This new resin
conversion set from
Teknics
is the F9F-2/3 Down & Dirty Conversion Set for Trumpeter/HobbyCraft.
This set also applied to the XF9F-2
and X9F-3 after tip tanks were mounted on the prototypes.
The Trumpeter kit kindly provides separate outboard flaps
that you can show dropped if you wish. Unfortunately, the
Panther had FOUR flaps, not two, and when one went down,
they all four went down. This conversion kit includes a new
inboard lower wing part with integral flap bays and
separate inboard flaps. The other requirement to model a
Panther with the flaps dropped is the drooped leading
edges, which lowered 26 degrees when the flaps were
lowered. Since the Trumpeter leading edge panel line is
not in the correct location, it's pretty difficult to do
this conversion yourself. So, Teknics has done it for you!
Their
set contains both outboard wings with the sink marks
removed AND the leading edges drooped 26 degrees. These
outer wings also include the inboard rib detailing that is
completely missing on the Trumpeter/HobbyCraft kit. Since
the Trumpeter/HobbyCraft tip tanks are about 20% too
small, these tip tanks corrected for length, diameter, and
shape.
Click on
images below to see larger images
Because the aft ends of the tip tanks were actually
fuel dumps,
Teknics
has
properly shaped them and provided them
as separate pieces to glue on the aft end of each tip
tank-allowing the fuel dump detail on the tank aft end to
show through! They've also included the F9F-2 style wing
fences that were fitted to nearly all Navy Panthers about
halfway though the Korean War (although the land-based
Marine Panthers typically did not receive them until after
the war).
Resin
casting is of a very high quality and all the detail is very well
done with no air bubbles. There is one page of instructions
that take you through this easy to install set. This new resin set
from
Teknics
will permit modelers to make an accurate F9F-2/3 Panther. This
set WILL NOT fit the
Revell/Monogram F9F-5 kit.
I would like to
thank
Meteor
Productions for providing me with this review sample.
Steve
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