1/48 F3F-1 USN “VF-69 USS Saratoga”

Description

This is a die-cast metal and plastic display aircraft.

From the manufacturer:

Produced in the mid- to late- 1930s, the F3F-1 as well as the 2 and 3 variants belonged to what 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 accomodate the large radial engine and a three-bladed Hamilton Standard propeller. The plane had imrpoved retractable landing gear and longer fuselage. The last F3F was retired by the USN in November 1943.