1/48 Hobbycraft F9F-2 with adjustments
Here is my Hobbycraft F9F-2, with a new nose section- the Monogram F9F-5 forward fuselage (with canopy) suitably shortened to fit the correct length of the F9F-2. I also used Monogram wing tip tanks. I built the kit as one of the Blue Angel Airframes readied for the Korean War. When the Blues first went in, they did not use the actual airshow aircraft, as they went directly into rework- the pilots took other aircraft that were combat ready at the time. By the second tour, the airshow aircraft were in theater. I have done my best with a number of references to model this airframe as it should have looked. I used aftermarket and kit decals all peiced together to finish the aircraft.
3 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Craig Abrahamson said on November 29, 2012
Nice job, Dan…..I like that.
Tom Cleaver said on November 30, 2012
Knowing how bad that kit is (on its own it’s a doorstop, at best), you have done some really great work here.
Dan DeSilva said on November 30, 2012
yeah, once I realized the fuselage was F9F-5 length, I started there, then as I was checking pictures I noticed the canopy was off, the nose cone looked squashed, and then I read an article that explained what I had seen PLUS the fact the tip tanks were too small, and the ailerons were scribed differently on the top and bottom of the wings! Even after doing all I have, I realized the trumpeter wing fold lines are not correct on the upper surface of the wing! That I will let go, because you don’t really take notice of them with the wings folded.
Eric aka The Yankymodeler said on November 30, 2012
Nice job Dan! I love the all blue schemes of that era!
Ray B. Hall said on May 26, 2013
Dan .. “we” had several F9F-2’s at the old Olathe NAS, Ks in 1954, and yours is a REAL comparison to the real plane .. really like the photography on the model …GOOD presentation, guy !! I can still mentally hear the Grumman start up, and taxi from the flight line !!
Dan DeSilva said on May 26, 2013
Hi Ray, thanks for the kind comments. I wish I had time to photograph it in daylight when I first posted- my mistake to try and win a monthly prize by posting a whole host of kits at once! Anyway, I may still update this posting by replacing the pictures.
I hope to get more of my kits uploaded over the summer.
bob mack said on August 6, 2013
super fine work
Dan DeSilva said on July 27, 2014
thanks- sorry I took so long to notice your comment!
Jon Krol said on July 26, 2014
Love your Panther.
Dan DeSilva said on July 27, 2014
Thanks man! Just finished a Monogram F9F-5 I hope to post tomorrow.
Dan.