New 1/100 Grumman FF-1/GE-23 fighter

We're proud to announce the release of our first model kit of 2015: Grumman FF-1/GE-23 fighter at 1/100 scale, the first aircraft carrier based fighter, a few dozens of which were acquired by the Spanish Republic during SCW.

Model kit itself is well detailed albeit quite simple, as you can see in the image above. All main parts are made of high quality resin, while struts and propeller are white metal. As a novelty with regard to previous releases, this kit includes a translucent resin cockpit.

As with formerly released aircraft, our 1/100 Grumman FF-1/GE-23 fighter has been released in a box whose reverse includes an assembly schema and a painting suggestion. Kit also includes a decals sheet with markings for US, Commonwealth and Spanish Republican service. it's been priced at € 15.95, just as the rest of our 1/100 aircraft range.

Grumman FF-1 / GE-23

Allow me a few captions on our next SCW aircraft model: the US Navy Grumman FF-1 fighter, whose licensed GE-23 Canadian version was exported to the Spanish Republic. Here you can watch a prototype of it superbly painted by Bruce Murray:

Despite having it scheduled for release at 1/100 scale first, we're currently producing it at both 1/100 and 1/144 scales altogether, and decals are to be designed jointly too - so that we'll be able to launch any of them first, within this second half of year.

Decals are to include Spanish Republican, US Navy and British Commonwealth markings - even some Nicaraguan insignias too, perhaps.

1/100 Grumman FF1/G23

While awaiting delivery of Polikarpov I-15 decals, as well as bringing into production its main rival, Fiat CR.32, allow me to show you a preliminary shot on the aircraft model following them right afterwards:

It's Grumman FF-1, a 1930s US biplane fighter --the first naval aircraft with retractable gear. As some of you perhaps know, close to 30 of its G-23 Canadian Car & Foundry variant were purchased by the Spanish Republic and fought in the Civil War --mainly performing patrolling duties over Catalonian and Andalusian waters. Not a matching rival to Nationalist fighters such as Fiat CR.32 or Messerschmitt Bf-109, it was nevertheless successfully used for land attack and dive bombing duties --and as such performed during the Ebro Battle.

Our model will have two alternative engine rings, thus allowing the kit to be built as an US FF-1 or a G-23. It's our aim to also complement set with a decals sheet with early US, RCAF and Spanish Republican markings, as usual. We have no deadline for its release yet, but we'd like to have it produced before next Summer --at 1/100 scale first, and 1/144 later.