks. It is missing the inflight refueling probe that was added to many (but not all) -3s.

 

The cockpit is satisfactory but can be improved with Obscureco's F7U-3/3M Detail Set, OBS72030: click HERE.  It's not listed on his website but you can contact Chris at bucholtzc@aol.com.

Neither Fujimi or Obscureco do the instrument panel justice but it would difficult to do so in 1/72 scale. Probably the significant improvement would be the addition forward of the top of the instrument panel of the projector that put the gun-aiming image on the windscreen.

 

The radome shape when viewed from the side is just a little off, hardly noticeable if at all. This is a comparison with a very good Vought drawing. However if you want to tinker with it, the upper side needs to be a little steeper and a bit added to the lower side so it is even less symmetrical.

Note that this is F7U-3M forward fuselage part that has a vent halfway back along the left side of the canopy. Unfortunately the vent is not on the corresponding half of the F7U-3 part (at least in my kit), which is an error for most -3s.

Note that the self-boarding pegs alongside the left side of the fuselage were extended whenever the landing gear was down. They aren't represented in the kit but are easily added.

The little bump at the base of the windscreen may also be enhanced. At the moment, these are the best pictures that I have to illustrate it:

The little mast at the base of the windscreen, located slightly left of the center line so it is behind the left frame of the windscreen, is the Davis barrier activator, aka guard. It should be added.

I haven't taken a close look at the kit to be sure that the radome cross section is correct, but this photo suggests that the radome tip is a symmetrical oval angled slightly forward (see the refueling probe picture above) while its aft end is slightly narrower at the top compared to the bottom in order to provide a little more visibility over the nose for a carrier-landing approach.

F7U-3M: Ironically, the kit includes the inflight refueling probe that could not be used on the -3M because of the larger radar antenna in the nose. The instructions state that it is optional but it is not. Fortunately, no hole was added to the radome for it. One excellent change is that the inlets have the lower intake lip modification This kit provides the requisite pylons and Sparrow I missiles but these are not accurate in size or location of the missiles on the launch rails.

First, the missiles are too short, scaling to 135" rather than 150" in length (click HERE). Much better alternatives are resin parts provided by RESKIT RS72-0319. These are accurate in length and have the wave guides that were on each side of the missile. Also included are a decal sheet and tiny photo-etched rocket nozzles.

Second, the Sparrow I launch rails (highlighted in blue on illustration above) on the inboard and outboard pylons are different lengths. They should be the same length although at the moment I don't know which is correct. My guess is that cutting off the front end of the rail on the outboard pylons so it is the same length as the inboard pylons will fix the problem and locate the missiles so the tips are the same distance ahead of the both the inboard and outboard rails as they should be.

The Sparrow I launch rails look black but this photo suggests that they are really the dark blue of the prior overall blue color scheme.

 

Because the F7U-3M did not have a radar scope in the cockpit, its instrument panel was not notably different from the -3's, particularly in 1/72 scale.

F7U-3P: The -3P comes with a good representation of the photo nose and also the inboard pylons and 150-gallon external tanks. The slightly different engine inlets provided have the gun muzzle openings deleted but do not have the slight bulge on the top of the inlets where the photo-flash bomb ejectors were located. Also note that the cannon muzzle blanking retained the bulges on the inlet lip.

I don't have the -3P kit (good luck finding one) but I suspect that the instrument panel provided was the same as that in the -3 and -3M kits and therefore did not have the prominent periscope viewing screen at the top center of the instrument panel (this is a picture of the mock up):

More later on the larger scale kits...