Sabrejet Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 I started this a while ago as a WIP but lack of motivation put it on hold for a bit. This is the #2 TF-86F as it appeared at the time of its first flight (it later gained an F-40 wing). Basic kit is Airfix's 1/48 Sabre 4, with extended forward fuselage (using a second kit), wings backdated to narrow-chord, slatted; wing moved forward (a TF-86F mod to re-establish CG); gun ports filled; seats by Pavla (front one modified to feature the folding headrest in its folded position); canopy from an old Maintrack F-100F conversion set (canopy is identical!); scratch-built speed brake bays; modified fin extension; 'F-86F'-type raised fuselage top vent/intake panel and the additional aft ventral strake. Decals are from Dek L's awesome reverse-printed sheet. Photography by Laurel & Hardy but there it is. 58 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billn53 Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 That looks great! You’ve done an outstanding job with the conversion. Bravo! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VolkerR. Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 Awesome. I love it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Bunting Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 Wow! That's a beauty! I'm pretty much an out of the box builder, however, I can really appreciate the neatness of the conversion. Adding fuselage, modifying and moving the wing and more... not a seam to be seen. Well done! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 very nice! but what a rare sight! I was aware of Japan having some Sabre trainers.... but not about anybody else.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham T Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 Strewth there's a LOT of work in that conversion but you'd never know it's not an OOB build! Nice!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted January 9, 2022 Author Share Posted January 9, 2022 49 minutes ago, exdraken said: very nice! but what a rare sight! I was aware of Japan having some Sabre trainers.... but not about anybody else.... Nope: only two, two-seat Sabres ever built. This is #2. I suspect you're thinking of the Fuji T-1. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAT69 Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 3 hours ago, exdraken said: I was aware of Japan having some Sabre trainers.... but not about anybody else.... I believe Japan used F-86Fs in the advanced training role but I don't believe they ever had two-seat Sabres. I'm open to correction if I'm wrong. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAT69 Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 Very nice work on the Sabre conversion. The TF-86F is little known by most aviation enthusiasts. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefly7 Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 Beautiful model Sabrejet, of a most interesting aircraft. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 3 hours ago, Sabrejet said: Nope: only two, two-seat Sabres ever built. This is #2. I suspect you're thinking of the Fuji T-1. You are right if course!! Thanks! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 Very nice, Duncan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMCS Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 Superb work 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bedders Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 Gorgeous! Justin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry1954 Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 Lovely job Duncan! Terry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 Beautiful work there Duncan and welcome back after a little hiatus. Stuart 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sky Keg Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 WOW!!!!! A two seat Sabre!!!!! It turned out great. I like it!!!! 😍 Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 A real rare beast,great work! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djos Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 Dream of every modeller who collects F-86 models, Stunning looking model. BRAVO! Best regards DJordje 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_W Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 Stunning build of an unusual subject. Can imagine that with a D nose as a Night Fighter prototype. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 Now there's something you don't see everyday - awesome job 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 Dayam, Duncan! Words fail me at this point; that is an incredible conversion, and looks more like a Tamiya/Kittyhawk kit than a conversion! Beautiful metal tones that look just like the period photos I have. Saving this build in case I ever get the nerve to do something with my Falcon conversion and one of my many Fujimi kits- at least I can rob the F-40 wing from one of them to do her after she got that wing. She's a beaut! Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted January 10, 2022 Author Share Posted January 10, 2022 Many thanks all for your lovely comments. Airfix's 1/48 Sabre has come inf for some stick of late but it can be made into a nice rendition of the superlative F-86. I have another one in the stash which I'll ponder on. I'll let you know if anything comes of it. And I really can't recommend those Dek L's (DEKL'S?) reverse-printed decals highly enough: they aren't as flimsy as I'd thought they'd be, and despite being a continuous carrier-film type, they snuggle down well and the trimmed carrier film is nigh-on impossible to see under a coat of clear. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerbob Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 20 hours ago, djos said: Dream of every modeller who collects F-86 models, I thought that was an F-86A in 1/48! Or was it an H in 1/48? I guess "they" (we?) have a lot of dreams. Out of curiosity, how much was the wing moved? The fact that the canopy is the same as F-100 suddenly makes this conversion seem a whole lot easier. Still, I"m filled with admiration for this sort of thing done on a silvery airframe- looks very nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire31 Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 Beautiful conversion! Kind regards, Joachim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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