General Motors FM-2 Wildcats posted

[Captain Kurt]

Almost done, the General Motors FM-2 Wildcat I've been developing. I still have some air file details to finish. I also have the 2D panel to paint. I've sent a PM to Morton to ask his permission to modify his F4F panel to the FM-2 but I haven't an answer yet so I may need to do it from scratch.

There will be 5 versions with slight differences - antenna configuration, different props, different wheels, and rocket rails or none. This will also mean 3 different camouflage schemes, overall blue, tri color, and Atlantic ASW.

Stay tuned.

[Hiede]

Captain Kurt,

My son loves your work.He has been using your Hellcats as he continues his Enterprise Campaign.He's using the book The Big E as reference.

Hiede

[Captain Kurt]

Thanks Hiede

Say hello to your son and say thank you. I enjoy doing navy aircraft as my farther was a WWII Navy pilot. So I have a connection there.

[Ludo]

Good Lord this Wildcat looks really nice, thank you for your hard work Captain.

[highpockets]

Beautiful Wildcat, Captain. I sure would hate to get any bullet holes in that paint job. NICE!

[UncleTgt]

Looking forwards to this, the model details (gear, engine bay etc.) look phenomenal

[Captain Kurt]

Thanks all.

John yes it has a lot of detail. In fact I had to quit adding things because I hit the point where there were too many polys for it to compile. Here are some detail pics. The engine is 3D though hard to tell from the pic. The VC is duplicated in the main model. The 2D panel is Morton's F4F panel modified for the FM-2 with kind permission from Morton.

[stoney]

OMG! That is just one fantastic bit of work! Really!

[huub vink]

Very nice work CK! Finally my old donationware Wildcat can go with retirement

Cheers,
Huub

[scoobyman32]

Wow! Simply beautiful, amazing detail. Masterful craftsmanship my friend!

I was never left wanting with the Donationware Wildcat, which I have easily flown more than any other fighter in CFS2, but these shots have me hooked. Can't wait to see this bird.

[AcWai]

Kurt,

Thanks for building this aircraft. It looks great! Now I can replace my outdated Wildcat soon.

Andrew

[Worthless]

What a beauty!

[aussie]

Nice work CK! Looking forward to this one.

Cheers
Aussie

[bearcat241]

A real beauty

[kdriver]

Magnificent! Well done Kurt!
Kevin

[Captain Kurt]

Thanks guys. But don't retire your donationware Wildcats. This is an FM-2, not an F4f-4 or -3. Different engine, cowling, horizontal tail, no oil coolers, rocket rails, etc.

[scoobyman32]

Very true. Never would I retire those ol' birds, they're like family now. But really looking forward to launch, fantastic looking model.

[Captain Kurt]

A new entry has been added to Add-Ons Library, category CFS 2 Aircraft - American

Description: General Motors FM-2 Wildcat VC-4 on USS White Plains (CVE-66) 1944


In 1942, automobile manufacturer General Motors converted several of its east coast factories to aircraft production under the name Eastern Aircraft Division. Eastern received contracts to build F4F-4 Wildcat fighters and TBF-1 'Avenger' torpedo planes, allowing Grumman to gradually reconcentrate its energies on the new, urgently-needed F6F 'Hellcat' fighter. The GM F4F-4s, redesignated FM-1s, had only four .50 caliber machine guns, but were otherwise little changed from the original model. Well over a thousand FM-1 fighters were delivered in 1942-43, including some three hundred for the British Royal Navy.


Meanwhile, Grumman had prototyped a new Wildcat under the designation XF4F-8, which was to be produced by Eastern Aircraft as the FM-2. With lightened structure and a more powerful Wright R-1820 radial engine, the FM-2 was notably quicker, faster climbing, longer ranged and more maneuverable than its predecessor. To help control the increased power, the new plane had a distinctive, taller vertical tail. All-in-all, it was a great improvement, and more than four thousand FM-2s were built in 1943-45. Of those, over three hundred went to the British.


The U.S. Navy FM-2s operated exclusively from escort carriers (CVEs) with their small flight decks. In the Atlantic, they were teamed with TBM 'Avengers' for anti-submarine work. In the Pacific, CVEs performed ASW too, but also frequently employed their 'Avengers' and 'Wildcats' to provide air cover for invasion forces and close air support for ground troops. Those missions produced opportunities for aerial combat against Japanese planes, pariclarly at Okinawa against kamikazes. At least two Navy pilots achieved 'ace' status in FM-2s and there were many others with lesser scores. The GM Wildcat also played an important role in the 25 October 1944 Battle off Samar, in which a force of the slow CVE carriers, their FM-2s and TBM-3s, and their destroyer escorts drove off a vastly superior Japanese surface fleet.


There were several minor variations during the production run. This aircraft was an early version. It had a Curtiss propeller, no rocket rails, hub capped main gear wheels, and the early antenna installation. It also was painted in the 1943 camouflage tri-color pattern of NS Blue, Medium Blue and Matt White.


Credits


Captain Kurt: Aircraft model, drop tanks, bomb racks, rockets, VC, paint textures, aircraft flight files, and .dp
Shessi: Pilot figure
Morton: 2D F4F instrument panel modified to an FM-2 version
Kelticheart: Prop blurred texture
Microsoft: Gauges and .air file
AliCat: Oxygen meter gauge

To check it out, rate it or add comments, visit General Motors FM-2 Wildcat VC-4
The comments you make there will appear in the posts below.

[Captain Kurt]

A new entry has been added to Add-Ons Library, category CFS 2 Aircraft - American

Description: General Motors FM-2 Wildcat VC-36 on USS Core (CVE-66) in the Atlantic, 1944. This composite squadron was credited with sinking 6 German U-boats


In 1942, automobile manufacturer General Motors converted several of its east coast factories to aircraft production under the name Eastern Aircraft Division. Eastern received contracts to build F4F-4 Wildcat fighters and TBF-1 'Avenger' torpedo planes, allowing Grumman to gradually reconcentrate its energies on the new, urgently-needed F6F 'Hellcat' fighter. The GM F4F-4s, redesignated FM-1s, had only four .50 caliber machine guns, but were otherwise little changed from the original model. Well over a thousand FM-1 fighters were delivered in 1942-43, including some three hundred for the British Royal Navy.


Meanwhile, Grumman had prototyped a new Wildcat under the designation XF4F-8, which was to be produced by Eastern Aircraft as the FM-2. With lightened structure and a more powerful Wright R-1820 radial engine, the FM-2 was notably quicker, faster climbing, longer ranged and more maneuverable than its predecessor. To help control the increased power, the new plane had a distinctive, taller vertical tail. All-in-all, it was a great improvement, and more than four thousand FM-2s were built in 1943-45. Of those, over three hundred went to the British.


The U.S. Navy FM-2s operated exclusively from escort carriers (CVEs) with their small flight decks. In the Atlantic, they were teamed with TBM 'Avengers' for anti-submarine work. In the Pacific, CVEs performed ASW too, but also frequently employed their 'Avengers' and 'Wildcats' to provide air cover for invasion forces and close air support for ground troops. Those missions produced opportunities for aerial combat against Japanese planes, pariclarly at Okinawa against kamikazes. At least two Navy pilots achieved 'ace' status in FM-2s and there were many others with lesser scores. The GM Wildcat also played an important role in the 25 October 1944 Battle off Samar, in which a force of the slow CVE carriers, their FM-2s and TBM-3s, and their destroyer escorts drove off a vastly superior Japanese surface fleet.


There were several minor variations during the production run. This aircraft was an earlier version. It had a Curtiss propeller, permanent rocket rails, hub capped main gear wheels, and the early antenna installation. It also was painted in the Atlantic ASW II camouflage pattern of Gull Grey and Matt White


Credits


Captain Kurt: Aircraft model, drop tanks, bomb racks, rockets, VC, paint textures, aircraft flight files, and .dp
Shessi: Pilot figure
Morton: 2D F4F instrument panel modified to an FM-2 version
Kelticheart: Prop blurred texture
Microsoft: Gauges and .air file
AliCat: Oxygen meter gauge

To check it out, rate it or add comments, visit General Motors FM-2 Wildcat VC-36
The comments you make there will appear in the posts below.

[Captain Kurt]

A new entry has been added to Add-Ons Library, category CFS 2 Aircraft - American

Description: General Motors FM-2 Wildcat VC-79 on USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83) off Okinawa April 1945


In 1942, automobile manufacturer General Motors converted several of its east coast factories to aircraft production under the name Eastern Aircraft Division. Eastern received contracts to build F4F-4 Wildcat fighters and TBF-1 'Avenger' torpedo planes, allowing Grumman to gradually reconcentrate its energies on the new, urgently-needed F6F 'Hellcat' fighter. The GM F4F-4s, redesignated FM-1s, had only four .50 caliber machine guns, but were otherwise little changed from the original model. Well over a thousand FM-1 fighters were delivered in 1942-43, including some three hundred for the British Royal Navy.


Meanwhile, Grumman had prototyped a new Wildcat under the designation XF4F-8, which was to be produced by Eastern Aircraft as the FM-2. With lightened structure and a more powerful Wright R-1820 radial engine, the FM-2 was notably quicker, faster climbing, longer ranged and more maneuverable than its predecessor. To help control the increased power, the new plane had a distinctive, taller vertical tail. All-in-all, it was a great improvement, and more than four thousand FM-2s were built in 1943-45. Of those, over three hundred went to the British.


The U.S. Navy FM-2s operated exclusively from escort carriers (CVEs) with their small flight decks. In the Atlantic, they were teamed with TBM 'Avengers' for anti-submarine work. In the Pacific, CVEs performed ASW too, but also frequently employed their 'Avengers' and 'Wildcats' to provide air cover for invasion forces and close air support for ground troops. Those missions produced opportunities for aerial combat against Japanese planes, pariclarly at Okinawa against kamikazes. At least two Navy pilots achieved 'ace' status in FM-2s and there were many others with lesser scores. The GM Wildcat also played an important role in the 25 October 1944 Battle off Samar, in which a force of the slow CVE carriers, their FM-2s and TBM-3s, and their destroyer escorts drove off a vastly superior Japanese surface fleet.


There were several minor variations during the production run. This aircraft had a Hamilton propeller, permanent rocket rails, hub capped main gear wheels, and the later antenna installation.


Credits


Captain Kurt: Aircraft model, drop tanks, bomb racks, rockets, VC, paint textures, aircraft flight files, and .dp
Shessi: Pilot figure
Morton: 2D F4F instrument panel modified to an FM-2 version
Kelticheart: Prop blurred texture
Microsoft: Gauges and .air file
AliCat: Oxygen meter gauge

To check it out, rate it or add comments, visit General Motors FM-2 Wildcat VC-79
The comments you make there will appear in the posts below.

[Captain Kurt]

A new entry has been added to Add-Ons Library, category CFS 2 Aircraft - American

Description: General Motors FM-2 Wildcat VC-82 on USS Anzio (CVE-57) off Okinawa April 1945


In 1942, automobile manufacturer General Motors converted several of its east coast factories to aircraft production under the name Eastern Aircraft Division. Eastern received contracts to build F4F-4 Wildcat fighters and TBF-1 'Avenger' torpedo planes, allowing Grumman to gradually reconcentrate its energies on the new, urgently-needed F6F 'Hellcat' fighter. The GM F4F-4s, redesignated FM-1s, had only four .50 caliber machine guns, but were otherwise little changed from the original model. Well over a thousand FM-1 fighters were delivered in 1942-43, including some three hundred for the British Royal Navy.


Meanwhile, Grumman had prototyped a new Wildcat under the designation XF4F-8, which was to be produced by Eastern Aircraft as the FM-2. With lightened structure and a more powerful Wright R-1820 radial engine, the FM-2 was notably quicker, faster climbing, longer ranged and more maneuverable than its predecessor. To help control the increased power, the new plane had a distinctive, taller vertical tail. All-in-all, it was a great improvement, and more than four thousand FM-2s were built in 1943-45. Of those, over three hundred went to the British.


The U.S. Navy FM-2s operated exclusively from escort carriers (CVEs) with their small flight decks. In the Atlantic, they were teamed with TBM 'Avengers' for anti-submarine work. In the Pacific, CVEs performed ASW too, but also frequently employed their 'Avengers' and 'Wildcats' to provide air cover for invasion forces and close air support for ground troops. Those missions produced opportunities for aerial combat against Japanese planes, pariclarly at Okinawa against kamikazes. At least two Navy pilots achieved 'ace' status in FM-2s and there were many others with lesser scores. The GM Wildcat also played an important role in the 25 October 1944 Battle off Samar, in which a force of the slow CVE carriers, their FM-2s and TBM-3s, and their destroyer escorts drove off a vastly superior Japanese surface fleet.


There were several minor variations during the production run. This aircraft had a Hamilton propeller, permanent rocket rails, spoked main gear wheels, and the later antenna installation.


Credits


Captain Kurt: Aircraft model, drop tanks, bomb racks, rockets, VC, paint textures, aircraft flight files, and .dp
Shessi: Pilot figure
Morton: 2D F4F instrument panel modified to an FM-2 version
Kelticheart: Prop blurred texture
Microsoft: Gauges and .air file
AliCat: Oxygen meter gauge

To check it out, rate it or add comments, visit General Motors FM-2 Wildcat VC-82
The comments you make there will appear in the posts below.

[Captain Kurt]

A new entry has been added to Add-Ons Library, category CFS 2 Aircraft - American

Description: General Motors FM-2 Wildcat VC-93 on USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80) off Okinawa April 1945


In 1942, automobile manufacturer General Motors converted several of its east coast factories to aircraft production under the name Eastern Aircraft Division. Eastern received contracts to build F4F-4 Wildcat fighters and TBF-1 'Avenger' torpedo planes, allowing Grumman to gradually reconcentrate its energies on the new, urgently-needed F6F 'Hellcat' fighter. The GM F4F-4s, redesignated FM-1s, had only four .50 caliber machine guns, but were otherwise little changed from the original model. Well over a thousand FM-1 fighters were delivered in 1942-43, including some three hundred for the British Royal Navy.


Meanwhile, Grumman had prototyped a new Wildcat under the designation XF4F-8, which was to be produced by Eastern Aircraft as the FM-2. With lightened structure and a more powerful Wright R-1820 radial engine, the FM-2 was notably quicker, faster climbing, longer ranged and more maneuverable than its predecessor. To help control the increased power, the new plane had a distinctive, taller vertical tail. All-in-all, it was a great improvement, and more than four thousand FM-2s were built in 1943-45. Of those, over three hundred went to the British.


The U.S. Navy FM-2s operated exclusively from escort carriers (CVEs) with their small flight decks. In the Atlantic, they were teamed with TBM 'Avengers' for anti-submarine work. In the Pacific, CVEs performed ASW too, but also frequently employed their 'Avengers' and 'Wildcats' to provide air cover for invasion forces and close air support for ground troops. Those missions produced opportunities for aerial combat against Japanese planes, pariclarly at Okinawa against kamikazes. At least two Navy pilots achieved 'ace' status in FM-2s and there were many others with lesser scores. The GM Wildcat also played an important role in the 25 October 1944 Battle off Samar, in which a force of the slow CVE carriers, their FM-2s and TBM-3s, and their destroyer escorts drove off a vastly superior Japanese surface fleet.


There were several minor variations during the production run. This aircraft had a Curtiss propeller, permanent rocket rails, hub capped main gear wheels, and the later antenna installation.


Credits


Captain Kurt: Aircraft model, drop tanks, bomb racks, rockets, VC, paint textures, aircraft flight files, and .dp
Shessi: Pilot figure
Morton: 2D F4F instrument panel modified to an FM-2 version
Kelticheart: Prop blurred texture
Microsoft: Gauges and .air file
AliCat: Oxygen meter gauge

To check it out, rate it or add comments, visit General Motors FM-2 Wildcat VC-93
The comments you make there will appear in the posts below.

[Captain Kurt]

Hope you all enjoy these

[Hiede]

Thank you CK.

My son has some plans in the future to use it.Now that he's back in school he doesn't have much time to do much with CFS2.

Hiede

[stuart277]

Hi Captain Kurt
Super work with some very important aircraft.
Cheers
Stuart