F-89J Scorpion

Dana if you go to http://www.hyperscale.com/ and check out the gallery, there's a 1/48 F89H made from a Revell F89D/J kit. You might be able to find one. GOOD LUCK.

Ahh, so Revell made a D/J? Ok, that's what I would like then I guess. I asume that jkit is out of production, correct? Thanks.

Dana F

The one thing that Revell and Monogram does consistantly is RE-RELEASE their kits. So, if you are patient you will see the F-89-J and the C re -released in the future. Revell, before it became Revell/Monogram, had a beautiful 1/72 nd scale F-89-J, as well as the F-101-B, and a few Phantoms and F-105s. Sooner or later they will reappear also.

The C model has a pointed nose with guns in the nose. Starting with the D model it was armed with rockets (2.75 inch HVARs) 26 in each wing tip tank (was it a total of 52, or 52 in each wing tip?). The J was armed with Falcon missles (3) in each of the the wing tip tanks (radar guided I think). The missles extended out of the tip tank to be fired.

I like the F-89-Ds with the arctic red wing panels and rocket pods/fuel tanks. Most of them were up north because they were intended to stop russian bombers. I think it was the first "all-weather" interceptor.

All this is from memory, so I may be off a little. If I am please correct me. The F-89 is one of the airplanes I have an affection for.
If you just can't wait, there is always e-bay! Try local model contests. There are usually folks selling parts of their collections. rangerj

Well, my father was stationed iin Goose Bay Labador in the late 50's with the 59th fighter squadron. He loaded GAR missles and rockets on F-89J's. I know my father will not be on this earth forever, and I feel like my modeling skills are finally worthy of this. I'll keep a look out and please let me know if you guys find anything. A 1/48 J model is really what I'd like.

However, if I can't find one, which 1/72 kit would be better? The Acadamy or Hobbycraft? Thanks,
Dana F

the J (juliet) models have the system to fire the GENIE nuclear missile. It is included in the ACADEMY kit.

Sorry I have no idea for their physical differences, except a few weapons systems used.

F-89A, B, & C were armed with six 20 MM cannons located in the nose. The A & B models could carry sixteen five inch rockets on eight launch rails, four under each wing. The C model did not have the rocket capability and was cannon armed only.

F-89D did away with the cannon armament and the nose was used to house the new fire control radar. It was equiped with the wing tip rocket/fuel pods which could carry fifty two 2.75 FFAR's in each pod for a total of 104 rockets. It was armed only with the rockets.

F-89H had special designed wing tip pods to carry three GAR-1 (AIM-4) Falcon missiles in each pod. The missiles were retracted into the pods and were extended for firing. Each pod could also carry twenty-one 2.75 FFAR's.

F-89J could carry the wing tip rocket pods as used on the D model, but was very seldom used. Instead they carried 600 gallon wing tip tanks. There were three hard points under each wing. The GAR-2A Falcon were loaded on the inboard and center stations and a MB-1 Genie, on the outboard station.

It was found later that with the Falcon missiles hanging on pylons, moisture would get into the electronics of the missile causing all kinds of problems. The Falcon missile was deleted and only the Genie was carried.

There is the run down of the history.

I hate to say this if you're looking for a F-89D try on Ebay in 1/48 scale planes, I've seen a few a while back starting about $15.00,

Berny13,

Thanks for the history lesson. I at least got a piece of it right. What are FFARs(Forward Firing Aerial Rockets?) If I remember right the 104 rockets were not guided. It was intended to be a "shotgun" affect. Is that correct? You would have to be very unlucky to not hit a Bear with 104 rockets!

By any chance do you know the Federal Standard Color number for the "Arctic Red" that was used on the outer wing panels, and on some aircraft the tail section? It looks close to insignia red, but appears to be darker. Was their a Tech order for the far North paint scheem, such as Alaska, Labrador, Nth. Dakota? Was this a NORAD "thing"?

Thanks again berny13. Bones, if I come accross a 1/48 F-89 J I'll let you know. I have not seen one for a long time. rangerj

FF is for folding fin. They were folded back to fit in the tube and to occupy less space and then popped up to stabilize the rocket in flight.

Rangerj, I read while doing research on this aircraft that it is Insignia Red. Now it didn't give an FS number, it only called it that. Do a search for F-89 on the web and I think you'll find something that will tell you.

Dana F

Rangerj.

Insignia Red is FS-11136 for flat insignia red and FS-31136 for gloss insignia red.

The F-89D could fire its folding fin aerial rockets (FFAR) at once or two or three salvos. If two salvos were used, the first contained sixty-two and the second forty-two. Using the three salvo method, the number would be forty-two, thirty-two and thirty.

The 2.75 FFAR was ungided and really not very accurate. They tended to cork-screw and go all over and around the sky. I once heard a pilot say that the safest place to be when a salvo of 2.75 FFAR's were fired, was directly in front of them. They were armed with an impact fuse, which meant they had to hit something to explode. They would be armed as soon as they left the launch tube.

The rockets carried by the A & B models were the five inch HVAR (High Velocity Aerial Rocket) with fixed fins and were more accurate. They could be fired as single (two rockets, one off of each wing), double (four rockets, two off of each wing) or all (sexteen rockets).

The History Lesson Continues.

I just bought a F89J 1/48 scale from Ridgefield Hobbies In Ridgefield , NJ for $20. www.ridgefieldhobby.com Jimmy has a lot of old kits and may have another. Go to his site and ask. Good luck.