G-16 Monogram Speedee-Bilt Grumman F9F Panther Jet - Flying Scale Model For Jetex Engine
Wood Model Kit, Box Condition: VG+
Rare model from the early 1950s. Not only is this a first issue but it is in a most unusual two piece box; the outer box is a heavy cardboard sleeve which is decorated on all four sides; the inner 'tray' has advertising on both short ends and also on the small upper end flaps where it says "Now...Enjoy Many Pleasant Moments While You Assemble This MONOGRAM MODEL". This is a scale flying wooden rubber powered model for gliding or JETEX power. Before there were plastic models, there were wooden aircraft kits. These usually came in two types - solid and stick and tissue. The solid models were static and usually contained a few blocks of balsa and sometimes a detail part or two. These "Make Wood Look Like Plane" models required a very high level of skill in carving and finishing. The stick and tissue variety were slightly easier to build and provided the ultimate thrill - they could fly when complete with rubber power (and later with free-flight gas and eventually RC). They still required a great deal of skill, so manufacturers sought ways to make model building more accessible to everyone. One idea was pre-carving and/or prefabrication. This raised prices, naturally. Many manufacturers launched lines of 'easy' to build flying models but only Monogram succeeded in making an entire line at an affordable price that would actual fly. The original "Speedee-Bilt" kits were in one-piece two-color boxes or the two piece 'sleeve' box like this kit. (In the mid 1950s, shortly before plastic kits were available, Monogram changed to the 'hardbox' with a lithographic slick glued to the top). Speedee-Bilt kits contained die cut, factory painted wooden parts, completely formed airfoil wings (the famous and beautiful 'Monofoil'), carved wheels and numerous plastic details like the cowling, pilot, missiles, prop and more, depending on the kit. Assembly was by detailed, illustrated plans. The Panther Jet features die-cut dark Navy Blue painted balsa parts, a perfect Monofoil wing, completely carved fuselage blocks, stringers, completely finished wheels, numerous plastic detail parts such as nose, intakes, gear struts, exhaust section, pilot bust and wing-mounted rockets, clear vacuform canopy (still in mint condition, clear and not yellowed), sandpaper, full color decals, Navy Blue covering material and full instructions. Never started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts and paperwork present. The decals and instructions are both in 'excellent+' condition. My father has a fine memory and story regarding this model. During the Michigan winter months, he would naturally build models. However, they could not be flown outside so he would fly them in the basement on a tether line hooked to a full gallon paint can. This was even done with gas powered control line aircraft, using a hair pin to keep the elevator fixed in the right position! After finishing the very beautiful Speedee-Bilt F9F, he decided to install the recommended Jetex motor and do some tether flying. The Jetex started flawlessly and propelled the very light weight model to very high speeds. However, the heat of the motor casing soon caught the back on fire. It was a fascinating spectacle to watch the Panther jet circling wildly while trailing a foot or more of flame from the aft section. Finally the flames reached something important, and the craft split in two which quickly ended one of the most memorable and entertaining of all basement winter flights.
This item has been sold.
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