Hasegawa's 1/48 scale F-86 Part Two
Camouflaged USAF Sabre

by Mike Robertson

Hasegawa's 1/48 scale F-86 Sabre is available online at Squadron.com
 

The basis of this kit is the Hasegawa USAF F86F-30 boxing. The markings are from Cutting Edge Decals sheet CED48021.

A photograph of this particular aircraft can be found on page 97 of the excellent Before Centuries, USAFE Fighters 1948-1959 book authored by David Menard and published by Howell Press.

The comments here reflect similar issues I encountered with my Pakistani Sabre with some light filling required at the lower wing to fuselage joins.

The nose cone caused some difficulty due to the larger circumference of this part in relation to the attachment area on the forward fuselage. Considerable sanding was required to obtain a good finish.

The scoop found on the right fuselage adjacent to the speed brake, appropriate for the F86F-40 Sabre of the JASDF, was removed.

The scheme of this aircraft reflects an experiment with camouflage that author David Menard notes “didn’t catch on”.

Colours applied were British NATO Dark Green, Dark Sea Grey and PRU Blue, again from the Xtra colour range. The decals responded well to Micro Set and Sol.

Unfortunately, in the frenzied evening of applying the decals, I inadvertently applied what I believe are safety markings on the left and right fuselage sides towards the rear of the canopy that shouldn’t be there (and aren’t featured in the Cutting Edge instructions) and are clearly not evident in the photograph. I didn’t notice this till well after the kit was finished (banging head on modelling desk)..

A fair result, another camouflaged Sabre with speed brakes that again don’t quite sit right and two markings that well, the less said the better and back to the optometrist...

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

Model and Text Copyright © 2006 by Mike Robertson
Images Copyright © 2006 by Brett Green
Page Created 18 December, 2006
Last Updated 21 February, 2007

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