Italeri 2756 F7F-3 TIGERCAT

The Grumman F7F Tigercat is an American, two-engine heavy fighter from the end of World War II. The roots of the F7F go back to 1941, when a contract for the G-51 project was signed between Grumman and the US Navy. The company obtained the same contract for the construction of two prototypes of the aircraft, designated XF7F-1. The first one made its first flight two and a half years later, in December 1943. In 1943, an order was placed for 500 aircraft of this type for the equipment of US Marine Corps squadrons operating from coastal airports. The first serial F7F1s appeared in April 1944. However, only 34 copies of this version were produced. 35, the aircraft was rebuilt into the XF7-2N two-seater night fighter. APS-6 radar has been added to the new version. The place for the radar operator was created behind the pilot, at the expense of reducing the capacity of the hull fuel tank. The bow machine gun battery was also removed and a radar was installed in their place. A total of 64 aircraft of this version were made. The next version produced during the war was the F7F-3 single-seat fighter, which differed in the R-2800-34W engine with increased power at high altitudes. The bow armament was restored and the capacity of the fuel tanks was increased. 189 aircraft were produced by the end of the war. Tigercats arrived too late to participate in the Pacific War. However, they served quite a long time after the war. Two more two-seater versions appeared then. These were the first front-wheel airport planes. The F7F also fought in the Korean War. Their withdrawal from the line took place in 1954. The plane was characterized by phenomenal speed, flight characteristics, high rate of climb and powerful armament. It was a definite improvement compared to the F6F or even the F-4U. Technical data: Maximum speed (version F7F-4N): 740 km / h, speed of climb: 23 m / s, maximum ceiling 12 300 m, maximum range: 1900 km, armament: fixed - 4 20mm M2 cannons and 4 machine guns M2 Browning cal. 12.7 mm, underslung - up to 908 kg of bombs.