[Ara1]

Great review Pappy! I'm not a post-war guy so I'll just enjoy your photos and writing.

Regarding HM and folding wings, if they come out with a TBD, I would expect a wing fold and an accurate one at that. The F9F though, by it's design, looks like a tough mechanism to articulate in a diecast model.

Although one of our members, months ago, posted an engineering diagram showing how he'd try it if he were on the HM design team. Does anyone remember that post?

[FormerViperDriver]

Well, bummer...

This wing-fold mechanism is just horrible looking. What were they thinking? And is the color of the plane even right? It looks rather black to me.

I don't know what to do. I want a 1/48 Panther very badly, and I doubt anyone else will ever make one, so I guess I'll have to get one of these eventually. However, I'm going to wait to see if future issues of this model come with some corrections (as they did when they fixed the tails on their later A-10s). Maybe they'll improve the wing fold, or even (?) issue the model without folding wings, which is really the best solution.

I expected more, a lot more, from HM. Particularly for the price they are asking, which is not in line with what you get (I'd say $30 or $35 might be reasonable considering the flaws).

FVD

[flyXwire]

Originally Posted by Ara1

Great review Pappy! I'm not a post-war guy so I'll just enjoy your photos and writing.

Regarding HM and folding wings, if they come out with a TBD, I would expect a wing fold and an accurate one at that. The F9F though, by it's design, looks like a tough mechanism to articulate in a diecast model.

Although one of our members, months ago, posted an engineering diagram showing how he'd try it if he were on the HM design team. Does anyone remember that post?

Ara1, here ya go:

It was posted by conemaugh: I really like the Panther as well an,d as Rocky Balbo stated, "fill voids" in my collection The wing gaps are a problem area in my opinion, but one that I can overlook

Applying my limited mechanical engineering experience (I am a geologist by career) the wing gap could have been solved by using a straight pin mechanism with a joint system. Attach the wing outer section to the main body with two pins. Pull the wing out exposing the joints. And fold. This would provide a nice seam at the join, but VERY complicated and probaly unrealistic.

[mustangdriver]

I could have done without the folding wings, but I don't think it ruins the model either. The color of the aircraft is DEAD ON. The F9F was painted Sea Blue which is almost black. The gloss is pretty close. If it was too glossy it would look like a toy. the gloss needs to be scaled down which is what they did.

[lanslide]

Originally Posted by FormerViperDriver

Well, bummer...

This wing-fold mechanism is just horrible looking. What were they thinking? And is the color of the plane even right? It looks rather black to me.

I don't know what to do. I want a 1/48 Panther very badly, and I doubt anyone else will ever make one, so I guess I'll have to get one of these eventually. However, I'm going to wait to see if future issues of this model come with some corrections (as they did when they fixed the tails on their later A-10s). Maybe they's improve the wing fold, or even (?) issue the model without folding wings, which is really the best solution.

I expected more, a lot more, from HM. Particularly for the price they are asking, which is not in line with what you get (I'd say $30 or $35 might be reasonable considering the flaws).

FVD

They got the color (very dark sea blue - almost black) correct although it should be glossy if it is not supposed to be weathered. This model is not perfect but I don't really see anything here that is worse than most of the other models made today (other than the wing fold gap). I'm gett'n one!

[lanslide]

Pappy, can you post some photos of the packaging too?

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by lanslide

Pappy, can you post some photos of the packaging too?

I guess I really should start taking shots of the packaging as part of the process, but for this one I did not and not sure if I have time to do it... I will see how the day goes.

Here's a shot of the plane as it arrives in the styrofoam... there's a plastic insert in the top piece of styrofoam with the parts in it, like GMP does. The box is just a box, same HM cardboard with the aircraft info on the back -- no flap.

[smartd]

I like it.
I have had the MP version for some time now and will wait for a model in 1/72.
Judging from the pics, nice job by the way, most of these will be displayed with the wings folded.
The hinge joints just look too messy. I never realized before that 1/48 had all those screw heads showing either.

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by smartd

I like it.
I have had the MP version for some time now and will wait for a model in 1/72.
Judging from the pics, nice job by the way, most of these will be displayed with the wings folded.
The hinge joints just look too messy. I never realized before that 1/48 had all those screw heads showing either.

There are only two visible screws with the gear deployed and those are inside the wheel wells...so you have to look for them (like legos under your kid's bed ). The rest (of which there are three, which HM placed so as to be covered with the stand pegs, when the stand is used) come with plugs and so none are visible if you display the model in flight, just to clarify.

The one good thing about the wing fold mechanism is that it is rock solid -- does not feel delicate at all, so it should hold up over time if you do like to play with your models ...

[flyXwire]

I went ahead and proceeded to order this bird thanks to your excellent review, Pappy! Thanks.