Where do I get the building plans?

Plans are purchased separately from Nick Ziroli at ziroligiantscaleplans.com (copyrighted). Kit Cutters supplies the laser-cut wood; Ziroli supplies the plans and most model-specific accessories.

Kit Cutters Completion Guide

Nick Ziroli Giant-Scale Short Kit

86" F8F Bearcat

Q: What engine size does the 86" Bearcat need?

Ziroli specifies 62–85cc gas. The plan shows a Quadra 35 engine. Desert Aircraft DA-50R, DA-60, or DA-70 also suit the 28–34 lb finished weight. Confirm cowl clearance before finalizing the mount.

The last of the Grumman Cats — the fastest piston-engine fighter ever built, in giant scale.

Buy the Kit — $516.00 See Everything You Need

Wingspan

86 in

Length

69 in

Scale

1/4.8

Wing Area

1,480 sq in

Weight (AUW)

28–34 lb

Power

62–85cc gas

Skill

Advanced

A Legend, Faithfully Cut

The Grumman F8F Bearcat was the last of the great piston-engine Navy fighters — the biggest engine in the smallest possible airframe, producing a fighter so capable it dominated unlimited air racing for decades after the war. Rare Bear, a modified F8F-2, set the piston-engine world speed record at 528 mph and became the most celebrated air racer in history. Nick Ziroli's giant-scale design captures that compact, powerful silhouette with the structural integrity to fly it well.

Kit Cutters supplies the precision laser-cut wood. This guide covers the rest: the honest, model-specific list of what you'll buy to complete it, with real sources for every part.

86-inch Ziroli F8F Bearcat giant-scale RC warbird in flight

What's in the Box?

Included in the Short Kit

Precision laser-cut wood parts only — ribs, formers, shaped parts
One-piece wing rib set
Fuselage formers and shaped parts

Required Separately

Plans / building instructions (buy from Ziroli — copyright)
Spars, sheeting, and stick balsa
Engine, cowl, canopy, landing gear, covering, finishing, electronics
Spinner, fuel tank, prop, servos, hardware

Everything Else You Need to Complete This Kit

Model-specific, with real sources. Where Ziroli sells a part directly, that's noted; where there's a choice (like gas vs. electric power), both paths are laid out.

Power System

Ziroli specifies 62–85cc gas (plan shows a Quadra 35 engine). Below is the gas spec plus a researched electric alternative.

GAS — designer spec

Engine	62–85cc gas (Quadra 35 shown on plan). DA-50R, DA-60, DA-70 suit the 28–34 lb weight range.	Desert Aircraft
Fuel tank	Dubro or B&B Specialties tank, sized to engine	Ziroli
Spinner	Size per plan and chosen engine; verify cowl clearance	Tru-Turn
Engine offset	Per plan	Per plan

ELECTRIC — researched alternative

Motor	~50cc-class outrunner, 190–230 KV (e.g. Great Planes RimFire 50cc). Proven on 28–37 lb giant-scale warbirds.	AMain Hobbies / HobbyTown
Battery	12S LiPo (2× 6S in series). Two high-capacity packs ~5000 mAh+, high C-rating.	Specialty RC retailer
ESC	150–160A with generous margin	Specialty RC retailer
Prop	22"–24" (3- or 4-blade)	Falcon

Heads up — The Bearcat's large round radial cowl is a big air inlet — plan deliberate cooling routing so air actually flows past the motor and exits rather than just scooping. Confirm your full setup in eCalc before buying.

Cowl

Designer sells

F8F Bearcat fiberglass cowl

Multi-layer fiberglass cloth and resin layup

Ziroli

Canopy

Designer sells

F8F Bearcat canopy	Vac-formed .040" PET-G clear plastic with frames molded in	Ziroli
Canopy rail set (warbirds)		Ziroli

Landing Gear

Retracts or fixed

Main retracts — Sierra	Sierra Giant Scale F8F Bearcat retracts — designed specifically for this 86" model, handles up to 35 lb	Ziroli
Main retracts — Geartech	Bearcat F8F Ziroli Geartech replacement for Robart (alternate source)	Ziroli
Tailwheel retract	Sierra Giant Scale F6F Hellcat / F8F Bearcat tailwheel retract #TWR3	Ziroli
Air kit	Robart 157VRX w/ tank & quick disconnects	Ziroli
Retract control valve	Ultra Precision UP-8 retract control valve	Ziroli
Fixed gear option	Fixed wire gear is also detailed on the plan	Per plan

Two main retract options are available from Ziroli — the Sierra Giant Scale set (designed specifically for this model) and the Geartech Robart replacement. Decide on retracts vs. fixed gear before construction as the wing mounts differ.

Servos

6+ channels

Flaps	2× 120+ oz-in, metal gear, ball bearing	Builder preference
Ailerons	2× 90+ oz-in, ball bearing	Builder preference
Elevators	2× 90+ oz-in, ball bearing	Builder preference
Rudder	1× 120+ oz-in, ball bearing	Builder preference
Gear / Throttle	1× 50 oz-in each (throttle BB)	Builder preference

Covering & Finishing

Airframe	1 oz fiberglass cloth + ZAP Z-poxy finishing resin (Ziroli's recommendation)	Chief Aircraft / specialty
Elevator & rudder	Iron-on cloth (Solartex)	Specialty RC retailer
Vinyl graphics — standard	F8F Bearcat standard US Navy scheme	Ziroli
Vinyl graphics — Wampus Cat	F8F Bearcat "Wampus Cat" race scheme	Ziroli

Scale Accessories

All from Ziroli

Dummy radial engine	Vacuum-formed dummy engine (scale radial look inside cowl)	Ziroli
Pilot figure	WWII US Navy Pacific	Ziroli

Hardware

Wing mounting	One-piece wing — bolts to the fuselage per plan	Per plan
Control horns & linkages	Sized per plan	Specialty RC retailer
Hinges	Flat hinges or Robart hinge points	Robart / specialty

Detailed Specifications

Wingspan	86 in
Fuselage length	69 in
Scale	1/4.8 (2.5" = 1 ft)
Wing area	1,480 sq in
Weight (AUW)	28–34 lb
Power	62–85cc gas (Quadra 35 shown on plan)
Wing	One-piece, with flaps and retracts
Gear	Robart retracts or fixed wire gear (both shown on plan)
Min. radio channels	6+

Specs from Ziroli's published F8F Bearcat plan set (1/4.8 scale). Plan consists of five large sheets illustrating all structure, flap installation, and retracts.

Nick Ziroli

Pioneer of giant-scale RC aviation, known for meticulous scale accuracy and structural integrity. Ziroli sells nearly every model-specific accessory for this kit directly, including the Bearcat-specific cowl, canopy, two vinyl graphics schemes, and dedicated landing gear options.

(631) 467-4765 · Plans must be purchased separately from Ziroli (copyright).

Get Ziroli Plans

The Build Journey

Build time for a giant-scale warbird varies with experience, scale detail added, and shop time. The Bearcat's one-piece wing is simpler than a three-piece design, but the round fuselage and radial cowl fitting take care. Treat these ranges as a rough sense of scope, not a fixed estimate.

Where a short kit saves you time

Ziroli's plans include full-size templates so you can cut every wood part by hand before construction begins. A Kit Cutters short kit removes that entire stage — your parts arrive precision laser-cut and labeled, so you start at assembly with a cleaner, more accurate fit.

Plans only (hand-cut)

You trace and cut every rib, former, and shaped part from raw stock using the plan templates, then build.

more time, lower part cost

Short kit (laser-cut)

Parts arrive cut and labeled. Skip straight to assembly with a cleaner, more accurate fit.

less time, cleaner fit

The four stages of assembly

Stage 1: Fuselage Assembly

Building the compact round fuselage — the Bearcat's most distinctive feature.

Align and pin main formers
Build the circular fuselage frames
Plank the round fuselage
Fit the engine box / motor mount

Stage 2: Wing Assembly

The one-piece wing — build straight and true, with flap and retract mounts.

Build the main spar box
Install wing ribs
Fit retract or fixed-gear mounts
Sheet and cap the wing

Stage 3: Tail Assembly

Vertical and horizontal tail components.

Build the horizontal stab
Build elevator surfaces
Assemble fin and rudder
Final-shape tail surfaces

Stage 4: Systems & Final Assembly

Putting it together and prepping for flight.

Install gear & air plumbing
Final engine / motor fitment and cowl fitting
Radio gear installation
Verify CG / balance

Frequently Asked Questions

The short kit is laser-cut wood parts only. To complete it you'll also need the Ziroli plans, spars and sheeting, an engine or electric power system, cowl, canopy, landing gear, servos, covering, and finishing supplies. The "Everything Else You Need" section above lists each item with a source.

Yes. The design is originally gas (62–85cc), but builders fly this class on a ~50cc-equivalent outrunner around 190–230 KV on 12S LiPo. The Bearcat's large round cowl needs deliberate cooling routing — plan airflow in and out before buying. See the Power System section for a researched setup.

Plans are purchased separately from Nick Ziroli at ziroligiantscaleplans.com (they're copyrighted, so Kit Cutters can't include them). Kit Cutters supplies the laser-cut wood; Ziroli supplies the plans and most model-specific accessories.

Either. Ziroli's plan shows both Robart retracts and a fixed wire-gear option. Sierra Giant Scale sells a Bearcat-specific retract set designed for this exact model. Decide before you build as the wing mounts differ.

Ziroli specifies 62–85cc gas (Quadra 35 shown on the plan). Desert Aircraft DA-50R, DA-60, or DA-70 also suit the 28–34 lb finished weight. Confirm cowl clearance and cooling routing before finalizing the mount.

No. The short kit is wood parts only. The fiberglass cowl and vac-formed canopy are sold separately by Ziroli and listed with links in the accessory section above.

The F8F Bearcat became famous in unlimited air racing. Rare Bear — a heavily modified F8F-2 — set the piston-engine world speed record at 528 mph and dominated Reno Air Races for decades. The Bearcat's combination of a massive Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engine in the smallest possible airframe made it the fastest piston-engine fighter ever built.

86" wingspan, 69" length, 1,480 sq in of wing area at 1/4.8 scale. Typical all-up weight is 28–34 lb. These figures come from Ziroli's published F8F Bearcat specification.

Ready to Build Your F8F Bearcat?

Buy the 86" Bearcat Kit — $516.00

Prices and availability are subject to change — verify on each vendor's site before ordering. Kit Cutters supplies laser-cut wood parts only; plans and accessories are sold by their respective vendors.

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