TF-9J Cougar by Sword

1/72 scale
Kit No. 72101
Retail: $30.00
Decals: Two versions by Techmod – U.S. Marines, Vietnam 1967; and the Blue Angels, 1965.
Comments: Engraved panel lines, detailed cockpit with resin ejection seats, Zuni rocket pods, paint masks

History

The Grumman F9F/ F-9 Cougar was a swept wing version of Grumman’s first jet fighter, the straight winged F9F Panther. Entering service in December 1952, it came on the scene too late to see combat in the Korean War. Work on the straight wing single jet powered F9F began in 1946 and the first production aircraft were delivered in 1948. Like most early jets it had straight wings, which limited its maximum speed.

In order to develop a fighter with superior performance, Grumman began work on a swept wing version. Their first design became the swing wing Grumman F10F Jaguar, which was a problematic design, eventually doomed by the failure of its engine and poor handling. Still eager to develop a swept-wing fighter, Grumman turned to its F9F Panther airframe.

On March 2, 1951 Grumman was awarded a contract to build a prototype of this version, as the Grumman XF9F-6. Later, when it became clear that the new aircraft was significantly different from the Panther, it was given a different name, the Cougar, but confusingly retained the F9F designation (it became the F-9 in the 1962 tri-service system).

The main change on the XF9F-6 was the use of a wing swept back at 35 degrees. This also required changes to the structure of the fuselage and to the wing fittings. The new wing had spoilers instead of ailerons, it had larger trailing edge flaps, leading edge slats and wing fences. I t was also given a more powerful turbojet engine, from the same Rolls-Royce Tay family used in the F9F-5. The changes to the design had a big impact on performance, with the top speed rising from just below 600mph to just above 700mph.

The prototype XF9F-6 made its maiden flight on September 20, 1951. The Navy evaluated it early in 1952 and ordered it into production. The F9F-6 entered service with U.S. Navy Squadron VF-32 in November 1952 and was used by many Navy and Marine squadrons. It arrived too late to see combat in Korea, and had largely been retired by Vietnam. From 1955 to 1958 they were the first swept wing aircraft used by the US Navy’s Blue Angels aerobatic teams. In 1962 the F9F became the F-9.

Late production F9F-8 aircraft were given the ability to carry four AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles under the wings (the first Navy aircraft to deploy with the missiles). Most earlier aircraft were later modified to carry Sidewinders. A number were given also nuclear bombing equipment. The F9F-9 was redesignated F-9J in 1962.

The Navy acquired 377 two-seat F9F-8T trainers between 1956 and 1960. They were used for advanced training, weapons training, and carrier training, and served until 1974. They were armed with twin 20 mm cannon and could carry a full bomb or missile load. In the 1962 redesignation, these were later called TF-9J. The two seat F9F-8T/ TF-9J trainer saw some operational use in Vietnam. Marine Squadron H&MS-11 used four as Forward Air Controllers.

The only Cougars to go into combat were the two-seat TF-9J trainers employed by the Marines for Fast Forward Air Control (Fast FAC) missions in Vietnam. Detachments of four TF-9J Cougars were assigned to Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron ONE ONE (H&MS-11) at Da Nang and to H&MS-13 at Chu Lai. These Cougars served with distinction directing airstrikes against enemy positions (primarily in South Vietnam) between 1966 and 1968 before they were replaced by Douglas TA-4F Skyhawks in the Fast FAC role.

The Kit

Sword’s TF-9J Cougar is injection molded in dark grey plastic and consists of 77 injection molded parts, including 7 clear parts, plus two resin ejection seats and a set of paint masks. The instructions feature a helpful paint guide but do not reference any particular paint brand. The cockpit is detailed with resin ejection seats, dual control yokes, separately mounted rudder pedals and main instrument panels. The tandem cockpit tub features a rear bulkhead and a second bulkhead separating the instructor pilot from the trainee.

There is an assembly for partial intake trunking, detailed landing gear, and a three-part nose wheel gear bay featuring raised detail, as well as boxed in wheel wells for the main landing gear. Since the TF-9J was deployed as a forward air controller in Vietnam, parts are provided for two four-shot Zuni rocket pods, to be cemented on the underside of the wings outboard of the main landing gear. Overall, construction appears simple and well-engineered. Two pages of the instructions are devoted to color plates for the two versions for which markings are provided.

Markings

The kit provides high quality decals by Techmod for two versions. The first of these is that featured on the box art, a TF-9J of Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 13, serial no. 147384, serving with the U.S. Marines in Vietnam in 1967. It is painted in a scheme of Dark Gull Grey over Light Grey (rather than White). The second version is for a TF-9J, serial no. 142470, of the Blue Angels circa 1965. It appears in a paint scheme of Blue Angel Blue with Insignia Yellow flashes on the tail, wing tips and nose-mounted pitot tube, along with stainless steel leading edges of the wings and along the wing roots.

Conclusion

This is a great kit of an unusual Vietnam-era subject, given that the TF-9J served as a forward air controller in Vietnam for only about a year. Highly recommended.

References

• historyofwar.org
• wikipedia.org
• avgeekery.com