[1/72 TF-86F Sabre Trainer]

Hi guys. Here is the beginnings of my first ever WIP.

The plan is to build a 1/72 TF-86F, a 2-seater Sabre Trainer using the vacuform conversion kit from Falcon. The conversion recommends using the Heller kit which I will do but I'll be using as little as possible. The HobbyCraft kit will be used for most of it as I want to back-date the kit '6-3' wing to the narrow chord. The etched brass will be thrown into the offices as I want the canopy to be open.

Not sure what the pace will be like as I'll be doing it during my lunch hour at work.

Comments more than welcome.

TIA

[Hasegawa 1/72 Grumman F9F Panther]

[Hobby Boss 1/72 F-84G Thunderjet]

[Cooper State Sopwith Dolphin]

_{I'm waiting for a 1/72 to become available!}

[A-20 Havoc]

What exactly are you after?

I have a copy of 'Camouflage & Markings RAF Fighter Command 1936-1945' that has a couple of b/w photos of Havoc II night fighter with a 12-gun nose.

I have built a 1/48 Havoc II night fighter with a 12-gun nose, and still have it, intact I think, and used the above book as reference. I can take some pics if you wish?

Stuart

[A Sabre Question]

The HobbyBoss kit is slightly better than Matchbox quality but has the bloated belly of a F-86D. It is not even close to Fujimi/HobbyCraft/Academy quality. Landing gear are simple, canopy shape is off, and there's more. The less said about the Hasegawa kit, the better.

Cheers, Tony

Cheers Tony, I'm to keep clear of the Has kit.

There are 8 1/72

Fujimi F-40s on EBay as I wright

Thanks James. I'm always on Ebay looking but most kits are outside UK, a little pricey, especially with the postage.

[A Sabre Question]

I will check if I have anymore "spare". The HB kit does not look too bad when built up, well to me anyway.

Thanks Julien, Gary as emailed me about the RF86, will hopefully gets molds off the 'bumby bits'. If you do have surplus sabres, pm me.

Is that the HB kit?

Also, how does the Has -40 build...looks old?

[A Sabre Question]

you could always try and use the wing bits from a HobbyBoss kit or a early Hasegawa kit for this odd conversion. I see Fujimi Sabres all the time on Ebay though.

Cheers, Tony

I'm always on the lookout for the Fujimi -40 Sabres as I plan to build a number of them. When I run out of kits, i'll be adding fillets to the wings. How does HobbyBoss -40 build in both accuracy and quality?

[A Sabre Question]

You just follow those diagrams above except you add the shaded bit instead of removing it. The difficult part would be doing the slats if you have a hard wing kit.

I wonder if that is going to be as easy as you say...

[A Sabre Question]

Can I ask a reverse question... how easy would it be to convert a '6-3' wing into '-40' as their is a plethora of 'standard' Sabres but the Fugimi 1/72 -40 Sabres are getting a bit thin on the ground?

Stuart

[1/32 Montex Gamecock]

Hi there.

Look around. Aeroclub did a 1/72 limited run injection moulded kit, whilst Czech Master did a resin one. I picked up a couple of Aeroclub ones for a few pounds each at shows not so long ago.

Haris

I've only been looking for a few months, nothing yet.

[Airfix 1/72 US Bomber re-supply set test shot]

Right place to post or not, they look rather neat.

[Airfix 1/72 Hawker Demon]

Looks an interesting build...I'm in.

[1/32 Montex Gamecock]

A lovely looking bird... if only could find one in 1/72.

[A Turkish Fokker E.III 1:72 Eduard Profipack]

I know nothing of this subject but most things from this era are speculative and changed on a whim, and not just the paint jobs.

[1930's RAF Collection]

A lovely collection of good looking biplanes. I think you should bite the bullet and start adding a few strings.

[TF-86 Sabre Trainer]

All,

Like lost things in our hobby, it is very fluid and everybody could be right, depends on time frame.

If one is going to do the red nose job, where/ what is the crest on fuselage and tail?

Tony,

I wasn't aware that the -40 was an all new wing and not just an extension...with all the -40's I want to do, that's a lot Fujimi kits needed.

[TF-86 Sabre Trainer]

A -40 wing has a straight pitot tube, and has 12 extra inches added to each wingtip. The pic shows neither.

Tony

Looks like another wing conversion Tony, should be an expert or when I'm finished.

This TF-86 looks nice: http://kwat01.web.fc2.com/tenjikai/fmo2004/tashiro.htm

Stuart

[TF-86 Sabre Trainer]

Hi Mike,

The intention is to do 53-1228 as that's what the vacuform is for. It calls for the donor kit to be the Heller kit which I have but haven't got that out of the box to see if it's the best option. What do you think? I might push the boat out and get resin cockpits? I also fancy doing the canopy up, must be the same as the 'dog'? I'm hoping that I'll get going on it later in the year...when I've finished the FCAF F2, RAF F4, USAF 'E' and SAAF 'F-10'. Will keep an eye out for cockpit views.

Hi Tony,

From the photo's I've seen, the wings are slatted but how sure are you that it's a standard wing as opposed to -40?

Stuart

[TF-86 Sabre Trainer]

Hi Guys,

I've aquired the vacuform kit to build an TF-86. Can anybody supply/ point to images of the cockpit layout or am I going to get away with fitting 2 tubs?

TIA

Stuart

[1/72 F-86A Sabre, Korea, 1951.]

Thanks for nice comments lads, nice to know that I'm going in the right direction.

DMC, I wasn't aware of the link but I recognise the images, thanks.

[1/72 F-86A Sabre, Korea, 1951.]

Your user name is apt, given all that conversion work on a model to receive an NMF, beautifully done.

Thanks Cookenbacher, fortunately you can't look any closer. This was my first NMF and showed flaws that i must improve on. I just didn't appreciate how much extra prep work was needed... I know now.

[1/72 F-86A Sabre, Korea, 1951.]

Thanks for comments guys, much appreciated.

Nice conversion work!! Did you leave the wing pylons alone or move them inboard to their proper locations(35mm from centerline in 1/72). Is that the Academy nose strut ??? I can't get over the silly angle fork when all others even HobbyCraft has a decent curve to their strut. I haven't picked up an Academy Sabre, all my stash is HobbyCraft or Fujimi.

Model On !!!

Cheers, Tony

I only done a few mods to turn it into an 'A' but the pylon relocation seems an easy thing to correct and will be done on future builds. Yes it was the Academy nose strut, something I will most probably live with when it comes to using this kit. Thanks for the comments Tony.

My Sabre stash is growing; Academy, Hobbycraft, Fujimi, even a Heller. Tasman conversion kits for the Avon Sabres, A TF86 vacuform is also waiting on the shelf...all in good time.

Next Sabre is an USAF 'E' or RCAF F2.

[1/72 F-86A Sabre, Korea, 1951.]

Here is my effort of producing an F86A in 1/72 scale. Life started from Academy's F86E kit and underwent some modifications; tail-plane activation fairings were removed, slatted 6-3 wing back dated to early slatted wing, front windscreen with one from Pavla and for good measure, a K-19 gun-sight fitted. I added a little more detil to the cockpit. The mods took a bit of an effort with filling and sanding but we got there.

The overall NMF was achieved using Metalcote paints from Humbrol.

Decals were a mixture of Matchbox for the serials and 'Miss Louise' and the rest from the Academy kit. The Matchbox black & white band decals were too small and so these were painted on instead. Not a bad effort for my first NMF aircraft, room for improvement.

Comments are most welcome.

[Canadair Sabre 6]

Tony, their may be lots of photos but I can't find any 1/72 decals for them?