Without going into a lot of already published history of the F9F-5 Panther here are some great web sites I’ve found on the two subjects of this decal sheet.  Yellowhammer provided some short information as well in the instructions.  The sheet includes markings for Capt. Ted Williams’ VMF-311 F9F-5 (BuNo. 126109) and five of the six Panthers used by the 1953 Blue Angels.  Lt. (jg) Frank Jones #6 is not included.

 For a short history of VMF-311 go to www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usmc/vma-311.htm and be sure to check out www.tedwilliams.com for a photo of BuNo. 126109 after the crash.

 For the 1953 Blue Angels team go to www.blueangels.org/Years/1953/Year1953.html

 Yellowhammer Models has had this set out for sometime though I just got interested in them myself mostly because we lost the “Splendid Splinter” this year.  (Or did we thanks to the miracle of cryogenics?!)  Anyway, the sheet and instructions are well produced.  Yellowhammer recommends the Monogram kit #5456 reissued by Revell-Monogram as #6865.  As I understand it’s the same kit with new decals and box art.  Both kits have been reviewed on this site.  The decals are thin with good colors but the national insignia and Blue Angels logo are multi-part.  Most of the white stencils are difficult to read on the light blue background paper.  (Note that I adjusted the brightness and contrast on the decal scan in an attempt to make them stand out more.)  They are definitely smaller than the Revell kit stencils and the red warning squares are illegible.  No openings for the guns are provided in the nose decals for Ted’s jet.  Additionally the researchers note 126109 may not have even had the nose painted but other VMF-311 Panthers were painted that way during the time of Williams’ crash landing.  Instructions call for Gloss Sea Blue FS15042 for Ted’s jet and the tail tip Insignia Red FS11136.  Three parts Insignia Blue FS15044 with one part Insignia White FS17875 are called for the Blue Angels’ jets.

 The instruction are printed on two-sided 8 1/2x11 paper.  Sheet one has brief histories and notes the colors and specific markings for all aircraft.  Sheet two includes four views for common stencils including national insignia.

 Physically the two Panthers differed from standard F9F-5s, according to the instructions.  Both did not have the antenna on the nose gear door (kit part #72), and the Blue Angel Panthers did not have the wing fences as they were early, –5 production models.  Blue Angel Panthers also had the gun ports covered and no wing pylons.

 Overall this sheet looks pretty good.  I’ve never used Yellowhammer decals so I can’t comment on how well they lay down and set.  It may be a while too since I have a few kits in line before I do this one (or not!) but am looking forward to building my Panther with Ted Williams’ markings.

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