FM-2 Wildcats!

Jim MacDonald · **Posted:** Fri Apr 15, 2011 5:46 am

Thanks for taking the time to post the photos, Conrad. You guys are doing excellent work.

Mac

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Fri Apr 15, 2011 3:19 pm

thanks for the latest set of photos. Keep up the good work there.

fighter_ace06 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 28, 2011 1:35 pm

Another installment of photos for you all. Lately we've been shooting on the skin on the right stub wing and I've been working on some instrument/interior wiring. This week our covered control surfaces came in and they look great. Thanks Robbie!

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Thu Apr 28, 2011 2:16 pm

As always working at break neck speed with another great update. Keep it up! Cannot wait to see the outcome.

gregv · **Posted:** Thu Apr 28, 2011 5:39 pm

Looks like you guys are making great progress!

I see that the stub wings have what looks to be the recesses for the oil coolers that are features of the F4F etc. but not used on the FM-2; were the FM-2's built using the same stub with the recess simply plugged over?

Thanks again for posting these updates!

cheers

greg v.

fighter_ace06 · **Posted:** Sun May 01, 2011 4:48 pm

Yep same structure, just has a flat cover over it. The ribs still have #40 tooling holes where the oil cooler straps would rivet on. We should have instruments to fill up that panel in the next few weeks. Spar for the right wing is coming along and we now have all of the extrusions for the wings. I just need to fit and drill all this week then send some things out to heat treat and we should be able to start riveting. I need to buy some bigger rivet guns for the 5/16th rivets.

Chappie · **Joined:** Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:40 am **Posts:** 987

Great looking resto so far. What is the story with the second Wildcat in the background?

Chappie

mustanglover · **Posted:** Sun May 01, 2011 9:18 pm

Chappie wrote:

Great looking resto so far. What is the story with the second Wildcat in the background?

Chappie

That is just a reflection in the mirror.

Carry on..........

airnutz · **Posted:** Mon May 02, 2011 3:20 am

mustanglover wrote:

Chappie wrote:

Great looking resto so far. What is the story with the second Wildcat in the background?

Chappie

That is just a reflection in the mirror.

Carry on..........

A mirror with a star-n-bar 'n paint just in the right place...nice...

marine air · **Posted:** Mon May 02, 2011 8:05 am

Questions for the experts;
1) Have there ever been two or more flyable Wildcats owned by a civilian owner?
2) IF two flyable Wildcats were chosen to be painted in the same squadron markings, what squadron and pilot's aircraft would look the best?
It's been done numerous times with Mustangs, but I can't ever remember even a photograph of matching civvy Wildcats.

fighter_ace06 · **Posted:** Mon May 02, 2011 9:37 am

1) CAF, and maybe Dupont. Never painted the same. Both decided to paint in early F4F schemes.

2) Hint Hint... "The Saints"

Dan Jones · **Posted:** Mon May 02, 2011 10:58 pm

Gorgeous work. Exactly which Wildcat is this one?

fighter_ace06 · **Posted:** Tue May 03, 2011 8:52 am

86774 Chino static display. Notice the fake right wing.

SPANNERmkV · **Posted:** Fri Jun 03, 2011 4:56 pm

Any progress to report Conrad?

SPANNER

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Fri Jun 03, 2011 6:00 pm

Quote:

1) Have there ever been two or more flyable Wildcats owned by a civilian owner?
2) IF two flyable Wildcats were chosen to be painted in the same squadron markings, what squadron and pilot's aircraft would look the best?

1. John Dimmer's had F4F-3 now at Pearl Harbor and FM-2 N20HA for sale. John & Ray Chalker flew them well!
2. VMF-121 my cousin and Joe Foss's

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