Victory Productions

1/48 F9F-2 Panthers decal sheet

product # VPD48008  $22.95 for the Trumpeter F9F-2 kit

Review by Steve Bamford on May 16 2008

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This new decal sheet from Victory Models includes markings for 11 different 1/48 F9F-2 Panthers with the USN and USMC from 1950 to 1957.  

The first aircraft is a USN F9F-3 Panther BuNo. 123071 with VF-51 aboard the USS Valley Forge, Sea of Japan in 1950.  The paint scheme for this aircraft is overall Glossy Sea Blue FS 15042 with white markings.  This jet scored the USN's first Jet victory when Lt. Leonard downed a Yak-9 near Pyonyang, North Korea on July 3 1950.  

The second aircraft is a USN F9F-2B Panther with VF-112 aboard the USS Philippine Sea, Sea of Japan in 1950.  The paint scheme for this aircraft is overall Glossy Sea Blue FS 15042 with white markings.  This jet has been attributed as being the USN's aircraft to score the first Jet-vs-Jet kill by LCDR William T. Amen, Commander of VF-111 on Nov 9 1950.  This aircraft has many, many white mission markings.      

The third aircraft is a USN F9F-2B Panther BuNo. 123633 with VF-191 aboard the USS Princeton, Sea of Japan in 1951.  The paint scheme for this aircraft is overall Glossy Sea Blue FS 15042 with white markings witha  red tip at the top of the tail.  The VF-191 Kittens were augmented by the addition of six pilots from the US Navy's Blue angels team in August of 1050.  This aircraft has some white mission markings.

The fourth aircraft is a USN F9F-2 Panther BuNo. 123494 with VF-21 aboard the USS Midway, Mediterranean in 1951.  The paint scheme for this aircraft is overall Glossy Sea Blue FS 15042 with white markings.  While landing this aircraft missed the wire and slammed into other aircraft.  Once the fires were put out, this aircraft and 2 other Panthers were pushed overboard.  This aircraft has a white band around the rear fuselage and many, many white mission markings with white stripes along the wings.  

The fifth aircraft is a USN F9F-2 Panther BuNo. 127147 with VF-837 Grand Slammers aboard the USS Antietam, Sea of Japan  in 1952.  The paint scheme for this aircraft is overall Glossy Sea Blue FS 15042 with white markings.  This is a reserve unit that was called to active duty during the Korean War and this aircraft represents one of their aircraft during that cruise.  This aircraft has some white mission markings.

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The sixth aircraft is a USN F9F-2 Panther BuNo. 127173 with VF-111 Sundowners aboard the USS Valley Forge, Sea of Japan in 1952.  The paint scheme for this aircraft is overall Glossy Sea Blue FS 15042 with white markings.  This aircraft has many, many white mission markings.    

The seventh aircraft is a USN F9F-2 Panther BuNo. 127116 with VF-71 aboard the USS Bon Homme, Sea of Japan in 1952.  The paint scheme for this aircraft is overall Glossy Sea Blue FS 15042 with white markings with the script of "Wonsan Wanda" on the nose.  The "Fickle Finger" Squadron placed it's squadron badge inside a leaping red Panther on the sides of it's F9F-2 Panther Jets.

The eighth aircraft is a USN F9F-2 Panther BuNo. 123484 with VF-72 aboard the USS Bon Homme, Sea of Japan in 1952.  The paint scheme for this aircraft is overall Glossy Sea Blue FS 15042 with white markings and white horizontal stripes on the rudder.  

The ninth aircraft is a F9F-2 Panther BuNo. 125160 with VMF-451 at MCAS El Toro, CA in 1953.  The paint scheme for this aircraft is overall Glossy Sea Blue FS 15042 with white markings and a yellow tip on the tail and yellow tulip design on the nosecone.  

The tenth aircraft is a USMC F9F-2 Panther BuNo. 123507 with VMF-232 Red Devils at MCAS Kaneohe Bay in 1953.  The paint scheme for this aircraft is overall Glossy Sea Blue FS 15042 with white markings and a red tip on the tail and red tulip design on the nosecone.

The eleventh aircraft is a USN F9F-2KD Panther BuNo. 123071 with GMGRU-1 at NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii, TH in 1957.  This aircraft was used to train drone control pilots.  The paint scheme for this aircraft is overall Engine Gray FS 16081 with yellow tail with red rudder and yellow wing tips with red stripes along the wings.

The instructions are clear and include 3 views of each aircraft and background history on each aircraft as well as helpful tips for painting and applying some of the more complicated decals for some of the aircraft..  The decals are beautifully printed on 2 huge decal sheets.  

This is a fantastic sheet full of historic Panther aircraft as well as quite a few planes from different ships and squadrons.  This is a must have for anyone interested in the Panther.

Steve

I would like to thank Victory Models for providing me with this review sample.

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Photos and text © by Steve Bamford