F7F 3P Tigercat

1/32 HPH Models, by: Marek Hlusek

- Marek Hlusek

As I sat down to choose my next model, I knew that this time I wanted to try something different and exceptional. In the end I settled on the HpH Models 1/32 F7F Tigercat. Even though I had already built a few models by HpH, I was again in awe of how comprehensive and detailed the Tigercat kit was, including laser cut seat belts, ‘wet decals’ by HGW, and turned brass machine gun barrels. The assembly instructions are very clear and each step is accompanied by an assortment of helpful pictures.

The Build

When building a model kit from HpH models you need to adopt a different approach, at least compared to a standard plastic or resin kit. The basic structure parts are cast in epoxy resin, with some added material to make them more rigid and resistant to warpage overtime. Thus I always start with cleaning the parts of all excess and redundant material, and thoroughly degreasing them. For removing the grease, I use alcohol or C-6000 thinners. When the parts were fully clean and prepared, it was time to perform a test fit to establish how well the major components, such as fuselage, wing, and engine nacelle, go together. I recommend using tape by ANYZ for this; it has a good grip, but does not leave any residue or marks. Despite the fact that the model kit is rather complex, I only found a few problems with parts not quite matching fully and these were easy to fix using a file.