Trumpeter 1/32 Bearcat F8F-1B

[yak face]

Looking good vaughan, as for the machine guns ,it looks as if they are just straight with no perforations or anything so you could just cut them off and replace them with brass tube, I usually do this on most of my builds as it looks better, is a bit stronger than plastic and you havent got any nasty seam lines to tryand clean up ,plus its easier to add them at the last stages of the build. You can get it at the online shop, i should say about a 1.3mm -1.5mm dia should do it ,remember to cut it with a stanley knife blade on a hard surface with a rolling action,this avoids flattenning the ends which is what happens if you try to snip it with pliers etc. hope this makes sense, cheers tony

[Vaughan]

Hi Tony

Thanks for the advice. Here's some images of the gun barrels showing the size I think they are coming in at 1mm. They are slightly fluted at the end but I suppose you could recreate that by inserting a pin or similar to carefully stretch the ends. My main worry is how to remove the existing barrels? and in doing so not damaging the wings? Also I presume you would need to replace both sets of barrels. Thanks again for the advice and suggestions.

Vaughan

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[Vaughan]

Hi all

Have had a go at repairing the barrels by gluing them. They will obviously need to be tidied up but hopefully they will look ok. If not brass tubing will have to be the way forward.

Vaughan

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[papa 695]

Hi Vaughan they look ok just some very fine sanding should do the trick good luck and well done

[Vaughan]

Hi All

Gun barrels are sanded and sorted thanks everyone for your tips. The Bearcat was all prepped ready for the flat coat which I sprayed about 2 hours ago. Bombs, rockets and drop tank fitted. Tail wheel still very fragile and the weight of all the extras is not helping. Light not good enough tonight to take some final pictures so will take some first thing tomorrow.

Vaughan

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[papa 695]

:clap3:Hi Vaughan just had a good look at the guns and i cant see any join well done on that fix. Now looking forward the the finished pictures

[Vaughan]

Hi All

Well it's taken 2 months with a few trials and tribulations even down to enough light to take some photos. Thanks to every one for advice, tips and including reference photos. Anyway here she is.

Vaughan

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