F-86F-30 Operators

[SaintsPhil]

Good Morning BMers,

I'm going through a bit of a NMF kick at the moment and I have an Academy F-86F-30 kit in the stash which I think could be a good candidate to build! I don't really fancy the box markings (The Huff) in fact I don't really fancy a US bird, maybe something more exotic...

From trawling the net I have gleaned that the F-30 had the hard wing and the -40 a slatted wing, so I'm concentrating on NMF operators of the -30. I'm sort of leaning towards the Pakistani Airforce, as it'd go nicely along side an Indian hunter! I have read (on Wikipedia) that the PAF had -35 but most we're upgraded to -40, I assume with a slatted wing. However some remained as -35, so I could use the kit I have (I think) Can anyone confirm this, with a picture would be ideal!

Otherwise there's the Imperial Iranian AF or the Ethiopian AF, neither of which I can figure out the marks they used!

Any help, or other suggestions, very much appreciated!

Thanks

Phil

Edited November 1, 2013 by SaintsPhil

[ROGERD]

I have some peruvian markings , but I,m not sure which version they used, but youre welcome to them if you want

[Jennings Heilig]

The RAF's Mk.4s all got the hard wing while in RAF service (okay, okay, *almost* all, but there were only one or two exceptions). The hard wing was fitted on all the ex-RAF birds that went to Greece, Italy, and Turkey. I don't know if Pakistan ever got any ex-RAF Mk.4s with the hard wing.

North American built F-86Fs that came through MDAP from the United States, regardless of what they were built with, almost all got the full "F-40" modification prior to dispatch overseas. That includes the ones in South America, Iran, Japan, etc.

So about the only ones that are non-US that kept the hard, short span wing were those ex-RAF F.4s, later known as F-86E(M).

Edited November 1, 2013 by Jennings Heilig

[SaintsPhil]

Thanks, I was hoping the 'almost all' line I read about the PAF sabres meant there was an exception I could model!

[Jennings Heilig]

I think the PAF flew some Canadair Mk.6s they got from Iran. I believe all of their F-86Fs built by NAA had the long span slatted wing however. I don't recall ever seeing a photo of a PAF Sabre with a hard wing.

When I said "almost all" - that only applies to RAF service. When the RAF's Mk.4s were rehabbed for onward service in NATO they all got the full F-86E(M) upgrade, which included the hard wing.

Edited November 1, 2013 by Jennings Heilig

[James Craik]

You could try this R.C.A.F.Canadair Mk5 (F-30)

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f179/sabresix/F-86Mk5Lancer1.jpg