Grumman G36 A
Model Airplane News Cover Art for December, 1940
by Jo Kotula
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The Grumman G-36A is the export version of the Grumman F4F "Wildcat". Export orders for the Grumman G-36 had been placed in 1939, when France purchased 81 G-36As; after the fall of France, this entire order was transferred to Britain in June 1940. The first aircraft, with its British name of Martlet I, was delivered on 27 July, 1940

Grumman G36 A, in British markings

  

Grumman F4F "Wildcat" Fighter
left: the Real Thing
right: what the stick-and-tissue paper model is supposed to look like
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The Grumman F4F Wildcat was an American carrier-based fighter aircraft that began service with both the United States Navy and the British Royal Navy in 1940. Although first used in combat by the British in Europe, the Wildcat was the only United States Navy or Marine fighter in World War II 1941–42 in the Pacific Theater besides the brief appearance of the F2A Buffalo. With a top speed of 318 mph, the Wildcat was outperformed by the more nimble 331 mph Mitsubishi Zero, but its ruggedness resulted in an air combat kill-to-loss ratio of 6.9:1. Lessons learned from the Wildcat were applied to the faster F6F "Hellcat" which could outperform the Zero on its own terms. However, the Wildcat continued to be built by General Motors (designated F4M) throughout the remainder of the war to serve on escort carriers, where larger and heavier fighters could not be used.

Here is a video of the Wildcat in action.

The Cleveland kit for the Wildcat has very detailed plans, but (as shown above) the tissue-paper covering does not lend itself to versimilitude. If you wanted something that "looked real" the structure had to be "planked" with balsa to simulate the aluminum skin. However, a model made this way was much to heavy to fly, so it would have to hang in a corner of the room.

     

Note that early sets came with paint; this one had a pre-carved cowling



Cleveland Model of the Grumman Wildcat
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You can buy the plans and patterns that will enable you to make this model right now. Click Here to go to the exact location on the Cleveland Website to get them.

The Grumman Wildcat Fighter at the Cleveland Site
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Click Here for more information about the Grumman G36-A "Martlet" and the F4-F "Wildcat".

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