F9F-2 Panther, ARA 0418, the Build

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May 15, 2013
Cockpit consists of 5 parts: Tub, seat, pedals, instrument panel and stick
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May 15, 2013
Olive drab, black and silver on dry brush for the tub
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May 15, 2013
The instrument panel, needs a bit of work
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May 15, 2013
After erasing a couple of ejector pin marks on both sides, some detail was added of styrene sheet.
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May 16, 2013
Some more detail added, to already rich cockpit
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May 16, 2013
3 out of the 5 part cockpit in place
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May 16, 2013
3 levers were added out of heated sprue.
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May 16, 2013
Cockpit ready, with a bit of wash and weathering
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June 3, 2013
Added some detail in nose gear walls and painted
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June 3, 2013
Fuselage halves glued together. Simple and easy
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June 3, 2013
Sanding the fuselage lines took.. a minute!
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June 3, 2013
The cockpit looks great
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June 3, 2013
A bit of putty and sanding was needed in this area only due to weird step..
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June 3, 2013
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June 3, 2013
I had to sand down the wheel holding thingy, for the wheel to fit, after a dry fit I did.
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June 5, 2013
The Panther got its wings!!!
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June 5, 2013
Off a plastic sheet and some wire, FOD covers were made for the intakes.
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June 11, 2013
some work on the landing gear
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June 11, 2013
main landing gear finished, waiting wheels
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June 11, 2013
addded some extra detail in landing gear bays
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June 11, 2013
addded some extra detail in landing gear bays
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June 11, 2013
wingtip fuel tanks. drilled for the fuel dump system
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June 18, 2013
A brand new tail skid! As it should be..
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June 18, 2013
Detailing tha arresting hook housing
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June 18, 2013
Approach lights to be fixed
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June 18, 2013
Auxilary lights to be fixed
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June 18, 2013
Some things must be corrected..
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June 18, 2013
Fixing the brackets
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June 18, 2013
Main landing gear doors brackets
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June 18, 2013
Cockpit overall view
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June 18, 2013
Added some instruments
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June 18, 2013
Some details were added
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June 18, 2013
The canopy opening system. 90% scratched and is not fixed in place.
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August 1, 2013
Preshade
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August 1, 2013
A small gap on the windshield
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August 1, 2013
Fixed, using putty and Mr surfacer 1200
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August 3, 2013
Masked to receive the 2nd colour
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August 3, 2013
Paint job done
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August 3, 2013
Minor accidents... to be treated asap
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August 3, 2013
Canopy missing a line. It's not engraved, but you can find the right position if you dry fit the opening mechanism
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August 14, 2013
Wheels and their cables are in place
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August 14, 2013
Canopy opening mechanism cover attached
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August 18, 2013
Decals applied
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August 18, 2013
Decals applied
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November 24, 2013
Washed, filtered and weathered
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November 24, 2013
Washed, filtered and weathered
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November 24, 2013
...and 4 smoking barrels!!!
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December 1, 2013
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Kommentarer

1 15 May 2013, 13:34

Dimitris P.K.
It is very difficult to find pictures of Argentinean Panther cockpit's. I did my best based on those I found.

15 May 2013, 13:40

Dimitris P.K.
Cockpit finished. Attention to nose landing system and landing hook, before glueing together the 2 pieces of the fuselage.

16 May 2013, 15:02

Roy McKenzie
Looks great.

16 May 2013, 16:40

Dimitris P.K.
@Roy: Cheers man.

Some progress after a while...

3 June 2013, 20:16

Roy McKenzie
Looking good. Love the old jets.

3 June 2013, 21:29

Dimitris P.K.
Mini update on the project..

5 June 2013, 20:57

Dimitris P.K.
some detailing was done. check the new fotos 🙂

11 June 2013, 16:20

Bill Gilman
Looking good so far, will you fix the error in the windscreen and canopy? It's a simple fix and makes a big difference. The issue is described here:
tailspintopics.blogs..d-f9f-2-panther.html

11 June 2013, 16:27

Dimitris P.K.
Thanx for pointing that out and for the link Bill. I came across it a few days back, but because I'm not there yet I didn't give much attention to it.
Now, because I'm gonna do some work on the canopy opening mechanism, an of course going to leave it open, I dont know if its going to be mush difference. (also I dont know how to correctly rescribe (and raise at a point) the canopy line that is going to be sanded down 😳 )

11 June 2013, 18:52

Dimitris P.K.
Finally I'm done with the construction process.
The movie "The bridge at Toko-Ri" are the most helpful tool, if anyone wanna build this aircraft.
Next step, primer, assemply and preshade.
Stay tuned!

18 June 2013, 20:08

Dimitris P.K.
A small update on the built (after SOOOO long way from my bench)
Primer, preshade, and small fixes + the windshield gap.
I already applied the belly color (white - XF-2), and I'm hoping tommorow I'm gonna apply the top one (grey - H315).
Stay tuned 🙂

1 August 2013, 20:23

Dave Flitton
I love these "How To's". Excellent work. Can't wait to start mine!!! Keep going! I want to see how it ends!!

1 August 2013, 20:27

Philip De Keyser
Nice job so far Dimitris 👍

1 August 2013, 21:25

Jose Miguel Rodriguez
Nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2 August 2013, 01:43

Dimitris P.K.
Thanx a lot guys.
I already masked the bottom of the fuselage and wings, so next step will be to spray Gunze's H315.
I'm looking for some references on the top part of the nose cone (the panels of the guns housing) where on the limited photos I have, looks bare metal. This applies only to the Argentinean aircrafts.
Anyone with more info? Pleeeeeeeease ( pretty pleas with cherry on top??? ) 🙂

2 August 2013, 11:38

Dimitris P.K.
Ok. So, the color is applied, with a couple of mishaps, but nothing to worry. I will let dry a couple of days before fixing the issues.
The weather is very hot and wet, and its a pain for the paints to work as they should.
Also, I'm lookinf for references (again) for 5'' rockets. In some B/W pictures, looks they were painted of 2 colors, but I cant find which. The other reference, speaks of full body olive drab. Any ideas?

3 August 2013, 19:20

Dimitris P.K.
Small update on the project.
Just before applying the decals, Pledge Future wa applied on the the F9F, and some parts glued in place.
Hope it will ready by the end of the week!

14 August 2013, 19:54

Jose Miguel Rodriguez
Excellent work Dimitris!!!!!!!

15 August 2013, 02:18

Dimitris P.K.
I just finished appling the declas, and I discovered that I must paint the tip of the wing fuel tanks, red! Something thats not mentioned anywhere..
So, weathering and completion will be delayed a bit 🙁
Meanwhile, I must prepare the canopy, pitots, antennas and accces step.

18 August 2013, 20:29

Bill Gilman
Nearing the end and looking good! 🙂

18 August 2013, 23:16

Jose Miguel Rodriguez
You are in the final steps Dimitris!!!!

19 August 2013, 02:35

Philip De Keyser
👍

19 August 2013, 07:02

Dimitris P.K.
...and... S*#t happened!
Due to propably high temperatures this afternoon, the wingtip tank decals and the anchor onsignia on the upper surfaces of the wings, were destroyed, after being covered to spray the front part of the tanks (red)...
I have now to find a way to reset the tanks, repaint them, and then try to recreate the lighting style decals... damn....

19 August 2013, 21:18

Jose Miguel Rodriguez
Dimistris: I don´t have any words..... If you need a replacement decals, think in Condor Decals to get one

20 August 2013, 00:15

Dimitris P.K.
Thanx Jose for the tip, but their decal sheet is out of stock everywhere. Might be out of production as well.
With the price of $20-$22 for the decal sheet, I might get the same kit for about $12 😉
(or I'll mask and paint... 😛 )

20 August 2013, 01:38

Clifford Keesler
Nice job.

20 August 2013, 01:53

Jose Miguel Rodriguez
You are right Dimitris!!

20 August 2013, 15:45

Dimitris P.K.
3 months later, I decided to restart this project.
I fixed the "lightnings" on the wingtip tanks, using printed decal foto on Tamiya's A5 grid-type masking sheet.
Then it was time to receive battle treatment: wash, weathering, as it should be the day after the Navy's Revolt in '63.
Also, re-painted the 5'' HVARS with a dull silver body, and olive drab warhead. Out of 0.1mm copper wire, I made the rockets wiring (fotos when I finish attching them... A Major Pain)
I filled the back of the canopy with milliput, while when open, a nice gap showed up. A rear-view mirror is ready to be attached.
Lastly, out o twisted 0.1mm copper wire, I made the rope ejection handles and painted them in ochre colour. Also waiting to be attached.
Hopefully, I'll be done in a couple of days.

24 November 2013, 12:30

Dimitris P.K.
That's it... Finished, done, finito, ready!
Till the next Group Built...
Hope you like it!

1 December 2013, 19:53