The F3D Skyknight has one thing in common with many Douglas designed aircraft. It was kept around for years after its front line fleet service was over. Perhaps it was the robustness of the design. Perhaps it was because it was the perfect platform for continued use in other areas. Perhaps it was because the Navy usually doesn't like to retire aircraft that it can find an alternate use for. Whatever the reason, like the A-3 and A-4 that followed, the Skyknight was  kept flying for well over 20 years. 

The F3D was developed as a carrier borne night fighter. Turbine powered aircraft were in their infancy and the Navy has always been a bit conservative about its designs. It was no accident that the F3D ended up looking so conventional, aside from the jet engines. 

The Navy got a rather large plane, thanks to the thirsty engines and the large size of airborne radar units.  This two man aircraft had the pilot and radar operator sit side by side. Entry was through the top of the canopy and there were no ejection seats. Fortunately, the Skyknight was a forgiving aircraft. After fleet use, the aircraft was used in training squadrons and as test beds for various electronic equipment. Its final military user was the US Army, who used it for electronic testing.

There are four different aircraft on this sheet, all of them in overall glossy sea blue. There are enough national insignia for two aircraft and enough stencils for one. The instruction sheet is typical of later Superscale sheets and is quite good.

The first aircraft is from VF-14. This one has has lots of garish red trim and the T tail code.

Next is a VF-11 bird. The trim color for this plane is yellow and consists of just a single yellow arrow along the side. 

The Fleet All Weather Training Unit: Atlantic F3D is also rather garishly decorated in yellow. Like the VF-11 bird, the yellow tail tip is a decal, but the wing tips will have to be painted.

Finally, the rather plain VMF-542 Skyknight. This one is not black with red codes as many would suspect. Those colors were only used in Korea. US based planes were the standard paint and colors.

The only kit for this sheet is the Matchbox 1/72 F3D Skyknight, kit PK 134. The kit has been out of production for well over 10 years and can be very difficult to find. 

Review copy courtesy of me and my credit card

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