North American F-86D Sabre Dog

[PeterB]

Back in 1975 Airfix issued their kit of the F-86D and I built one not long afterwards. Later I bought another one cheap to use as spares. I have used the national insignia from the decal sheet and for some reason "borrowed" the rear end of the jet tailpipe for another kit. Both the decs and the tailpipe can be replaced, and as it fits in with the time period I am modelling for this GB I thought I would have a go at building it.

The decs are currently taped to a window to get rid of some yellowing.

 

I guess most of us are fairly familiar with the development of the F-86 Sabre, but for those who are not, here is a brief background.

 

Back in January 1943 the USN ordered their first pure jet aircraft from McDonnell – the FH-1 Phantom – it is said that they chose this relatively new company because they were not as busy as the other major aircraft manufacturers, and they produced a fairly simple plane capable of around 500mph. As the war progressed the Navy decided to concentrate on jet fighters so issued a requirement at the end of 1944 for a a newer plane, and awarded contracts to both Vought and North American for what would become the F6U Pirate and the FJ-1 Fury. The latter plane was a relatively simple straight winged plane with a straight through design, ie a nose intake feeding a single engine. It was a bit faster than the Phantom at around 550mph and entered limited service in I believe 1947.

 

At the same time the USAAF as it was then ordered a similar plane from North American as the XF-86, asking for a speed of at least 600mph. This would have the naval equipment and the extra strengthening removed, air brakes fitted, provision for drop tanks, and a thinner wing, but by the time of the mock up review in 1945 it was clear it would fail to reach the 600+ mph requirement. However, as the war ended documentation became available on German research into swept wings, and North American got funding from the USAAF to produce a number of swept wing prototypes in August 1945.This led to the F-86A Sabre which enterer service just in time for the Korean war. Later a slightly improved B model was developed but the order for that was cancelled in favour of more urgently needed A models. At around the same time a spec was issued for a new “long range escort” fighter and also an all weather interceptor. North American designed and flew prototypes of the former as the F-86C, which was bigger and had a nose radar and side intakes, but that did not enter service. Initially they did not seem very interested in the Interceptor, but development problems and delays with the Northrop contender, the F-89 Scorpion resulted in them deciding to build the F-86D, commonly known as the “Sabre Dog”. Devlopment of the basic design continued with the F-86E having an all moving tail and the F-86F having the modified so called "6-3" wing without leading edge slats.

 

Cheers

 

Pete

[RidgeRunner]

What a great kit! Nice one, Peter!

 

Martin

 

 

[Col.]

Another great subject Pete and a classic kit of it

[PeterB]

When I had a closer look at this kit I realised that the drop tanks and pylons were missing and the traces of white paint on the sprue suggest that I used them and the tail pipe section when I was building what I believe was a Rareplanes vacform model of the FJ-4 Fury. Anyway, I went up into my study roof and found my original in one of the scrap boxes up there - it will donate the pylons, tanks and tail pipe so that makes things easier.

It is in one of the two optional markings provided in the kit, and is said to represent an F-86D-60-NA  of 520th FIS when based at Geiger Field near Washington in 1955 - I believe they were nicknamed the "Geiger Tigers". Whilst I was up in the roof I also found this.

I mentioned this recently in another GB but was beginning to wonder if my memory was failing as I cannot find it listed on Scalemates - an very early KP kit of the Mig-17 PFU with the AA-1 Alkali missiles (far too small when compared with the ones on my Mig-19 and Su-9). The wing planform is wrong and they seem to have corrected it in their Mig-17PF, which Scalemates say is the only version they made. In fact there is very little difference between a PF and a PFU as far as I know. The radome in the intake may be bigger and the missiles and rails replace the cannon. I may be building the PF in the "Africa" GB later this year, possibly converting it back to the F version using an Aeroclub conversion set I have.

 

Moving on to the "new" kit it is actually quite well detailed internally given its age.

Airfix have provided a floor together with front and rear bulkheads, a stick, an IP and a slightly basic seat. They have also for once provided the intake trunking for the nose and the tailpipe, so I will build this OOB. As to the paint scheme in the cockpit, Airfix say black, but my sources suggest that whilst the early day fighter Sabres were Interior Green and/or black, the later versions were light grey which matches what @Jb65rams has done with his.

 

Second part of the background.

Work began on the design of what would become the F-86D in March 1949 as project NA–164. The 18” dish for a Westinghouse AN/APG-36 radar was fitted in a plastic dome on the upper nose, resulting in a revised intake design, and the aircraft was to be armed with a retractable pack carrying 24 2.75” Mighty Mouse rockets as also used in the F-89 Scorpion, F-94 Starfire and to a lesser extent in the F-102A Delta Dagger. The fire control system allowed these to be fired at the target from any angle and the optimum range was around 4500 ft to produce a “shotgun scatter”. The warhead had the same explosive power as a 75mm shell and a single hit could in theory be fatal, but in reality it was found that getting that hit was somewhat harder than expected – a full salvo of all 24 rockets having only a 60% probability of a single hit on a bomber. The option of installing guns was considered but not adopted. The unguided rockets were also seen in pods under the wings of the F4D-1 Skyray, and the Brits provided them as a option on the Lightning and Sea Vixen. However the massed formations of bombers as seen in WWII had by then been replaced by small numbers of more spaced out planes following the development of nuclear bombs in the Soviet Union so they gradually fell out of favour once guided air to air missiles became available.

 

The combination of the radar, rocket pack and an afterburning engine plus more fuel resulted in a longer and deeper fuselage than the F-86A, though the same wings and undercarriage were used. The horizontal tail surfaces were of the all flying type as developed for the F-86E but of larger area and without dihedral. The production version NA-165 was originally going to be ordered as the F-95 and the first prototype flew in December 1949. However it was decided it would be easier to get the money for the plane through Congress if it did not look like a brand new design, but rather just another version of the Sabre, so it was retitled the F-86D Unlike the Scorpion and Starfire it was a single seater and so it needed a new fire control system to help the pilot find and engage his target. Development of this and the electronic fuel control system for the modified afterburning engine caused delays, but the first production model reached the flight test centre at Edwards AFB in March 1952 and the 3625th Flying Training Wing began to receive them in July of that year. The first active Squadrons began to receive their “Dogs” in February 1953.

 

To be concluded next time.

 

Cheers

 

Pete

Edited January 9, 2021 by PeterB

[Col.]

Your MiG-17PF could be the Hasegawa kit. A blast from my distant past and still available in some places...

 

https://www.kingkit.co.uk/product/hasegawa-aircraft-1-72-js-083-mig-17-d-e-fresco

[PeterB]

Thanks Col,

 

I could have sworn it was KP but I think you are right. The instructions show the same error on the wing trailing edge and the undersized AA-1. You learn something every day! If it is Hasegawa as it seems, it certainly was not one of their better efforts, with the wingspan being almost a metre too much and the chord being too great as well. In fact I have just realized that the fuselage is about 1cm long as well so I suspect it is another of their wrong scale kits - about 1/67 maybe, so that would be the same as their Mig 21 that Frog reboxed.

 

Cheers

 

Pete

Edited January 9, 2021 by PeterB

[Col.]

The memory of a KP MiG-17 has been niggling me all day and a second search turned up this,

 

http://modelingmadness.com/scott/korean/kp17preview.htm

 

no missiles though so looks as if your one is the Hasegawa kit.

[PeterB]

Hi Col,

 

Yes I have the KP Mig-17PF in my stash together with an Aeroclub conversion back the the 17F should I decide to use it. I will have to check which type I have decs for if I decide to build it for the Africa GB. The kit does come with Egyptian decs but they don't look too good.

 

Pete

Edited January 9, 2021 by PeterB

[PeterB]

All the interior bits are now in and as suggested by Airfix I have added 3g of lead in the nose.

It actually seems to be a pretty good fit so far.

Besides the usual wheels up or down, Airfix provide a couple more options. The airbrakes can be open or closed and they have moulded quite nice details both in the wells and on the inside of the brakes but I have modelled them closed. They also provide a 4 piece rocket pod if you want to show it lowered, but I will probably use the blanking plate to have it retracted.

 

Concluding part of the story -

Throughout production changes were introduced. Most were to do with instruments and other internal equipment but on the D-20 batch the external power receptacle was re-positioned under the fuselage to allow rapid starting when on “alert”, and the D-25 batch introduced provision for external drop tanks - I think there must have been more than one type used as the kit ones are quite small, whereas pics show longer ones with endplates on the fins as in the Fury - either that or Airfix got it wrong! The D-45 batch introduced one of the more noticeable changes when a braking parachute was fitted to shorten the landing run, resulting in a slightly different profile below the vertical tail, and at the same time a more powerful engine was fitted. The braking parachute modification was retrofitted to many earlier models it seems. The Airfix kit has markings for a D-50 and a D-60, both of which had the modified tail from new, which Airfix seem to have modelled correctly. The F-86D was by far the most numerous aircraft in Air Defense Command for several years , equipping around 75 active squadrons and making up around 60% of the planes defending US airspace. It served all over the world and many were exported. Quite a few of the late models were converted to the improved F-86L model which had the much delayed SAGE system allowing planes in the US to be guided more of less automatically to their targets. As the F-102A and later the F-106A entered service, F-86D's were transferred to the National Guard, starting in 1957. The type was withdrawn in summer 1965.

 

For the sake of completion, in brief, the F-86K was similar to the "Dog" in most respects but was intended for the Mutual Aid Program, so had a different guidance system and also had a cannon option instead of the rockets. It was exported to a number of countries and Fiat in Italy also built it under licence. The F-86H was an improved version of the F-86F fighter/bomber with more powerful engine and extra hard points under the wings. Canadair also built a version of the Sabre, which was the one used by the RAF pending introduction of the Hunter.

 

Cheers

 

Pete

 

[PeterB]

Almost ready for primer.

I will need to put a smear of filler on the wing to fuselage joints on the underside as the dihedral left a small gap. Otherwise it fits pretty well, although the primer will no doubt show up a few imperfections. I think Airfix have tried to mould the 120 gallon tanks though I suspect they are a little too thin - pictures suggest that they were slightly "pot bellied" on the underside. They may also be a little short, though it is hard to be certain as there were several types of tanks used on Sabres including the longer "Misawa" ones and various larger ferry tanks, and some had vertical or angled endplates on the fins as on the Fury FJ-4. Unfortunately my various sources are not too clear on exactly which type of tanks the F-86D would have had normally. I will strip the old tanks down with over cleaner tonight, once Mrs PB has gone to bed - otherwise she will complain about the smell (with some justification I have to admit)!😄

 

This was clearly one of the better Airfix kits of the 1970's - the undercarriage legs are really thin - perhaps too thin so I will have to be careful. Certainly more like scale thickness than their usual offerings. Fortunately they get some support from the outer wheel doors. The main wheels are pretty good too - unlike my Heller and Matchbox Sabres they have moulded the pronounced brake drum or whatever it is that sticks out of the hub on the inside. Perhaps they had a new mould maker who did not stay long? All I have to do now is decide which variety of "silver" I am going to use. My pics seem to show a fairly dark polished sort of Aluminium finish, but I must say I am quite taken with the faded "white aluminium" sort of finish @Jb65rams has used on his. I will have to see what the normal Aluminium finish looks like on my Lightning. I will probably be modelling the kit option of the block -50-NA srial 52-10035 from the 512th FIS at Manston in the UK in 1956 so it should not have been too "weathered", but probably more so that the other option 53--845 in 1955! But then here is an undated pic.

It does look quite faded.

 

Cheers

 

Pete

Edited January 10, 2021 by PeterB

[PeterB]

So, everything is on bar the main wheels and the drop tanks - it has gone together really well considering its age.

Now all I have to do is decide what the base "silver" colour will be and get it sprayed. I have used very little filler - OK not quite up to Tamiya fit standards but pretty close.

 

Cheers

 

Pete

[Col.]

It certainly looks to have gone together well for you Pete  

[PeterB]

First coat of Aluminium paint on.

Not too bad - less yellow than in the pic. I will give it a couple of days to harden then check to see if it needs any touching up.

 

Pete

Edited January 14, 2021 by PeterB

[PeterB]

I have started putting the decs on - I was expecting problems as the kit decs come from the period when Airfix decs had a very matt finish and were not too robust, and of course they are at least 30 years old as well. Sure enough they were inclined to break up, but after a couple of thin coats of varnish they have so for gone on reasonably well, though as a precaution I did take a copy of them in case I had to make some myself.

In fact, the yellow flashes down the side of the fuselage are from my original kit back in around 1976 as they were in a better condition than the new ones.

 

I did check Hannants site but they had no AM decs for the F-86D. However I did find a sheet from a Hasegawa F-86D on offer on a well known auction site. When I went to bed last night they were at £1.00 for the sheet and instructions (no kit) with 2 days to go, but when I looked this morning a couple of persons had apparently got into an automated bidding frenzy and the price was up to £52.00! I don't know if they perhaps made an error in their maximum bid or if they really are desperate to get this sheet, but they could buy two and a half brand new Hasegawa kits complete with decs for that price - I hope that the decs work when they get them! I imagine the seller is happy.

 

Cheers

 

Pete

Edited January 23, 2021 by PeterB

[Col.]

I'm watching the same sheet there at the moment  

[PeterB]

Hi Col,

 

Yes, it is amusing. Due to the size of my stash I tend not to use the auction site very often, but the first thing I do is check to see if anybody is using autoimated bidding. I then tend to wait until a couple of minutes before the auction closes and hit it with an automated bid with a limit set according to what I am prepared to pay in the hope that they have set their max bid and are not watching. Sometimes it works and I get a bargain, and sometimes a bidder goes well above my limit and is welcome to it - another will probably turn up in a while. It is of course better when there are a few of the same kits up for sale at the same time as it gets some of the high bidders out of the way before I join in. Sometimes the seller picks a daft end time, such as my Airfix Draken which ended at 2.30 on a weekday afternoon before the pandemic, when most people were at work, and I was second and final bidder at £5.00. I think the only kit I paid more than I intended for was the Airfix 1/72 TSR-2 which cost me £30.00 about 10 years ago, but I missed it when it was on sale in the shops and always wanted one. Bit more than I liked paying but probably about what it would cost if Airfix re-released it now - I really must get round to building it soon.

 

This and other sites are useful, but you have to use a bit of cunnng sometimes, and also to know how much you really want to pay - I wonder if the bidders for the dec sheet in question really wanted to go that high initially, before they got sucked in by the competitive nature of auctions, which is what I presume is happening - the seller is getting a late Christmas present!

 

Cheers

 

Pete

Edited January 23, 2021 by PeterB

[Col.]

I was wondering if the bidder had tried to put in £5.20 and got it horribly wrong

[PeterB]

Hi Col,

 

HI Col. 

 

I wondered that too but there are two of them at it.  Actually there is something suspicious about the bid pattern - at around 1.00am this morning it was still showing £1 whilst the bid list shows a bid of £6 on the 18th! Then, after a couple of relatively small increases as you would normally expect, one bidder went to £16 this morning and it went mad, with bid after bid in the space of 7 minutes including some massive increases. Not at all normal and it makes me wonder if there is a fault on the site. particularly as I got a mail telling me they had blocked my account as they thought it had been hacked, and yet there is no activity on it for months! I have changed my password and confirmed security as requested but I will have to keep an eye on it for a while!

 

Pete

Edited January 23, 2021 by PeterB

[Col.]

Hmm, that is suspicious Pete, wonder if someone has come up with a new style of scam

[PeterB]

Hi Col,

 

I suppose it could just be that the bidders wanted decs for one of the 2 Squadrons on the sheet - maybe they are not generally available.

 

Speaking of decs, it was a bit of a struggle and I had to do a jigsaw with one and repair another with a fine paint brush but I got there in the end.

A little touching up to do then a final coat of satin varnish and it is done., though given the current weather it could be a while before it is in the gallery! Since starting this build I have read somehwere that nose is not quite right, but I have no idea what exactly is supposed to be wrong though the radome does look a bit short and fat compared with the Hasegawa one. Whatever, I am quite pleased with it. Second hand ones seem to be going for quite high prices - nearly as much as a brand new Hasegawa one. The 406 FIW consisted of the 512FIS, 513FIS and 514 FIS which all had the same marking scheme, but the flash down the side was respectively in Yellow as on this one, red and dark blue, the same colours as the tail stripes, though the dec Airfix provide looks more like black on top!

 

Cheers

 

Pete

Edited January 24, 2021 by PeterB

[Col.]

The reason I started following what turned into the bidding frenzy was to get the sheet as an option for my own two Airfix kits but as you say it's now going for close to the price of two Hasegawa kits  Seeing how lovely your Sabre Dog looks with her decals on is encouraging me to stick with the kit decal option for that one now. The other was going to be basis for a conversion to K so will need alternative decals anyway.

[PeterB]

Hi Col,

 

Depending how old your decs are, a coat or two of varnish or MS liquid decal film would definitely be a good idea, as might the "klear" system for gluing them on that Steve in NZ advocates. When I built my original I went for the rather flash sharkmouth scheme, as the decs for this version looked a bit bland to my mind back in my mid twenties, but now I actually think it looks better. It is of course a trade off between all the curved pieces such as on the tanks with the one scheme, and the long, thin and fragile yellow fuselage flashes on this one. With the box art version you have to paint the front of the tanks in a blue that matches the decs (Airfix French Blue G5 or nearest modern equivalent) and then put fancy white line decs on to make the shape - presumably you then have to touch up with silver, or maybe my hands were steady enough then to put the decs on first then fill in the blue. At least you have 2 kits so some back up decs. Just don't leave it too long as the decs probably have a limited shelf life!

 

Good luck finding decs for a "K".

 

Pete

[Col.]

Aye, the options for Sabre D decals are rare enough, the situation is fully worse for a K You look to have done great things with the decal set from your kit though

[PeterB]

Hi Col,

 

The decs are a bit of a mixed bag - some from the kit, some from my original 1975 Airfix kit, and the stars and wing "USAF" markings are from my decal stock, which is why the wing "USAF" are actually dark blue, unlike the Airfix version on the fuselage - I believe blue is correct for that but the Serial and "Buzz number" were indeed black at that period in time.

 

As I recall the "K" was the "export" version of the "D" so you might have expected some Italian, French, Dutch or Norwegian schemes to be available, Perhaps some of our fellow modellers "on the continent" could put you on the track of some? Even if the nose is wrong, it is a nicely detailed kit for its age and mine went together pretty well.

 

Pete

Edited January 24, 2021 by PeterB

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

41 minutes ago, Col. said:

The other was going to be basis for a conversion to K so will need alternative decals anyway.

 

10 minutes ago, Col. said:

Aye, the options for Sabre D decals are rare enough, the situation is fully worse for a K You look to have done great things with the decal set from your kit though

Which country are you looking to do with your “K” conversion ? I would start there and see if they operated any F-86 types at all. If so use those and fill in whats missing. If not a Sabre unit before the “K” then see what the unit operated before the “K” and see if said decals are available and could possibly be modified. Ive done this with a multitude of builds myself. I also want to convert Revell’s 1/48th Dog into a “K” someday.