F9F-2 Panthers

Victory Productions, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

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48008 covering the Grumman F9F-2 Panther is the latest sheet decal sheet from Victory Productions.

As with Victory Productions other decal sheets, this one too is a big!  Markings are provided for eleven aircraft in all and you get two decal sheets that measure 8.5" x 11" to fit all the markings on as well as and two pages of placement guides and information on each option.  These sheets are printed on both sides and also measure 8.5" x 11".

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Thumbnail panels:

The individual options are:

• F9F-3 Bureau number 123071, modex 109 of VF-51 Screaming Eagles, aboard the USS Valley Forge in 1950.  A famous bird this one as it scored the United States Navy’s first ever jet victory when VF-51’s Lieutenant Leonard Plog downed a Yak 9 on 3 Jul 1951.  The machine is in overall glossy sea blue (FS15042) with its individual modex numbers, air wing identifier letter in white, as are all options (bar one) on the sheet.  The machine wears colour trim on its fin cap, rudder and nose as well as squadron insignia and a “Battle E” on the nose.  With regard to the trim or “blaze” on the nose, rudder and fin cap, the illustration on the placement guide shows this as black whereas the description on the “general notes” advises that this is red.

• F9F-2B Bureau number 127094 (provisional), modex 209 of VF-112, V/209 aboard the USS Philippine Sea in 1950.  In overall glossy sea blue finish with white trim on its nose and fin cap as well as a ring around its nose.  Another famous bird, this aircraft has been attributed to being the one that was flown by Lieutenant Commander William T. (Tom) Amen, the commander of VF-111 when he achieved the first jet-verses-jet kill on 9 November 1950.

• “Octane Sniffer”, F9F-2B, Bureau number 123633, modex 104 of VF-191 Satan’s Kittens, flying from the USS Princeton in 1950.  In overall glossy sea blue finish with red trim on its nose and fin cap and white mission markings on her fuselage sides.

• F9F-2 Bureau number 123494 modex 115 belonging to VF-21, the Mach Busters.  A non Korean War option, this machine was flying from the USS Midway in late 1951 on a Mediterranean cruise when it missed picking up a wire and ran on through the barrier to collect another two Panthers and was destroyed.  In overall glossy sea blue finish with white “exercise marking” bands around her rear fuselage and squadron insignia on her nose.

• F9F-2 Bureau number 127147, modex 406 of VF-837 Grand Slammers, a Naval Reserve squadron recalled to active duty and flying from the USS Antietam in 1952.  In overall glossy sea blue finish with yellow trim on its nose and fin cap, a squadron badge on its nose, and (tiny!) mission markings on her fuselage sides.  Again, the placement guide does not show the yellow trim where as the “General Notes” advises that it does.  Decals are also provided for the yellow nose trim.

• F9F-2, Bureau number 127173 modex 115 of VF-111 Sundowners, aboard the USS Valley Forge in the Sea of Japan in 1952.  In overall glossy sea blue finish with red trim on its nose, fin cap and rudder as well as mission markings on her fuselage sides.  Another one that the placement guide shows the trim as black whereas the “General Notes” advises that it is red.  Decals are provided for the red nose trim.

• “Wonsan Wanda” F9F-2, Bureau number 127116 modex 115, of VF-71 operating from the USS Bon Homme Richard, in 1952.  In overall glossy sea blue finish with red trim on its nose, fin cap and rudder as well as large squadron insignia on her fuselage sides.  Yet another one that the placement guide shows the trim as black whereas the “General Notes” advises that it is red.  No decals provided for the red nose trim with this option though.

• F9F-2, Bureau number 123484 modex 206 assigned to VF-72 and flying from the USS Bon Homme Richard in 1952.   In overall glossy sea blue finish with white trim on its nose and fin cap as well as a white striped rudder.  The placement guide advises that the rudder stripes have been produced large enough so that the trailing edge will have to be trimmed to fit.

• F9F-2, Bureau number 125160, a belonging to United States Marine Corps fighter squadron VMF-451, a Reserve squadron based at MCAS El Toro in 1953.  This option’s overall glossy sea blue finish is certainly brightened with bright yellow trim to its fin cap and nose. The placement guide advises you to make some fine slits to the nose decal to ease its fit over the compound curves of the nose.

• F9F-2, Bureau number 123507.  Another United States Marine Corps option, this one is from VMF-232, Red Devils when they flew from MCAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii in 1953.  In overall glossy sea blue finish with red trim to her nose and fin cap.  The placement guide uses the same comments with regard to slitting the nose decal to ease fit.

• F9F-2KD, Bureau number 123071, of Guided Missile Group One (GMGRU-1) based at Naval Air Station Barbers Point in 1957.  The odd man out on the sheet, this option is the “drone controller scheme” of engine grey fuselage and orange yellow wings/vertical stabilisers with red rudder and bands around the wings.   Some not too onerous modifications will need to be made to the Trumpeter F9F-2P kit should you wish to model this option but the placement guide advises of what needs to be done.

The decals themselves have been produced by Cartograf.  Everything on my sample sheet is in perfect register with the yellow and white designs appearing to by opaque enough to survive application over the dark glossy sea blue finish.  Three sets of national insignia/NAVY titles are included, two sets for the glossy sea blue options and a single set for the GRMU-1 option.  Stencil data is limited to three sets of boarding guides and two sets of white speed brake markings.

The placement guide is in full colour with upper and lower surfaces and left hand profiles of each option.  Partial right hand side profiles of the forward fuselage are provided for those options that require it (to show placement of markings unique to the option).

As well as general notes on the F9F concerning its development and operational use the placement guide also provides information on the camouflage and markings worn by the F9F during its life.  Further guidance is also provided to help you with the placement of decals – advising where to slit the decals to ease fitment and that some have been produced larger than required to ease fitment.  Comprehensive notes are provided for each option too.  These notes advise you on the background of the aircraft and squadron and alert you to any modifications you need to make to the kit to accurately depict the one-to-one scale version.

The placement guides and the decals sheets come packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag with a piece of grease proof paper also provided to separate the plastic bag from the decal sheet.

The recommended kit is the Trumpeter F9F-2, but these will also be suitable for the just-released Hobbycraft kit.

An F9F opus?  Yes, I think so.

Recommended!

Thanks to Victory Productions for the review sample

Review Copyright © 2008 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 3 June, 2008
Last updated 3 June, 2008

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