new BBI 1/32 F4F Wildcat, Lt. James Swett

dragon53 · Post by **dragon53** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 7:27 am

Just announced: 2nd Blue Box International Historic Aviation 'Exclusive' bbi-99116 is the F4F Wildcat Naval Fighter "White 77 - Flown by Medal Of Honor recipient Lt. James E. Swett, VMF-221" due 3rd Quarter '08!
F4F-4 Wildcat 1/32 Model
"White 77," Lt. James E. Swett, VMF-221

Replicating "White 77," an F4F-4 Wildcat flown by 15½-victory ace Lt. James E. Swett of VMF-221, the "Fighting Falcons," who shot down seven Japanese Aichi D3A dive bombers during his first combat mission on April 7, 1943, over Tulagi harbor - an action for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor - this amazingly detailed 1/32 scale plastic model features engraved panel lines and simulated rivets, a fully outfitted cockpit with an opening canopy and a figure of Swett, wing-mounted machine guns, a centerline fuel tank, a rotating propeller, retractable landing gear, authentic markings (including the caveman tail art that Swett was asked to remove after only a few days) and realistic weathering, and more. 14¼" wingspan.

(from Foxhole Toys and Historicaviation.com)

Light.Inf.Scout · Post by **Light.Inf.Scout** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:02 am

This probably is a dumb question, but what was the first one?

dragon53 · Post by **dragon53** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:03 am

LIGHT.INF.SCOUT:

I assume it's the upcoming 1/32 SBD Dauntless.

Light.Inf.Scout · Post by **Light.Inf.Scout** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:09 am

ahhhh, thanks. Is anyone doing a 1/32nd Hellcat?

Sabrefan · Post by **Sabrefan** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:00 am

Awesome news! A 32nd scale Wildcat. COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

aktiger · Post by **aktiger** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:48 am

This probably is a dumb question, but what was the first one?

F-4 Phantom was the first 1/32 BBI release but I'm not sure if it was a "historic aviation exclusive".

Quixote511 · Post by **Quixote511** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:51 am

Any which way you dice it, I am excited to get a Wildcat to add to my ceiling airforce.

dragon53 · Post by **dragon53** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 1:46 pm

Here's the description of the upcoming SBD Dauntless:

“White C46,” USS Enterprise, Battle of Eniwetok, 1944 Replicating an SBD Dauntless dive bomber flown from the USS Enterprise (CV-6) by VB-10 in Operation Hailstone, a carrier strike against the Japanese base at Truk in the Caroline Islands on February 16-17, 1944,"

tmanthegreat · Post by **tmanthegreat** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 3:14 pm

Well, you beat me to it, but I guess there's plenty more people around here with far too much time on their hands

I got an announcement from Foxhole toys about this. Their website has a picture up of the plane already:

I like the looks of the plane very much and think its an excellent companion piece to the upcoming Dauntless. (We don't really need a Zero due to the 21c version). Now to get one of these in 1:18

dragon53 · Post by **dragon53** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 3:20 pm

I sure would like to see a BBI 1/32 F-15 Eagle and Steve Ritchie F-4D Phantom II...

Fox Tare-28 · Post by **Fox Tare-28** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 6:43 pm

Will the Wildcat have retracting landing gear, or will it be interchangeable like BBI's F-4J?

EDIT: Whoops, I'm an idiot.

Ruger · Post by **Ruger** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:14 pm

Ok, I don't want to get all picky here, but would it be possible to not title any posts with anything beginning with or resembling "new BBI 1/32 F4" anything? It gets a little exciting thinking about repaints or new versions of the BBI Phantom.

F4F you ask? A version sold to Germany, initially somewhat of a "stripee" without a lot of features, but later upgraded significantly and expected to remain in service for at least four more years.

You just can't go around starting posts like that, it gets some of us all hyped up...

MV

Sabrefan · Post by **Sabrefan** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:21 pm

From the picture it looks like one of the early fixed wing Wildcats, not sure if this models wings will fold.

olifant · Post by **olifant** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:42 pm

They shoot, they SCORE!

Very cool. 1/32 is definitely taking off...

hworth18 · Post by **hworth18** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:49 pm

Looks nice, would've prefered a Hellcat, but atleast we are going in the right direction..

olifant · Post by **olifant** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:54 pm

hworth18 wrote:Looks nice, would've prefered a Hellcat, but atleast we are going in the right direction..

Hellcat next, followed by an Avenger? I like this naval theme they have going on. How about a stringbag? Now a Swordfish would be worth that $50 price tag!

Post by **aferguson** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 4:39 am

well this sort of came out of the blue......with Mike seemingly no longer around i guess we will truly have to wait and see, and be surprised, from time to time.

Hopefully there will be the odd 1/18 surprise still..

dragon53 · Post by **dragon53** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 6:05 am

RUGER:

I want another BBI 1/32 F-4 Phantom really bad, as I've said here many times.
However, my headline says "new BBI 1/32 F4F Wildcat, Lt. James Swett"--not F-4F Phantom II.

However, I hope one day soon I will post the headline, "new BBI 1/32 F-4D Phantom II, Capt. Steve Ritchie".

Ruger · Post by **Ruger** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 7:32 am

dragon53 wrote: However, my headline says "new BBI 1/32 F4F Wildcat, Lt. James Swett"--not F-4F Phantom II.

I know, but I only got as far as "new BBI 1/32 F4..." before getting all excited. I had to read it over again to realize my mistake...

MV