If you have a 35 FP, go ahead and use it. If performance is what you are after, Thunder Tiger or Magnum 36. Other options are the ST34 or OS 32. Performance is pretty good on either of these also.
As far as your choice of aircraft, if the F8F hasn't been purchased, might want to consider the Brodak Guardian. It's a better designed kit and will hold up better with its fuselage mounted gear. Also fully competitive in profile. If you want to put an internal line slider in it, the hardware is available from Brodak (and well worth the price). If you want to stay with Sportsman Carrier, (at least in SoCal) no line slider is necessary.
The Bearcat is a re-make of the old Robert/Smurthwaith design. Nothing wrong with that except not enough wing area for the modern profile event and they did have some "quirks" regarding to building that I believe were carried forward in the Brodak version. It will also not fly as good as the Guardian. Good choice for nostalgia carrier or profile scale though.