Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series HA7302 Grumman F3F-2, VMF-2, Oct 1940 US Marines special wire rigging LIMITED EDITION

1/48 scale pre-finished Die-cast metal with a minimum of plastic. Professionally painted. All markings pad applied for superb results. Cockpit slides open. Moveable rudder Comes with a pilot that can be removed. Comes with display stand. Can be displayed with landing gear up or down.

THESE ARE PRE-PRODUCTION PICTURES NOT THE FINISHED MODEL

Production of the Grumman F3F-2 began in 1937. To overcome the F2F tendency for poor directional stability and spinning the new aircraft fuselage was stretched 22 inches and the wing area was expanded by 30 sq. ft.. The F3F-2 also received a larger engine; a three bladed eight foot six inch propeller and a rudder with increased surface area to counter-act the greater engine torque. The USN ordered 81 F3F-2s but the 65th aircraft on were updated to the F3F-3. The last F3F was retired in 1943.

This F3F-2 was flown by future Ace 1st Lt. Robert Galer of VMF-2 in November 1940. While qualifying for carrier-landings his engine failed and he had to make an unscheduled water landing. In the early 1980s the aircraft was located in good condition so it was raised and restored. Galer’s aircraft is the only original F3F-2 left and is on display in the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola Florida. There are three other F3F-2s in existence but they were completely reconstructed using parts from wrecked aircraft.

Specifications Grumman F3F-2 AKA “Flying Barrel”

Crew: 1 pilot Dimensions Length: 23 ft 2 in (7.06 m) Wingspan: 32 ft 0 in (9.75 m) Height: 9 ft 4 in (2.84 m) Wing area: 260 ft² (24.15 m²)

Weights Empty: 3,285 lb (1,490 kg) Max takeoff: 4,795 lb (2,175 kg)

Performance Powerplant: 1× Wright R-1820-22 “Cyclone” 9-cylinder radial engine, 950 hp (710 kW), 8 ft 6 in. 3 blade Hamilton-Standard propeller Maximum speed: 229 knots, 264 mph (425 km/h) at 15,250 ft (4,658 m) Cruise speed: 150 mph (130 knots, 240 km/h) Range: 980 mi (850 nm, 1,600 km) Service ceiling: 33,200 ft (10,120 m) Rate of climb: 2,800 ft/min (14 m/s) at sea level Armament Guns: 1 × 0.30 in (7.62 mm) M2 machine gun, 500 rounds 1 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 machine gun, 200 rounds Bombs: 2 × 116 lb (52.6 kg) Mk IV bombs, one under each wing