FM-2 Wildcats!

Dan K · **Posted:** Fri Mar 18, 2011 4:40 pm

SPANNERmkV wrote:

Obergrafeter wrote:

You gonna have it finished by May 21 for Hondo, Conrad? Much better venue than Oskosh!!

Ober sure got THAT right!

sillee tecksans cant evan spel Okhotsk rite.

Obergrafeter · **Posted:** Fri Mar 18, 2011 5:35 pm

Better food, drink, and company than Oshkosh anyway!

mustanglover · **Posted:** Sat Mar 19, 2011 8:48 am

Obergrafeter wrote:

Better food, drink, and company than Oshkosh anyway!

And NEVER any rain!

Obergrafeter · **Posted:** Sat Mar 19, 2011 1:55 pm

That no rain is getting a little serious now. A little now and then wouldn't hurt. Just as long as it don't rain like it did the day before the fly-in last year.........shutting Hwy. 90 down for the first time ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good thing you got planes to fly if that happens ever again.

mustanglover · **Posted:** Sat Mar 19, 2011 5:51 pm

Obergrafeter wrote:

That no rain is getting a little serious now. A little now and then wouldn't hurt. Just as long as it don't rain like it did the day before the fly-in last year.........shutting Hwy. 90 down for the first time ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good thing you got planes to fly if that happens ever again.

That was a pretty good rain last year.

However, I have seen Hwy 90 closed several times over the years.

fighter_ace06 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 2:32 pm

Another update for all y'all. We're going to try to do this weekly if possible. Here are some pictures of what we're working on right now.

Some trim cables that we're trying to duplicate. There are 8 in all

And ample wiring to do too

mustanglover · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 9:27 pm

And I might note, that wing Conrad keeps showing is the "movie set" wing that was on the airplane when it arrived here. Literally half an old beat up wing and half a faux wing.

Conrad has done a remarkable job of duplicating a huge part of that wing in new parts. The new upper and lower spar cap extrusions are what he has been waiting on and and when installed and set up the wing will be ready to start skinning.

Conrad's skills on rebuilding these Wildcats are incredible!

Obergrafeter · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 10:23 pm

Hope you all can run over to Hondo on May 21 even if the Wildcat isn't finished yet.

warbird51 · **Joined:** Fri Jan 14, 2005 1:18 pm **Posts:** 263

lmritger wrote:
Conrad, that's just absolutely beautiful and I am really enjoying watching this come back together. And now, for a model nerd question... I know on Grumman -3s and -4s, the aft fuselage interior was in a light grey color. Did Eastern use Interior Green for the entire interior, or was this a matter of expediency for you guys? (Obviously not a problem at all, it looks great, just curious).

Also, it looks like there's an additional fuel bag beneath the rudder troughs and stick assembly; is that common on FM-2s? I don't have any refs at all on FM-2 interiors so I genuinely don't know... if it's supposed to be there, though, then I have some additional work to do on my 1/48 Sword FM-2 kit I've been slowly working on.

Thanks once again, and keep up the OUTSTANDING work!!!

Lynn

Conrad has done a ton of research on the colors of individual parts and assemblies. His research, and also having two basically unrestored fuselages, indicated that the aft fuselage interior color was green out of Eastern Aircraft (or at least on the later build numbers).

The FM-2 Erection and Maintenance Manual AN 01-190FB-2, Section IX, page 276, process spec. 13 specifies a zinc cromate green primer followed by a non-specular light grey lacquer in the aft fuse and baggage area.

Awesome job guys!!! The Wildcat is such a cool fighter.

fighter_ace06 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 22, 2011 7:32 am

Can’t argue with facts... A lot of research went into it and it was a hard decision but I believe we have the proof to back it up. Junction boxes, conduit and all other small accessories are Grumman grey as if they were pulled off the shelf and installed. 86774 was among some of the last wildcats built and was even built after the war ended. My theory is they didn’t feel the extra work was necessary since the war had already been won.

P.S. I will be at Hondo, please put me in touch with the head honcho. We may have the Stang back together by then.

lmritger · **Posted:** Tue Mar 22, 2011 8:41 am

Conrad and warbird51: YOU GUYS ROCK. Thank you SO much for not only verbally confirming but providing photographic evidence of the interior finish. This is the sort of thing that us modelers really and truly appreciate... thank you!

Lynn

Obergrafeter · **Posted:** Tue Mar 22, 2011 9:43 am

Conrad: The head honcho.......that would be me. P.M. me with any questions and we look forward to seeing you and your Dad May 21 if you are able to attend.

warbird51 · **Joined:** Fri Jan 14, 2005 1:18 pm **Posts:** 263

[quote="fighter_ace06"]Can’t argue with facts... A lot of research went into it and it was a hard decision but I believe we have the proof to back it up. Junction boxes, conduit and all other small accessories are Grumman grey as if they were pulled off the shelf and installed. 86774 was among some of the last wildcats built and was even built after the war ended. My theory is they didn’t feel the extra work was necessary since the war had already been won.

Great photos. Our FM-2 is 86572 which came off the line 202 before yours. Your theory is most likely correct. We finished it up as per the manual. You guys are doing an awesome job!!!

fighter_ace06 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 14, 2011 6:03 pm

Here are some pictures of what we've been working on the last week or so...

Here is the voltage regulator I've been working on

And getting some 1820 time before the big day

the330thbg · **Joined:** Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:06 pm **Posts:** 2713

Awesome post!!! Thanks for the detailed updates! Love them!

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