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Circa 1950s F9F-8 Cougar 1/48 (I think) Model

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  • Member since
    April 2016
  • From: Parsons Kansas
Circa 1950s F9F-8 Cougar 1/48 (I think) Model
Posted by Hodakamax on Thursday, August 11, 2016 5:38 PM

An old friend in his eighties and ex-Navy pilot (My Hero I call him) gave me a couple of old plastic models that he was going to build in the 1950s but didn't get around to it. He had lots of hours in the Cougar and later flew a Skyray. I decided to build the 1/48 model to surprise him. The 1/82 Aurora kit is also pictured with it. I for the life of me cannot remember the brand name of the built one.

It was big fun to build as I had done several of these in the 1950s as a kid. The decals were long gone and the mold had raised lines (which made decals of the time difficult to make look good.) I hand painted in the lines as we did in the day and they were no better or worse of a job than my work from the past.  

It was not a good build for todays standards but a nostalgic one that was indeed fun. He had never expected me to build it for him and he too was excited. Just a fun story that the guys from that era might enjoy.

Max

  • Member since
    January 2015
  • From: Tumwater, WA.
Posted by M. Brindos on Thursday, August 11, 2016 5:42 PM

LOVE IT!!!!

But then again, I love retro kits lol. Still waiting for one of those garage sale mega finds.  ;)

- Mike Brindos "Lost Boy"

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: State of Mississippi. State motto: Virtute et armis (By valor and arms)
Posted by mississippivol on Thursday, August 11, 2016 5:49 PM
Sweet!
  • Member since
    August 2013
Posted by Jay Jay on Friday, August 12, 2016 7:39 AM

Very cool !  I've been looking for one of these for a while.

TY for posting this nice build and such a good story as well. You're a good man.Yes Beer

 

 

 

 

 

 I'm finally retired. Now time I got, money I don't.

  • Member since
    March 2015
  • From: Streetsboro, Ohio
Posted by Toshi on Friday, August 12, 2016 7:47 AM

Great guy with a kind heart!  I love your very cool story.  You did justice by resurrecting this old school kit.  It looks fantastic!

Toshi

On The Bench: Revell 1/48 B-25 Mitchell

 

Married to the most caring, loving, understanding, and beautiful wife in the world.  Mrs. Toshi

 

 

  • Member since
    June 2014
Posted by BrandonK on Friday, August 12, 2016 8:58 AM

Well done work on an old kit. Very nice.

BK

On the bench:

A lot !! And I mean A LOT!!

2024 Kits on deck / in process / completed   

                         14 / 5 / 2  

                              Tongue Tied

  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by PaulBoyer on Friday, August 12, 2016 10:24 AM

The built model is the old Revell kit and represents the F9F-8 version. The kit was originally done as a -6 with no landing gear, and was one of Revell's first aircraft kits, along with the F-94C Starfire and F7U-3 Cutlass. All three were later modified (or maybe completely re-mastered) with more detail and landing gear. The differences in Cougar variants involve the wing. The -6 had leading edge flaps and narrow chord, the -8 had an extended, fixed, dog-tooth leading edge (as in the model) with increased chord. The quickest way (for me) to determine which version I'm looking at is the trailing-edge fillet to the fuselage. The -8 fillet goes all the way to the exhaust pipe; the -6's does not go back that far.

  • Member since
    May 2016
  • From: Canyon Lake TX
Posted by wildcat13 on Friday, August 12, 2016 10:33 AM

Very nice indeed!!

  • Member since
    April 2016
  • From: Parsons Kansas
Posted by Hodakamax on Friday, August 12, 2016 4:55 PM

Hey Paul, thanks for all the info on the kits and Cougar designation. I now see on the small kit in the foreground picture illustrates the difference in the two Cougar models. The -6 fillet doesn't go all the way to the end. Good call there! I'll change the header. Smile

Max

  • Member since
    December 2010
  • From: Salem, Oregon
Posted by 1943Mike on Friday, August 12, 2016 5:25 PM

Nice job on a brand that brings back memories. I think one of my first plastic model kits was the Aurora F9F Panther Jet. I probably built it in the mid 1950's when I was 12 or 13 years old.

 

 

Mike

"Le temps est un grand maître, mais malheureusement, il tue tous ses élèves."

Hector Berlioz

  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by PaulBoyer on Friday, August 12, 2016 10:37 PM

The old Revell kit wasn't 1/48 scale, either. It was about 1/54 as I recall.

  • Member since
    April 2016
  • From: Parsons Kansas
Posted by Hodakamax on Saturday, August 13, 2016 9:45 AM

Hey Paul, it did seem to be a little short for 1/48. That's what the "I think" meant in the heading. Overall length is about 10'' and the wingspan is 8''.

Thanks again for your input!

Max

  • Member since
    July 2010
Posted by roony on Saturday, August 13, 2016 10:40 AM

Buy them at noon.  Fly them before supper.  With some paint on them, if you could afford the paint back then.  Is there any one else here, born in the early 50's, who can remember these kits.  You built her good, a fine deed to your friend.

  • Member since
    May 2013
  • From: Indiana, USA
Posted by Greg on Saturday, August 13, 2016 10:49 AM

Very nice.

Me, I'd never have been able to build it probably. Something about that old Aurora packaging with the original sprues inside......

BTW, just seeing that Aurora logo on your box was a HUGE hoot, Max.

  • Member since
    April 2016
  • From: Parsons Kansas
Posted by Hodakamax on Saturday, August 13, 2016 11:13 AM

Well, If nothing else, I've stirred up all the old guys and I'm one of them. One of the things I remember is getting into Mom's bad graces after wiping plastic glue on my new jeans. That pair became my modeling jeans per Mom. LOL.  Sad

Max

  • Member since
    June 2014
  • From: New Braunfels , Texas
Posted by Tanker - Builder on Saturday, August 13, 2016 12:02 PM

Hey Roony !

 I member dose boids . A frend frum Brooklyn and I built them togedda . He did the six , I did the eight . Whatta bunch of fun dey was ! T.B.

  • Member since
    April 2016
  • From: Parsons Kansas
Posted by Hodakamax on Monday, August 22, 2016 11:32 AM

Well, I just returned the Cougar to my Navy Pilot (my hero) friend after borrowing it for a photoshoot. I left detailed instructions with his wife on how to visit this post and thought I'd better get it back to page one for them.

Also, thanks Gang, for the input on this thread, which added to the fun of this build!

Max Smile

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