Trumpeter 1/48 scale U.S. Navy F9F-2 Panther

Kit: 02832
Scale: 1/48
Manufacturer: Trumpeter, from Stevens International, 856-435-1555
Price: $39.95
Comments: Injection-molded, 127 parts (1 photoetched), film, decals
Pros: Excellent engineering, fit, decals; wing-fold option; extendable tail hook; new variant in this scale
Cons: Undersized wing tanks; no wing fences, seat belt/harness, or refueling ladder

Trumpeter's new Panther features fine engraved panel lines and rivet detail. Three gray-plastic parts trees are accompanied by clear parts, decals, a photoetched- metal instrument panel, and a piece of film with instrument dials. Color callouts refer to Gunze Sangyo paints.

Except for the photoetched-metal/film instrument panel, cockpit detail is sparse. Follow the assembly steps in fitting the cockpit and nose wheel into the fuselage to avoid problems fitting the panel hood.

Landing-gear wells, struts, tailpipe, and arresting-hook details are well done. On my model, the arresting hook pulls out straight to the rear but will not depress into a landing attitude.

I needed no filler anywhere on this model. I added a 1-ounce weight to the nose behind the guns and didn't have to use the fuselage stand provided.

Wing-rib detail, visible when the wings are folded, appears only on the inner wings - but you have to invert the model to see this omission. A small intake on the leading edge of the port wing just outboard of the engine intake also is missing. The wing tanks look slightly small, although I didn't measure them.

Landing-gear doors and deployed dive brakes locate and lock into kit recesses - no guesswork. Note: The cockpit access step (C7) cannot be mounted as on the full-scale airplane. The bottom portion of the step becomes the side of the fuselage when retracted. The kit would need to be cut out in this area.
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The fuel-tank purge handles on the tips of the wing tanks (parts C33) looked oversized. I left them off.

Outboard wing flaps come as separate, poseable parts, but separate leading-edge slats and inboard flaps are not provided. To arm the Panther, Trumpeter gives you rockets and two different sizes on bombs.

I used Testors Model Master enamels. I painted the inner gear-door surfaces, landing-gear struts, and wheels dark sea blue instead of the suggested white.

The quality of the ultra-thin decals is excellent, but they tried to curl under the backing paper and resisted repositioning once on the model. The model is within a tenth of a scale inch of the measurements found in Bert Kinzey's F9F Panther in Detail & Scale. It sits right, looks right, and is a most welcome addition to my Korean War collection of models. I can hardly believe I spent only 15 hours on it.

- Al Jones