Hobby Master HA7301 1:48 F3F-1 Flying Barrel

Produced in the mid to late 1930s the F3F-1 as well as the 2 and 3 variants belonged towhat probably was the most colorful era in US military aviation history. Grumman took all the lessons learned from the F2F and incorporated them into the F3F. The Flying Barrel, as it was commonly called, had a wide fuselage to accommodate the large radial engine spinning a three-bladed Hamilton Standard propeller. The plane also had improved retractable landing gear, longer fuselage that improved stability. The last F3F was retired by the USN in November 1943. The US Navy took possession of the first of fifty-four F3F-1 aircraft in January 1936.They were dispersed between the fighter squadrons aboard the USS Saratoga (CV-3)and the USS Ranger (CV-4). One of the Saratoga squadrons was VF-3 whose XO wasthe famous Jimmy Thach and well-known pilot Butch O’Hare who the Chicago Airport is named after. By late 1936 the more powerful F3F-2 was making its appearance and ayear later the F3F-3 arrived. As the n