Trumpeter 1/48 F9F-2
I had all kinds of trouble with the fit of this kit...probably self-inflicted. This is not my best build. There are all kinds of mistakes on it. I used the Pavla cockpit and nose gear well. The cockpit opening is too small and that puts the seat too far forward. Of course I didn't figure this out until it was too late to do anything about it. I had to use the kit seat as the Pavla one had the pilot's head all the way under the windshield. The pilot is from PJ Productions with a good Navy H-2/H-3 helmet with the external ribs.
The wing tanks are too small and I was going to live with it but I knocked the whole plane off my and destroyed one of the wing tanks. I ordered a replacement from Shapeways that was 3D printed. The stock used did not hold paint well and it pulled off with masking tape when I tried to mask the silver nose on the tank. This stock also was very rubbery and sanded poorly. I ended up masking the nose with a rubber O ring and wet paper. Don't look too close.
The rest of the plane is kit stock. The carrier deck is individual wood planks with photo-etched tie-down strips from Tom's Model Works.
The markings for Neil Armstrong's plane was pieced together from the Victory Models sheet. The stencils came from a Yellowhammer sheet.
It's almost easier to take a Monogrtam F9F-5, section out 1/4 inch in the forward fuselage, glue it back to gether, rescribe, and then reshape the vertical fin and rudder than to get involved with this product of Trumpy's D-team. That said, you did turn a dog's breakfast into a decent-looking model and "Neil Armstrong" looks really, really good.
Thank you, Tom
Wow John, for all the trouble you encountered it looks really nice. And as Tom has stated above Neil looks really great. Glad you finished her.
It was a struggle, thank you, Tom
El resultado final es muy bueno
Gracias, amigo!
Outstanding work, sir...turned out quite well IMO.
Thank you, Craig.
Nice looking Panther and deck!
Thank you, Robert
You really did a great job on that. I’ve been tempted to re-build mine. I love the F9F, but that kit... Sheezh, I’m just glad to know I’m not the only one to think that way about it. I love the deck, and great job on the pilot!
Lol, I won't build another of these. Just too many problems. I think the Monogram F9F-5 would be easier. Just too many really good kits available to beat my head against this wall. Thanks for the comments.
Great job on the F9F John! Despite all the issues.
Thank you, Robert
I really like the global composition with the field tarmac and historical pics & text.
Good job John 🙂
Thank you, Alex
I almost do not want to mention the problem with the way Trumpeter mis-scribed (is that a word?) the ailerons and the flaps- (see my build here on imodeller)- I used spare Monogram wing tanks (I will be building one of my -5's without tanks) and a spare monogram nose and canopy on mine- also fixed the wing control surfaces issue.
When I build my Blue Angels -2 it will be a monogram slice and shape like Tom Cleaver described!
I must be sure to say that your build looks excellent and you should be very proud of how you slogged through the muck and mud that is a Trumpeter F9F-2 to transform this kit- excellent work!
Dan.
Thanks, Dan. I had no idea what I was getting into. It’s hard to see but I Rescribed the aileron lines and still did not get the prominent enough. Nice work on yours. That’s what I was trying to get mine to look like and didn’t get there.
Excellent work on that kit! Well done.
I really like the base too... it's always nice to see the subject in it's context 🙂
Thank you, Tommy
Hello John,
Struggle or not, it looks good to me.
Especially your display. Regards, Dirk
Thank you, Dirk
Very nice. Apparently this is a reboxing of the Hobbycraft kit
Thank you, George. They didn’t leave out any of the problems.