The USAF's first dedicated jet night fighter was the F-94. Though it wasn't the best around, there was a real need for one and the F-94 was able to be built quickly while waiting for the F-89 to be developed. Basically, what you have in the F-94A and B is a T-33 with an afterburner and radar set. Most of the airframe was already being produced so all that was needed was a bit of modification of the tail section for the afterburner and the nose for the radar set. Piece of cake. 

What you ended up getting was a bit of a gas guzzler that was able, with help from ground control, to get close enough to an enemy bomber so that it could be shot down. These early F-94s actually relied on guns to get things done. There were four 50 cal in the nose and some had an additional gun pod mounted on the leading edges of the wings. It was later when it was decided that rockets were the way to go. 

In fact, that wasn't such a bad idea. The Germans started using unguided rockets, the R4M, from Me-262s in mid March of 1945. The results to the aircraft that was hit was devastating, often bringing it down rather quickly. Later versions of the F-94 and others relied on this barrage of unguided rockets as their main weaponry, when, like the 262, it wouldn't have been a bad idea to have some cannon as well for a backup!

The F-94 was used with minimal success during Korea. The much larger F3D was able to get better results in a shorter period of time than what was accomplished with all the F-94s. However, it was an aircraft that was needed as a stopgap until the dedicated night fighter was able to get into production. Less than a decade later, the night fighter was no more as the newer interceptors were able to perform their missions regardless of the weather or time of day.

This sheet provides all that is needed to do all three subjects.

The first one is from the 61st FIS at Selfrige AFB. This one is the only one of the three in 'arctic markings', the red wing and tail that was supposed to help find the aircraft if it crashed in the snow. For that scheme there are insignia and USAF markings that have a silver surround for use on the red wings and fuselage portions.

Next is a 5 FIS F-94B. The 5 FIS was one of the last dedicated FIS squadrons in the USAF and was flying F-15s for a short time before it was disbanded.

Finally, a 319 FIS F-94B. This one is a Korean War aircraft, and trimmed in dark blue.

The only kit of this aircraft available in 1/72 is the still very nice Heller version. Though it hasn't been available for many years, it can still be found from time to time.

Review copy courtesy of me and my wallet.

If you would like your product reviewed fairly and quickly by a site that has over 1800 visits a day, please contact me or see other details in the Note to Contributors.