HobbyCraft first amounced this kit in 2004 for the 2005 year, but it never came. Some hobby shop in US, UK and Australia are taking pre-order for this kit again. Is it real this time. Anyone has seen a box picture or something?
The Fonderie Miniatures 1/48 F9F-8 seemed to have sold out in the US. It also has some plastic deliminate story to go with it. Any first hand experience with the FM Cougar kit?
Trumpeter & Hobby Craft had announced a joint release of the Cougar at the same time they announced the Panther. The Panther showed up, so maybe the Cougar will also. As far as FM kits go, I simply avoid them. Overpriced & poor quality.
Regards, Rick
I got a copy of the 2008-2009 Trumpeter catalogue at my local hobby shop last week. I counted no less than 31 new 1:32 scale aircraft kits, some are the same mold of different packaging. Only one 1:48 kit is new. Go figure. You cannot assume that they will release a cougar because they did the Panther.
I am looking for real first hand experience with the FM cougar, not heresay. The kit has all the detail part in resin and PE fret. If the quality is good, it is a very reasonably priced kit. Classic Airframe and some high end Hesagawa kits are packaged that way too, with some extra parts.
Heh!, the Hobbycraft P-51 A/ A-36, was supposed to be released 12/31 or so and here it is April 1st. Don’t count ur chickens m8, the 1st i heard about the P-51 A was 2 yr’s ago[:(!]
Jeebus, I am curious. Why wait for the HobbyCraft kit when you can get the excellent Accurate Miniatures kits any day on Ebay? It would be even cheaper using the 40% off coupon at Hobby Lobby.
Oh, never mind. Just found out that the Hobbycraft kit is 1:32 scale.
Anyone?
I have the FM Cougar. It has some good points and bad points. It seems to me to be accurate in outline. The plastic has a bit of a pebbly surface to it but that can be sanded smooth. The resin is average at best, not nearly as crisp as Aries or CE but may look ok under paint. I was thinking about replacing the cockpit with a spare Monogram Panther one. Landing gear is metal and pretty well detailed, looks as good as the gear in the Monogram Panther. LG doors are a bit clunky but can be sanded to make them better looking. Scribing is finely done, almost too fine. The vac canopy looks good too but it is a vac, again, thinking of using the Monogram part as a replacement. Not too many parts to the fuselage and it assembles much like the monogram Panther. Mine does not have the plastic lamination issue others have voiced. If the HC/Trumpy Cougar is as screwed as their Panther I’d say the FM kit is a viable alternative even though it’s probably twice the cost. It is not a beginner kit for sure but looks like it can be very nice with work and patience.
Hiello All;
I also have two of the Fonderie Miniatures 1/48 F9F-8’s. Since the Collect Aire F9F-8T sold out, I’ll build one as a F9F-8 and kitbash the other into a F9F-8T. As far as companies like HobbyCraft, Kinetics, Accurate Miniatures and Special Hobby go…they make a habit of announcing the release of an aircaft model, the announcing years later that the kit will not be produced. My reply is that I’ll never buy one of their kits again-even if it means kitbashing a Lindberg kit to make what I want. Nick
P.S. I would be willing to trade one of the Fonderie Miniatures 1/48 F9F-8’s for a Collect Aire F9F-8T, and add some $$$$ to make up the price difference. N.