F7F Tigercat

The American built Grumman F7F Tigercat was destined to be the US Navy's first twin engined fighter built in production quantities. It was designed to operate from aircraft carriers of the USS Midway class and six versions of the Tigercat were produced. The Tigercat was too late for operational service in the second world war, arriving in Okinawa the day before VJ-day.

Ordered in 1941, the Grumman F7F Tigercat wartime production was delayed and the first flight of the prototype, XF7F-1, was not until 3 November 1943 where it proved to be a highly maneuverable aircraft with a top speed of 400 mph despite its large radial engines (a pair of 2,100hp Pratt & Whitney R2800 engines) and heavy armament of four .50 caliber machine guns and four 20 mm cannons. Originally fitted with a tail hook for operations from "Midway" class carriers, the F7Fs proved too heavy for such duty and were transferred to the US Marine Corps shore based squadrons in 1944.

Total production of all variants of the F7F was slightly in excess of 360 examples.

Mahogany Wood. Scale: 1/32. Wingspan 19 1/4 inches, Length 17 7/8 inches.