**** DONE: F7U-3M Cutlass USN VX-4 'Evaluators' circa 1955

[tonyb]

User name: tonyb
Name: Tony
Category: 3-Beginner
Kit: Kitech Vought F7U-3M Cutlass
Scale: 1/48
Accessories:bit of scratch building in the cockpit

Here is my 2nd entry in this GB.Like the Mig in my other entry it is a cheap and cheerful kit by Kitech so more hard work to do to achieve a good result.

The Cutlass was a strange looking bird and wasn't a particularly successful one either (slight understatement) but it was certainly 'different' and I like different.
Kit looks better than the Mig one,at least it doesn't have that horrible dark green plastic

There is a choice of 2 versions -
1) F7U-3M VX-4 'Evaluators' Test and Evaluation Squadron
2) F7U-3 VC-3 Composite Squadron
I am going to make the formerwhich had the Aim-7 Sparrow air to air missile.
If anyone has any colour pics of the cockpit of one of these babies,I would be very grateful.I won't be starting this build for a little while so there is no rush.
Cheers,
Tony.

 

[T Bolt]

Cool choice Tony! Is that kit a knock-off of the old Hobbycraft one?

 

[tonyb]

Correct Glenn,it is a Hobbycraft knock-off.
It doesn't state anywhere what dates these 2 variants actually flew so I did a bit of googling and discovered that the Aim-7 was used on the Cutlass from 1956 so as the VX-4 was a testing squadron I figured 1955 would be about right.
If anyone has any more info on this bird,I'm all ears!
Cheers,
Tony.

 

[Lucky13]

Nice one mate! I like the Cutlass....looking forward to this one!

 

[Catch22]

Very cool, and nice and different!

 

[rochie]

another good choice

 

[Airframes]

Nice one Tony! I think I have an article in a magazine on the Cutlass somewhere. Don't know if it's got cockpit pics, but I'll see what I can dig out. Might take some time though!

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Nice one Tony, not an aircraft much talked about and a good variation of choice.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Nice one Tony, not an aircraft much talked about and a good variation of choice.

 

[Pong]

One of the Navy's disastrous aircraft (Well from what I heard it was involved in a few accidents), should be an interesting build! Great choice!

 

[tonyb]

One of the Navy's disastrous aircraft (Well from what I heard it was involved in a few accidents), should be an interesting build! Great choice!

Responsible for the deaths of 21 pilots apparently!
Inovative design but didn't have the necessary powerplant to cope.
Cheers,
Tony.

 

[Pong]

Well (correction) the most disastrous!

Nice one Tony! I think I have an article in a magazine on the Cutlass somewhere. Don't know if it's got cockpit pics, but I'll see what I can dig out. Might take some time though!

I remember Flight Journal having an article on the Cutlass in one of their issues, calling it the worst USN aircraft ever.

 

[N4521U]

And all those things is what is making this an interesting build. Go man go. bill

 

[Wayne Little]

certainly getting plenty of variety.....Nice one Tony!

 

[bemay]

cool choice tony!8)

 

[vikingBerserker]

Very cool choice!

 

[tonyb]

Well,I finally made a start on this,my 2nd entry in the GB.It's not much of a start but at least it's something!
Sorted all the parts I need for the first part of the build and primed them all -

Here are the paints I will be using for the main body -
Insignia White and Light Ghost Grey -

For the cockpit,I will be using Matt Black and Dark Gull Grey.
I'm still thinking of ordering a vacuform canopy as everyone here says they are better than the kit ones.Excuse my ignorance but what is the go with these?What makes them better? Do they come assembled?
Cheers,
Tony.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Looks like you've had a busy time mate, how have you secured the parts on the board for spraying, double sided tape!.............

 

[Wayne Little]

Good stuff Tony!

 

[T Bolt]

Good start Tony