Looking for any information about their Wildcats. This would during the Solomon campaign March to May 1943 before Pappy and the Corsairs. Working with some clubs to build Aces from North Carolina. I picked Hartwell Scarborough to build a Wildcat to represent him. Best I can find they might have been flying -3 and -4. The paint schemes seems consistent from different decal sheets but no one has 214 in any scale. Not sure if it’s white or black numbers or the number range they would have had at the time.
I am planning to use the 1/72 Airfix kit for this project but might also do the 1/48 bird for myself.
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Airfix kit has lot of options, wing-fold, landing gear doors and tail hook.
One of my local Marine brothers has helped me get in contact with HQMC Historical Division to hopefully get a copy of his flight logbook.
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I went to Quantico VA today and reviewed his logbook. He was flying F4F-4 11682 for his first kill April 7th 1943. Only missing the scheme for VMF-214.
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Sounds like an interesting project. I like the idea of the wings folded, gives it a totally different look. Can you not get someone to print the decals/livery markings ?
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I agree the wingfold would look interesting and why I bought the kit originally (cheap price didn’t hurt either) but the project people don’t want that. 
So I guess I will have to get another kit. 
The markings should be easy to source from the stash but I just need to have the information. As most Marine planes are not flashy, it more about finding the number range and color used. I think this book would be helpful “Swashbucklers and Black Sheep: A Pictorial History of Marine Fighting Squadron 214 in World War II” except it hard to find a paper copy that is not expensive.
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Hope you get it sorted … someone may pick up on this and be able to help you out
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were they stationed on a carrier then? i thought they were on an island base which if so the wings would not be folded anyway. there isn’t anything out there decal wise for the swashbucklers that i seen.
Joe
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They were shore based. Only the carrier trip over did they have a chance to fold the wings. Trying to research that. USS Nassau (ACV/CVE-16) March 1943. Which before Arma kits for FM-1/2 in Sept 1943.
I will have to build a different squadron to the wingfold with the kit.
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Bruce Gamble’s “Swashbucklers And Blacksheep” has only several pictures of VMF-214’s Wildcats. Appears they have white numbers on the fuselage forward of the star and smaller white numbers on the lip of the engine cowling.
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Sounds like the standard USN/USMC markings for that timeframe.
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Thanks for the information. I was looking to get that book but paper copies was more than I wanted to spend. Did they have a photo of a belly landing Wildcat, White 26 or do you have an idea of the range?
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At my local club meeting I had a chance to discuss with William Reece about the project. He had a number of Bruce Gambles books which had two photos of the plane after it crashed. White F-58 on the side and 58 on the cowl. There was also 4 kill flags on right side (should also be on the left side).
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Been slowing working on the kit. Today’s work has been the landing gear. I think I forgot a part but it’s hard to tell with all that is going on.
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Looking good so far, Ryan.
Yes, the landing gear is quite complex. I know that … 
Your kit is 1/72 or 1/48?
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Yes, yes you do x2. Your Eduard Wildcats turned out great. 
This is the Airfix 1/72 kit. The landing gear breakdown is similar just smaller. I have some Tamiya and Eduard Wildcats in 1/48 to build and this project will be redone in 1/48 for me.
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Looking good dude
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Thanks, I hope that continues.
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So I had an idea to build a 1/48 Wildcat version of a Scarborough bird. I don’t have the decals to make the same version at this time and I would like to make his wingman Alvin Jensen bird for that day but that needs more research. Jensen was also an ace and scored at least one kill that same day as Scarborough as he took care of the zero that almost scored a kill on Scarborough.
Anyway I have an old unfinished Tamiya project that I should be able to paint at the same time. In the cruise book they had a quote from him saying “Who’s the hell’s flying 26?”, which I think it was probably him. So my plan is to mark it as white 26.
I don’t recall what color I used for the cockpit but it looks to be mostly complete. Need to add some gloss on the instruments and khaki on the side pouches. Still thinking about how to remove the plastic on the cockpit floor sides…carefully I know. 
Finished up the landing gear.
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Nice plan for a side build … 1/48 is a nice size for some good detailing … Keep it coming buddy
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Thanks John.
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