SPA Modeler

This is the Monogram 1/48 Grumman F9F-5 Panther, painted with MM gloss dark blue. I remember that it was so windy at the airport I was afraid the gusty wind might take her airborne any minute. So, there aren't many photos of her. 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 many 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; I'd say the early to mid-1990s, 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 need 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 wouldl look better anyway, I imagine. 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. And also excuse the poor focus in some pics, revealing my novice status at that time.

In light of Royce Williams MOH, I thought it would be a good tribute to the men who flew them. Thanks for checking out my old Panther!

Very nice!

Beautifully done Gary! But this one really belongs on a carrier deck

That looks great Gary. That 3rd picture is the money shot IMO. Just the right angle.

BlackSheep214 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 26, 2026 7:43 pm Very nice!

Many thanks, Tom!

Stikpusher wrote: ↑Thu Feb 26, 2026 8:33 pm Beautifully done Gary! But this one really belongs on a carrier deck

Thank you, Carlos! And yeah, I know... (hey, my Hobbycraft 109 remains unphotographed because I don't have a desert base...yet )

cbaltrin wrote: ↑Fri Feb 27, 2026 7:47 am That looks great Gary. That 3rd picture is the money shot IMO. Just the right angle.

And thanks to you as well, Chris! I gotta agree with you on that pic. I wish I had been able to take more shots of her out there back then.

Go West young man! We’ve got plenty of desert around here… it just doesn’t look like Libya or Egypt desert… maybe down by Yuma where there are the dunes…

I've been there but it was looooong ago! I do have some good desert pics saved that I've thought of having printed onto a large background in lieu of the real deal around here. I do hate to pose that North African Emil out at the airport, either here or over at the other airport I've used in Rockdale.

Here's a look at that old, WWII-vintage hangar at the Rockdale airport, peaking out from behind the Monogram Airacobra:

Nice! The classic Monogram Airacobra. I want to say that this kit and their P-47D were where they stepped up their game and put everyone else to shame in 1/48 aircraft… fully detailed wheel wells and cockpits, pilots not molded to the seat, this kit had the armament compartment and partial engine to be displayed….

Although a Cobraschka needs an open steppe setting

Thank you, Carlos! I thought that I had posted the P-39 here before and I did, it was 11 years ago! Here's a link to the original post:

viewtopic.php?t=1656&hilit=Monogram+1%2 ... +Airacobra

Here's a quote from the original post:

As to comments from some that it might be just too clean for the Russian Front, there’s this:

“Too clean?

Da, IS clean. Clean due to heroic efforts of Sgt. Alexei Nadgudunov, crew chief. Sgt. Nadgudunov was awarded Hero of Soviet Union medal for his efforts to maintain aircraft even in most-forward positions at front against German fascists in Great Patriotic War!

Wielding high-pressure water spray, Nadgudunov beat back worst conditions that Mother Russia could provide. Sgt. Nadgudunov stated that even in harsh circumstances of combat, Soviet aircraft could go to war in presentable condition! VVS General Dimitri Klekov said Sgt. Alexei Nadgudunov exemplified efforts of patriotic Russian comrade citizens and soldiers in war against the fascist invaders.”



I also posted that comment in my article on this model at Britmodeler. A fellow there corrected me by saying that Soviet aircraft were maintained and prepped as well as any other! And he had the links to prove it!

Heh… I, too, did the vintage Airacobra kit as a kid. Hand painted the camo scheme too. Glossy tan and Olive Drab.

I will admit those vintage Monogram aircraft kits were fun. I had a lot of fond memories building them. I remember building the vintage 1/32 Revell Baa Baa Black Shep F4U Corsair kit. Those moveable folded wings had me having fits doing them.

Heck…even this vintage auto kits with opening doors, hoods and trunks were a PITA back then.