Another Monogram Panther
Tom’s fine looking Panther and great story inspired me to dig up a few pics of my modest effort. An older build that finally made it out to the airport. This is the 1/48 Panther, painted with MM gloss dark blue. I would’ve liked to take more pics but I was afraid the gusty wind might take her airborne any minute. This kit has a lot of nice detail, especially the cockpit. The framing on the windscreen was way too big so I sanded it all off and masked it with tape to get the more correct size frame. I read about the canopy frame issue in FSM years ago. I was really hesitant to sand them off but I jumped in and gave it a try. Believe me, I was worried that it would never look right again. But my ol’ dad used to say, “Even a blind hog finds an acorn now and then.” Whew, a lot of polishing saved the day!
It’s been a long time since the kit was built, but I don’t recall any particular fit issues. I approached the canopy frame issue with great trepidation, but it turned out okay. As I said earlier, the cockpit has some nice detail and features, but one does find that in many Monogram kits of this vintage. I am going to replace the cannon barrels with hypodermic tubing as one of the kit barrels has fallen back into the fuselage since these pics were made. The metal parts will look better anyway. The decals are a mix of aftermarket and kit markings. Please excuse the crooked canopy in one of the overhead shots. I left it unattached so I could pose it either opened or closed and I didn’t notice that it was askew before I took the pic. Thanks for checking out my Panther.
8 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Gregor de Ste Croix said on May 11, 2013
Cool Panther Gary. Great paint job, and nice photos.
Jack Mugan said on May 11, 2013
Gary…. Beautiful Panther. Great looking finish and nice photos. Just goes to show that the old Monogram kits can still hold their own.
Craig Abrahamson said on May 11, 2013
Now THAT’S good photography of the Panther. And your background definitely adds to the realism. Kudos to you and your camera. I wish ALL the photos posted were as sharp as yours so we could see the detail clearly.
Oh yeah….and the model ain’t bad, either – lol 🙂
Drew Tarter said on May 11, 2013
Terrific build, Gary! One of the best Panther’s I’ve seen. And your photography is just as outstanding – it looks like a real F9F parked outside a hangar!
Gary Brantley said on May 11, 2013
Thank you gentlemen! You guys are too kind…but please don’t stop, lol! Seriously, I really do appreciate all your great compliments. I am currently in a bit of a modeling slump; does that ever happen to ya’ll? I guess I’m going to have to chain myself to the bench and get some new builds done. Thanks again!
Gary
Craig Abrahamson said on May 12, 2013
Modeling “slumps” are a common ailment to [almost] every one of us. Mine have lasted from several weeks to several months. Some have been years (I refer you to the narrative in the recent ‘how-to’ video). Forget the chains….it’s a mind thing.
bob mack said on May 11, 2013
gorgeous
Gary Brantley said on May 12, 2013
Thank ya Bob! Much obliged my friend.
Gary
Tom Cleaver said on May 12, 2013
Very nice work on that OOB project. I had to do the same thing to the windscreen on mine. The second run of the kit, they changed the windscreen and got it right. It’s still the nicest Panther kit generally available, excepting for Paul Fisher’s beauty, but that’s also $200 nowadays.
Gary Brantley said on May 12, 2013
Thank you Tom! I appreciate your kind words a lot. I didn’t know that the windscreen had now been corrected, about time huh?
Gary
Ray B. Hall USMC said on May 19, 2013
Gary . all this plane needs now is a “mule” backed up to it to start it, and a pilot .. the REALISM photos in front of the hanger really sets it off .. SOOOO REAL .. AND the details in the cock-pit are unreal .. a modeling
accomplishment …
Gary Brantley said on May 20, 2013
Thanks a million Ray! Those are really nice compliments and I certainly do appreciate them a lot. Sometimes they turn out okay for me, I’m glad you like this old Panther!
Gary
Drew Tarter said on August 6, 2014
Outstanding work on this Panther, Gary! Your photography is also superb!
Gary Brantley said on August 7, 2014
Thanks Drew! Sometimes I get lucky and get four or five good pics out of 50 or 60. I appreciate your comments so much!