The F8F-8T Cougar

I've noted a couple of inqueries on modeling websites about the alternatives for creating an F9F-8T (TF-9J) from a single-seat F9F-8. This isn't as easy as it looks at first glance. The two-seat Cougar trainer had a new forward fuselage beginning at fuselage station 172 (pretty close to the aft end of the speed brake well) as well as a new canopy and a fairing aft of the canopy. However, neither the speed brakes nor the nose gear well was moved forward relative to the mid-fuselage so the wheel base remained the same.

The overall length increase (not counting the barrier deflector on the F9F-8 or the refueling probe on either the -8 or the -8T) was about 34 inches.

This provides a rough idea of the changes and what would be required if a conversion was attempted using a single F9F-8 fuselage:

Fortunately, there are alternatives in each of the major scales:

The Miniwing kit is 1/144th scale. It is reviewed Here

There is no 1/72nd scale F9F-8T kit per se but least four different conversions have been issued that can be used with the Hasegawa Cougar: Airmodel AM-049 (vacuform), Esoteric/Body Job BJ-4 (resin), RVHP 7239 (resin), and a Falcon Triple Conversion III (vacuform). The Airmodel conversion is pretty crude and probably a last resort. The Esoteric one is long out of production. The RVHP conversion is still available but might be hard to find. The Falcon conversion is still available from their retailer in New Zealand and from Hannants.

Collect Aire produces a 1/48th kit in resin which is reviewed Here

Fisher Models sells a 1/32 F9F-8T kit: See Here on page 2.

The F9F-8T was originally delivered with Grumman-furnished ejection seats. However, in 1956 BuAer contracted with Grumman to install the new Mk 4 M-B seat in an F9F-8T for a demonstration. Flying Officer Sidney Hughes, RAF, successfully ejected from it at Patuxent River in August 1957 while on the runway at 120 kts.

The demonstration resulted in an order for Mk 5 ejection seats (the major difference was higher crashworthiness) for all the Navy fighters and the F9F-8T to replace the existing contractor-furnished seats.