{"product_id":"70050-fm-1-fm-2-wildcat-™-deluxe-set-1-72","title":"70050 FM-1 \u0026 FM-2 Wildcat ™ Deluxe Set 1\/72","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eDouble combo. Set includes two different versions of Wildcat, with photo etched parts and masks for each of them.  Extra photoetched parts for FM-1 conversion. Two carrier flight deck sections from plywood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBox includes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eone set of FM-2 plastic parts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eone set of F4F-4 plastic parts with conversion to FM-1\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePhotoetched parts for both models\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eCanopy and wheel masks for both models\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eDecals with eight markings options (four for each version)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eTwo laser engraved plywood flight deck sections from \"Casablanca\" class escort carrier 14.5 x 14.5 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMarkings options:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFM-1 Wildcat:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFM-1 Wildcat, no. A32\/S31\u003c\/strong\u003e, VC-33 squadron, USS\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eNassau\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eCVE-16, 6 September 1943, during training on the California coast, shortly before embarkation on USS\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eCoral Sea\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eCVE-57.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFM-1 Wildcat, no\u003c\/strong\u003e. 7, VC-6 squadron, USS\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eCore\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eCVE-13, 16 December 1943, during anti-submarine patrols over the North Atlantic.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWildcat V, no. JV439\/C9-N\u003c\/strong\u003e, 733 Naval Air Squadron, piloted by Sub-Lieut. Griffiths, Trincomalee airfield, Ceylon, 1945.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWildcat V, no. JV579\/F\u003c\/strong\u003e, “That Old Thing”, 846 Naval Air Squadron, aircraft carrier HMS\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eTrumpeter\u003c\/em\u003e\/Eglington airfield. The unit provided anti-submarine cover during the Normandy landings of June 1944.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFM-2 Wildcat:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFM-2 Wildcat, no. D6\u003c\/strong\u003e, “Judy”, VC-14 squadron, USS\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eHoggatt Bay\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eCVE-75, the Philippines, 22 November 1944.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFM-2 Wildcat, no. 8\u003c\/strong\u003e, “Hot Lips”, VC-99 squadron, USS\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eHoggatt Bay\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eCVE-75, Pacific Ocean theatre, July 1945.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFM-2 Wildcat, no. 4\u003c\/strong\u003e, VC-13 squadron, USS\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eTripoli\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eCVE-64, March 1944, during anti-submarine patrols over the Atlantic in the vicinity of Cape Verde.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWildcat VI, no. JV752\/320-9\u003c\/strong\u003e, Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment, test flown by S\/L Janusz Żurakowski, Boscombe Down airfield, 14 February 1945.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFM-1\/FM-2 Wildcat\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBy mid-1943, the U.S. Navy had embarked on a programme of rapid expansion of its escort carrier fleet. Over the next year or so, 50\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eCasablanca\u003c\/em\u003e-class escort carriers and varying numbers of other vessel types were put into service. Each of the carriers was home to a “Composite Squadron” (VC) comprising nine Avenger torpedo-bombers and eighteen Wildcat fighters. These units were specially trained for anti-submarine operations in the hunter-killer role.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eGrumman’s own plant soon ceased production of both aeroplane types in favour of the Hellcat fighter, which was intended for fleet aircraft carriers. The manufacture of Wildcats and Avengers was then transferred to General Motors. The Wildcats produced by General Motors for escort carriers, with the designation FM-1, were equivalent to Grumman’s F4F-4s, however they did not have the external machine guns. Other modifications concerned the quantity of ammunition provided for the remaining machine guns, and an enlarged ammunition compartment cover on the wing undersides. The next version, the FM-2, was fitted with a more powerful engine, although without a two-stage compressor for operation at higher altitudes. The propeller’s greater torque was counterbalanced by an enlarged vertical tail unit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFM-1s\/FM-2s served on escort carriers right until the end of the war. In the European theatre, they took part in Atlantic convoys, while in the Pacific Ocean theatre they provided cover and support for sea-borne landings and helped combat kamikaze attacks. The British equivalent of the FM-1\/FM-2, the Wildcat V\/VI, played a prominent role in the Battle of the Atlantic, the landings in Normandy and the South of France, and in combatting German shipping in Norwegian waters. The FM-2 turned out to be a worthy opponent for both the Zero and the Messerschmitt Bf-109G.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe Deck of a U.S. Navy Escort Carrier\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe two sections of deck presented in the kit are modelled after\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eCasablanca\u003c\/em\u003e-class vessels (the most numerous of the various escort carriers classes, hull numbers CVE-55 – CVE-104). The first section shows the middle portion of the deck, complete with mock-ups of arrester wire tensioners. The second is a replica of the prow, with a fragment of the hangar elevator and the rear segment of the catapult channel. FM-1\/FM-2 Wildcats and TBF\/TBM Avengers can be placed on the decks. Sporadically, in the course of warfare, escort carriers would receive other types of aircraft used by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marines. They were also tasked with transporting aircraft from rear echelon areas to the front line. Among others, they conveyed entire fighter wings of P-47 Thunderbolts and P-51 Mustangs, and also other aircraft types, including multi-engined bombers.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arma Hobby","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39969968193584,"sku":"70050","price":37.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0295\/6777\/8864\/products\/big_70050-box.jpg?v=1643066717","url":"https:\/\/mw-hobbysupplies.ie\/products\/70050-fm-1-fm-2-wildcat-%e2%84%a2-deluxe-set-1-72","provider":"MW Hobby Supplies","version":"1.0","type":"link"}