(WIP) F7F-2D „Tigercat” 1:72 Fly

[Kriss]

The F7F-2D ‘Tigercat’ has just arrived at the workshop, a new product from Fly in 1:72 scale. Fly has immediately released four different versions of the ‘Tigercat’ and more are in the pipeline. Along with the model, there are also accessories from Fly, including three different versions of wheels (arta009, arta010 and arta011) and an engine (arta008), all 3D printed. The contents of the box are shown in the photo below, and a plus for the manufacturer is the included canopy and wheels. From the accessories, I will use the motor (arta008) and wheels (arta011). I had the opportunity to see a test model and the fit of the parts was excellent, so let's see if I can build it just as well.

 

 

 

[KevinM]

Cool Kris was watching a video last night of an air show with a TigerCat in it and that plane sounds wickly bad.

[Kriss]

I have already made the first cuts, as there is one fuselage for multiple versions. In my version, the stabiliser is replaced and a cut-out is made in the fuselage for the drone operator.

[Kriss]

The hull is ready for assembly. All I have to do is weigh it down and it can be closed.

[Kriss]

The fuselage is ready to be closed, but there will be some corrections thanks to my friend ‘Moses’, whose help proved to be very useful. Many thanks! For now, you can see a little bit of lead packed in, and the model was assembled dry and should stand on its wheels. We'll see how it turns out when it's ready. I'll start the list of corrections by removing the barrels in the front wheel compartment, and the compartment itself will be repainted Interior Green. The rifle mounts on the fuselage and wings will be covered up, as the drone version had no armament. In the cabin above the side panels, the colour is black, in accordance with the 1943 SR-2 painting instructions. And the seats need to be repainted in Interior Green, as mine are silver. That's all for the corrections for now, the rest will be done during construction.

[Kriss]

Slowly but surely, it's coming along. The gondolas need a bit of sanding, but more drilling. One is already ready for assembly, and the other still needs drilling and assembly.

[Kriss]

The version with drones flew without armament and with blinded gun ports, and I already have the plugs ready, a little sanding and a drop of glue and it will be fine. The front landing gear bay still needs to be corrected to Interior Green.

[KevinM]

Looking good Kriss

[Kriss]

 After assembling the nacelle and fitting it to the wing, it was time for the engines and their covers. I didn't even cut the kit engines out of their frames; I immediately started fitting the 3D-printed ones, and there's no comparison between them. The printed ones are better, and after cutting them out, there was no problem fitting them. The only thing I had to do was sand down the places where the exhaust pipes come out in the nacelle. However, after fitting, the engine cover turned out to be slightly too small, so to widen it to the right diameter, I inserted a piece of 0.5 mm plastic plate on one side, and that solved the problem with the diameter of the engine covers.

[Kriss]

The next stage is glazing the cabin, and here ‘Fly’ has made a nice gesture, and you could say a double one at that. The cabin can be made in a closed or open version, with different parts of the cabin glazing. The second nice gesture is the inclusion of masks with the model, which make the work much easier, as can be seen in the photo.

[Kriss]

The chassis compartment is fitted, the parts are only placed in order to fit them. So not everything in the photo is perfectly straight.

[Kriss]

After analysing the photos available on Google and the documentation, I made several changes to my version of the model. Starting with the fuselage, I added an antenna on the right side of the fuselage, at the bottom. The photo shows two small antenna masts. On the underside of the wings, near the fuselage, there are two T-shaped antennas, one on each wing. Additionally, a pitot tube protrudes from the leading edge of the wing.

[Kriss]

Colours applied and minor corrections made. The transition between yellow and sea blue between the stabiliser and the hull is slanted in the photos of my model, so I did the same. The instructions incorrectly show it as vertical and on the hull.

[Kriss]

It's time for the decals, which fit very well on the surface of the model. But there was also a mistake: on the model I am building, the red warning stripe goes around the fuselage, but on the model it is too short and, in addition, there is a colour shift and a thin white line is visible. I made a quick decision and removed the decal before it settled permanently on the model. I will paint over the area that needs correction and paint the stripe. It should work out.

[KevinM]

That's coming along quite Nicely Kriss had not realized it was a Fly kit till today maybe it's the fact I am working the Fly Hurricane makes a Nice representation but no more Fly's for me.

[Kriss]

The red warning stripe has been painted on, and now it's time for the rest of the decals. As I mentioned earlier, the decals are delicate and fit nicely on the model.

4 hours ago, KevinM said:

That's coming along quite Nicely Kriss had not realized it was a Fly kit till today maybe it's the fact I am working the Fly Hurricane makes a Nice representation but no more Fly's for me.

I changed my approach to model building a long time ago, and now when I take a model to the workshop, I work on it until I finish it. Some I build straight out of the box, and others are upgraded. I have all the Fly models, so they will be in the workshop. Sometimes I like challenges with difficult models to build.

[KevinM]

6 hours ago, Kriss said:

Sometimes I like challenges with difficult models to build.

I do at times also Kriss being my first FLY kit was kinda caught off guard was to be a quick build under a month now it's two.

[Kriss]

21 hours ago, KevinM said:

I do at times also Kriss being my first FLY kit was kinda caught off guard was to be a quick build under a month now it's two.

I am starting to work on models that I began years ago and, for various reasons, ended up in the cupboard. For example, I now have a U-2 in parts, already painted and ready to assemble. And from Fly, I have two Ar-234s waiting to be finished, which I started several years ago.

[Kriss]

The 3D motors have been painted, and there is no comparison with the ones on the sprues. I cut the ends of the propellers straight, as shown in the photos of my model. So now I just need the drones and I can put it all together.

[Kriss]

This is what my drones look like as they wait to be suspended.

[Kriss]

The engines are installed, just the covers, antennas and drones left to go.

[Count0]

On 2/23/2026 at 12:19 AM, Kriss said:

This is what my drones

Those drones don't look suspiciously like V-1's at all. I wonder where we got that idea?

[Kriss]

And so, here is my F7F-2D ‘Tigercat’ still in the workshop setting. I would like to thank my colleague ‘Moses’ for his invaluable support in building the model. To sum up, the decals are the weakest element, as there is a colour shift, but on the plus side, they fit very nicely on the model. The kit includes a nicely reproduced plastic instrument panel, but decals for it would be useful. On the plus side, the kit includes a mask, and the 3D engine and wheel accessories look very nice. When building, it is advisable to read the documentation. I still have to correct the identification marks, but I will do that only after the model returns from the exhibition. So you can admire it, as well as my other models, at the exhibition at MDK Lubliniec until 15 March 2026. 

[KevinM]

Looks great Kriss luv the colors!!