McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee, 124969/210R, VF-172 Blue Bolts, USS ESSEX, Korea, October 1951

This is a kit purchased back in the 1980’s when I was under the mistaken impression that the Fighting Redcocks, VF-63, flew the Banshee during the Korean War. At the time, the Redcocks were designated VA-22, and VF-22 did operate the Banshee during the Korean War, so I can see the confusion; however the two squadrons were not the same. The Redcocks never operated the Banshee, but this is still a subject I want on my shelf.

This is another of those, “why no decals?” models that sat otherwise complete on my shelf for at least 17 years…finally finished it up this Summer.

The Subject

In August 1945, VBF-82 (originally called the “Checkmates”) was established; in 1948 it was redesignated to VF-172 after briefly being designated VF-18A. The Blue Bolts flew the Banshee throughout the Korean War flying from USS ESSEX (CV-9); following the war it was redesignated an Attack Squadron: VA-172. Generally this meant the squadron had a nuclear capability.

The Banshee is of course most famous for its role in “The Bridges at Toko Ri”.

The Model

This is the Airfix kit, first released in 1980. My kit is kit number 9-04023 which was released in 1983 with a slightly different box art (the photo era). It can be built either as the standard F2H-2 fighter or the F2H-2P photo-recce version.

I remember this was a very easy build. I didn’t lose any detail cleaning up the seams but the model is heavy…I obviously put some weight up front to ensure it wasn’t a tail sitter. Cockpit and wheel well detail are nonexistent but generally that isn’t as critical to me and certainly was not then.

Paint is Aeromaster Glossy Sea Blue overall, an enamel. I didn’t put a coat of Future on when first built because the glossy surface would make decals a snap, however after sitting in a box of styrofoam peanuts during one of my moves the foam reacted to the paint. Essentially it marred the paint, sticking to it such that when I removed the foam blemishes were all over the model. I gently wet sanded with an 800 grit pad and was able to take out all the marring. The paint was actually thick enough that I didn’t have to respray anywhere!

I then put a coat of Future (Kleer) on to get a really gloss surface for decals. The decals when on great with just the Microscale system of Sol then Set. After they had dried for a day I put a coat of Future on to seal it all in.

Summary

This is actually a nice kit, it captures the lines well and frankly with good decals and a nice cockpit would hold up well against modern kits like Sword’s. But after you spend that kind of cash you might as well get the Sword kit…

I’m not 100% sure the bolt color is correct at yellow; the Sword kit shows it as blue. However, at that time squadron colors were such that the second squadron in the air wing (Air Wing 17, Squadron 2 = VF-172) was yellow. So just like VF-63 being light blue when they were called the Redcocks, it would seem to me that yellow is probably correct.

I purchased the Sword kit simply because at the time I figured this Airfix kit was a loss. Obviously it’s not, but now that I’ve got both, I will of course build the Sword kit, but it will be a different squadron possibly USMC. And since it has bombs, on they’ll go!

Thanks for looking…