1/32 Grumman F4F-3S Wildcatfish

By Ron Denning

In February of 1943 the first and only modified F4F Wildcat with attached floats took to the air. The modification started as a response to the Japanese Zero float plane that had appeared in the Pacific, and due to the lack of forward area island airfields. Flight testing proved that the added Edo Aircraft Corporation floats reduced the Wildcatfish flight speed and maneuverability even further below that of the Zero. And due to the fact that allied airfields were now being constructed at a rate greater than anticipated, the F4F Wildcatfish was doomed to only a one-off version.

This is a 1:32 scale model of the Grumman F4F-3S Wildcatfish. At the time of this build there was only 1:72 and 1:48 scale kits available… I, of course, wanted something larger. So this aircraft started as a Revell 1:32 scale Wildcat kit. The Edo floats were donated from a 1:24 scale De Havilland Beaver model kit I got from Cedar Creek Trading post. The research proved out that by shortening the Beaver kit floats by ¾” the exact scale Edo floats needed for the Wildcatfish were now available for this 1:32 scale model. The float supports are aerodynamic shaped aluminum extrusions. The float undercarriage is scratch built using the wheels from two Revell Wildcat kits. The small auxiliary fins and large ventral fin were fabricated from sheet styrene. Tie down loops on the floats are sections of plastic tubing. The float rudder control cables and antenna lead are thin steel guitar string. Aftermarket photo-etch seat belts were added to the cockpit. I really enjoy the research on these rare, one-off, or limited production aircraft from a time when aviation, space, and all inventions for that matter, was “anything goes”. The sky (no pun intended) is the limit.

1/32 Grumman F4F-3S Wildcatfish

By Ron Denning

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