The Blue Tailed Fly

**John Bowden** · #1 06-17-2012, 03:42 PM

Since I'm unable to build at the moment, I've been messing around wth re-coloring.

I've always wanted a F9F-5 Panther done up in as "The Blue Tailed Fly" and have been working toward this goal.

Anyway I was wondering if I was the only one.

**Wyvern** · #2 06-17-2012, 07:15 PM

No, you're not! And there's "Vice-versa", which the blue forward fuselage and the clear-coated tail.

Wyvern

**John Bowden** · #3 06-17-2012, 07:53 PM

Wyvern,

I thought about doing Vice-versa also. Once I get TBTF correct, it would not be too hard to make the changes to get Vice-versa.

But really there's not allot of good information on either of these so I do have a little bit of creative leeway.

**Wyvern** · #4 06-17-2012, 08:54 PM

I remember a story years ago about BTF in Proceedings that gave good nfo about the markings the two halves of the fuselage carried.

Wyvern

**John Bowden** · #5 06-17-2012, 09:56 PM

Found it! Thanks Man!

check that........... it was just an article on the Korean War squadrons, not on the BTF.

**John Bowden** · #6 06-20-2012, 12:42 PM

Made some headway...........almost there.

**charleswlkr54** · #7 06-20-2012, 08:27 PM

I seem to remember reading in Squadron's F9F In Action that the Blue Tail Fly was a one-off aircraft, made up from mating up the undamaged parts of 2 different aircraft, and there apparently was no Blue Nosed Fly!

**John Bowden** · #8 06-20-2012, 09:44 PM

Charles,

The Blue Tailed Fly was created from two battled damaged F9F-5 Panther by VF153. The back end of a normal sea blue panther was mated to an experimental natural aluminum panther, thus creating "The Blue Tailed Fly". It flew approx. 12 - 15 missions before being returned to CONUS for a complete rebuild.

VF153 was known as "The Blue Tailed Flies", so it's not too hard to see how they can up with the name.

As a side note, there was another created that was just the opposite, aluminum back end mated to a sea blue front that was named "vice-versa".

The experimental aluminum finished was tried to see if it would help the panther in air to air battles with the MiG-15, but it was found that the un-painted aircraft were hard to maintain in the harsh salt water environment that all Navy planes are subjected to. As a result in 1956 the Navy changed aircraft colors to gull grey over insignia white that was used until they changed to the low viz grey and subdued marking.

The only thing that helped the panther created the newer cougar with swept wings and tail surfaces. But alas was too late for the Korean War.

john

**John Bowden** · #9 07-03-2012, 09:51 PM

Update................

I'm now doing some beta builds (along with a helper) so it's coming along very nicely.

I'm trying to contact Ken for the ultimate approval, I've also made some changes to the model that make it easier to assemble......... well easier in my opinion. If he OKs the changes this will be going off to Chris at eCardmodels.

john

**Don Boose** · #10 07-04-2012, 07:28 AM

John -

Although I have not previously commented, I have been following this thread. I am always interested in Korean War era aircraft and, having read the same Squadron book on the F9F that you mention, I knew about the Blue Tail Fly. I look forward to the appearance of this model (although I am ashamed to admit that I have yet to build the Firefly I No. 827 Naval Air Squadron recolor you so kindly did years ago -- with Gary Pilsworth's Seafire F.R.47, all need is a Sea Otter for a nice HMS Triumph, July 1950 diorama).

Nonetheless, I will be keeping an eye on the ECardmodels "What's New Here?" section for the Blue Tail Fly.

Don