relatively brief. The F9F-8 and F9F-8B were phased out
of active Navy squadron fleet service during 1958-59.
They continued to serve with Naval and Marine Corps re-
serve outfits until the mid-1960s. Some obsolescent F9F-
8s served for a time as drones and drone directors. Most
were retired to the boneyards at Davis-Monthan AFB in
Arizona. None were still in service by the time of the Viet-
nam War.
In 1962, the F9F-8 was redesignated F-9J under the new
Defense Department Tri-Service designation scheme.
The F9F-8B fighter-bomber became AF-9J. Later, when
used as advanced trainers, some of these aircraft be-
came TAF-9J.
Kit Features
•
Live hinges on doors and split flaps
•
Quality plywood with reinforced phenolic gear
mounts
•
Pre molded light pockets on wings, with clear lens
covering, suitable for lighting kits
•
Operating sliding canopy
•
Operating tail hook
•
Operating speed brakes
•
Painted out of the mold, with a full complement of
detailed nomenclature
•
Scale antenna and nose gear parts
•
Twin carbon fiber spars
•
5 liter fuel capacity
•
Large pipe, suitable for all engines
•
Highly detailed, scale landing gear
•
Disk brakes
•
Inflatable rubber tires
•
Removable nose cone
•
High quality metal linkages
•
Pre milled servo mounting plates and high quality
aluminum L brackets
•
Molded main wheel wells
•
Carbon fiber reinforced
Tools
While not mandatory, there is a short list of tools that will
speed the construction of your Der Jet kit. They include:
•
Dremel tool equipped with a 1/16 cutter bit, rotary
grinder and cutoff wheel
•
Latex gloves
•
Wire size drills (available at Ace Hardware)
•
Foam pads for protecting parts on the workbench
•
Safety wire and pliers
•
4/40 and 6/32 taps
•
Loctite
•
JR matchmaker or equivalent
•
Hand operated air pump
Glues
There are two primary glues you will utilize in the con-
struction of your Der Jet model.
•
V-poxy and mixing nozzles: aircraft grade epoxy,
sets up in 3 hours and dries clear
•
Medium CA and accelerator
Introduction
Der Jet F9F-8 Cougar Page 3
