[timbo]

Originally Posted by mhackl

All images posted are for the collector’s benefit and may not be reproduced for commercial use without the written consent of On Mark International, Inc. USA (c) 2007
Original photo materials provided by Hobby Master Limited

HA7201 Grumman F9F-2 Panther "Paper Doll"
BuNo 123702, VF-781, D/121, U.S.S. "Bonny Dick" Bon Homme Richard, Korea Fall 1951.
VF-781 (based out of NAS Los Alamitos) was the first squadron in the U.S. to volunteer for active duty after the outbreak of the Korean conflict.

A 1/48th Scale Diecast model from Hobby Master

They Volunteered - or were they told to go?

[Epapazian]

Originally Posted by kb466

Too bad! I would love to see the Panther released in 1/72 scale as well--- and the Buffalo, and a few more A-4's in USN schemes with bomb racks and loads. It isn't asking too much, is it?

Me too. I guess I'll have to wait---and it may be a long wait---for someone like Century Wings to put out a Panther in 1:72. And that goes for the F-2A, TBD, and SB2C also.

[Elmer]

Hawk has posted more information about the upcoming Panther release: retractable gear, sliding canopy and folding wings. Folding wings... hmmmm...
It will be interesting to see if HM can actually pull this off without structural problems, droopiness, or unsightly gaps.

[FormerViperDriver]

Originally Posted by Elmer

Hawk has posted more information about the upcoming Panther release: retractable gear, sliding canopy and folding wings. Folding wings... hmmmm...
It will be interesting to see if HM can actually pull this off without structural problems, droopiness, or unsightly gaps.

I'm with you in your skepticism, Elmer. I don't like this at all (particularly the folding wings, sliding canopy is fine), but OK, I'll give HM the benefit of the doubt and hope they can pull it off. Fingers crossed...

FVD

[SKUNKY]

That royally stinks...I agree, the sliding canopy is great, but retractable landing gear and folding wings is going to be tough to pull off and still look good.

[Ara1]

Originally Posted by SKUNKY

...and folding wings is going to be tough to pull off and still look good.

Then don't pull them off...

[mustangdriver]

I think that it can be a good thing. What if a model can be made to look good and have all of those features? Wouldn't you want that? I say let's give them chance. We might be surprised.

[STARMAN 352ND]

I hope it works out ....I hate to see that folding wing have a hinge attached to the wing like that Russian bird Gaincorp made a few years ago.
JP

[SKUNKY]

If it could look good and have those features, that would be great. Trouble is, I just don't have the confidence that they can do it,so I would prefer they didn't even try, because once they mess it up, that's it, we're stuck with it.. I really would love to have a nice F-9F model, one without any gaps or droops, and since my own personal opinion is that folded wings on an aircraft aren't at all aesthetically pleasing, I would have no use for such a feature anyway, as that wouldn't be a display option for me. I don't "play" with my airplanes either, so the "gee-whiz, looky what this thing does" factor would be lost on me as well.

The other thing is, whenever someone makes a folding wing feature, usually what you see is an unrealistic huge hinge attached to an open, featureless inner wing area which bears little, if any, resemblance to the real thing. Who wants to see a thing like that (besides tank nut)?....Let's leave that stuff to 21st Century Toys. (That's not a slam on 21st Century either. I would have been ecstatic if toy airplanes would have looked that good when I was a kid)

[mustangdriver]

I know what you mean.