The Bearcat repairs are wrapped up.  Tissue to cover the hole was 1/16" per side larger than the opening.  Looking close there is a wrinkle in the lower left corner, not bad enough to justify redoing it.  A new "U" was printed and glued on.  I love how details like these markings draw attention away from other flaws.  The lost tail wheel was built as if new, no repair required really.

Terry

At the point of flight trimming the F8F Bearcat (reply #60 here) and ready to complete finishing details a strangers dog excitedly ambushed me sitting on the ground trimming.  Very friendly dog but landed its paw on the empennage before I could react.  The stabiliser was easier to build again from scratch, the fuselage is under repair.  The "U.S. NAVY" decal was printed paper applied with glue stick.  Applying Isopropyl alcohol softened the glue allowing removal of the "U" in the damaged area.  Tissue was cut back just to or beyond the broken stringers.  The cracked side keel had a patch laminated on; I did not want to risk distorting the fuselage by removing and replacing the broken section.  Broken stringers were cut out and the remaining wild ends cleaned up.  Replacement stringer sections were cut to mate the wild ends and glued in place.

Terry