Matchbox 1/72 Douglas F3D Skyknight

MATCHBOX 1:72 DOUGLAS F3D-2 SKYKNIGHT

Reviewer: Carlos Giani (carlos_giani2002@yahoo.de)
Kit Review submitted: 4 July 2009

Kit:

Matchbox 1/72^nd scale Douglas F3D-2 Skyknight (Kit N° Pk-134). Produced in China

Aircraft:

As a response to a requirement from the US Navy regarding a jet-engined, carrier-born night fighter, soon after WW2 Douglas got a contract for the development of 3 prototypes with the designation XF3D-1.

The type emerged as a cantilever mid-winged monoplane of metallic construction, which included an hydraulic wing folding mechanism to facilitate the handling and storage on carriers. The fuselage, which section was mainly circular, incorporated hydraulic-driven airbrakes, and offered side-by-side place for a pilot and a radar operator. The tail unit was very similar to that from the D-558-1 Skystreak. Another unusual characteristic was an emergency tunnel which communicated the cockpit’s rear with the fuselage belly to allow an escape on extreme situations. For propulsion the Westinghouse J34-WE-24 was chosen, and two of them were installed on both lower sides of the central fuselage section.

The maiden flight took part on 23rd March 1948, and soon after an order for 28 series units was placed, with the first ones entering service on early 1951. Parallel to that, Douglas got an order for the revised F3D-2 version, with 237 units being build. The Skyknight was extensively and very successfully used during the Korea War and, with a kill over a MiG-15 on 2^nd November 1952, it achieved the first jet-to-jet victory in history. Some exemplars saw action in Vietnam till 1969.

The kit:

Inside a very reasonable sized, sturdy end-opening box you get three sprues containing 58 parts in 3 colors (white, light grey, dark grey), one small sprue with 3 clear parts, a decals sheet and the instructions. No bag, but there is no possibility for the sprues to shake. The molding quality is very good, without noticeable sink holes nor ejector pin marks/stubs. The panel lines are raised, while the control surfaces are engraved (not overdone). Interestingly for a Matchbox kit, you get a cockpit tub and even an instrument panel. Maybe the direction they wanted to go if they would have survived? The landing gear is rather well represented, with the main legs having an actuator arm. The well doors are thin and will probably perform good when closed. The wings can be built extended or folded (a plus for many modelers).

Instructions:

A nearly-A3 sheet folded into a 4-pages booklet. Page 1 brings history/data in 6 languages and the typical Matchbox “detail painting section” , pages 2 and 3 show the construction through 12 easy-to-follow steps (including frontal sketches to get the dihedral or angle of the folded wings). Finally, page 4 brings the decaling diagrams for the two versions offered by this kit, plus the paint callout numbers guide (only generic names, no specific brand). The main painting diagrams are shown, as usual, on the bottom of the box.

Construction:

Construction starts with the cockpit, for which you get a (basic) tube with side consoles, being trapped between the two fuselage halves. The seats are very basic, so that I substituted them with two Aeroclub EJ003 ones (Martin Baker MK-5; I just can hope this is correct!), which had to be trimmed to fit into the tub. The tub blanks the rear section off (no “lookin´-thru”!), and the instrument panel has some raised dials. I bothered to add pedals and control sticks, and detail-painted the side consoles, in ordered to let the office look busy (having learned my lesson with the T-2C). The two fuselage halves fitted very good, leaving just a small gap. The vertical fin is molded integrally with the left fuselage half. I placed some old steel bolts into the nose to avoid tail-sitting.

Next I added the engine “nacelles”, with its corresponding in- and outlet parts. This way of engineering of course leave gaps to be filled and sanded, but is necessary due to the bulged nature of the engine fairing. In the same time I took care of the wings, each one consisting of 4 halves, since the outer section can be placed extended or folded. For both cases you get the right brackets, which ensure a strong bond. I glued mine extended, and was nicely surprise by the step-less fit of the two sections. The wings are placed into recesses on the fuselage sides, which allow a very strong bond and only leave a small gap, easy to fill and sand. The whole tailplane is one-piece, and also fits very good.

The main wheel wells are avoid from any detail, while the front well is formed by the fuselage halves, being therefore blanked. The landing gear legs and the wheels are rather very good for a Matchbox kit, and the way they are mounted into the wells (with a rectangular basis) guarantee a very strong fit. For the main legs there are also actuators, a nice surprise! Each wing underside got a pylon, which fitted well, only requiring minimal trimming. A pair of fuel tanks (?) found their way onto the pylons, the rear supporting wheel and the arrestor hook were added after the painting job was done. The canopy consists of 3 pieces, because it has prominent side bulges. Inspired by the T-2C, I used the vacform-canopy from Falcon’s set N° 4, and was again impressed by the easiness of the procedure, the fantastic fit and the transparency of the part..

I painted the cockpit and the wells dark grey, while the whole plane got two layers of Humbrol matt black H33. Later a coat of Klear/Future prepared for decaling. Since I sometimes am a bit stupid, I decided to use the kit decals, although my inner voice warned me. Of course it was a disaster, since the decals were encumbered with that annoying milky-blue-clots often found on older decals. I should have waited for the decals I recently ordered at Hannants to arrive (including Techmod´s sheets 72410 and 72411, U.S. insignia 1943 to present [*]). Now its too late, the mishap is done! A further layer of Klear over the decals “smoothed” things a bit. Finally, a coat of Humbrol H135 finished the job.

I´m very, very pleased how mine model worked out. An elegant, sturdy and menacing brute (somehow a Skyrider with jet engines -> an authentic Ed Heinemann workhorse!). It sure will also look very attractive in the trainer colors.

Versions:

F3D-2T, VF-121, NAS MIRAMAR, California 1958, in an overall combination of gloss white and gloss orange FS12197. Black anti-glare panel and wing walks, silver wings and tailplanes leading edges.
F3D-2, VMF(N)-513, USMC, K6 Airfield, Pyong Taek, South Korea, 1953. Overall black.

Decals:

Forget them. Although containing (readable!) stenciling, they are very bad quality ( a Revell reissue sure would profit from state-of-art, Italian-made decals).

Overall:

What a nice kit! Apart from some (inevitable) filling/sanding due to the engineering of the engine nacelles, a very easy and relaxing build. An interesting, important subject always neglected by the big ones. Warmly recommended for those of you lacking prejudices.

References:

Some amateur photos ( a thousand thanks to Thomas Holland from “Studio-Marseille”!).

[*] Of course, it had to happen. Now, having written the last phrase of the review, I went downstairs and found the Hannant´s parcel with the brand new decals in the post box. I can hear Edward A. Murphy Jr. laughing from afterlife…

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