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QF-86E Sabre drone

Terry1954
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Terry1954 Completely Obsessed Member

Terry1954

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Here is one of my latest builds from the Academy F-86F Sabre, the QF-86E drone aircraft.

 

As one of the founding members of the IPMS Target facilities SIG, I thought I should set cracking and build some aircraft that were appropriate to this SIG. After all, we will have a table to fill at Telford going forward! Other BM members include @Martian, @corsaircorp, @Corsairfoxfouruncle and @general melchett. Others always welcome!

 

Apart from the internet, one of the most useful reference sources for the build was the excellent book by Duncan Curtis , Naval Fighters No 58 on the QF-86E/F/H/Sabre. These aircraft were full scale aerial targets converted from numerous different marks and origins of Sabre. Thanks to @Sabrejet for an excellent reference publication.

 

The Academy kit is an F with the later ‘6-3’ root chord extension wing which was also fitted to the RCAF Canadair Sabre 5, from which this conversion originally came, becoming the QF-86E. So this was a reasonable choice for this model.

 

All QF-86E drones seem to have been acquired for US Army use, and the serial I chose 23215 was eventually to meet a gruesome end from a US Army Patriot missile, during 1979! The main driver for choosing this aircraft was that amongst my stash of Microscale decals, I had sheet 72-288 with markings for two F-86’s and a QF-86 23215.

 

The Academy kit went together well and seems to be reasonably good on surface detail.

 

I usually use Alclad for NMF finishes like this but I tried out the AK Extreme metallics for the first time, and they seem to be very good. After airbrushing their gloss black primer, a combination of various colour metallic shades were airbrushed onto various different panels to try and achieve a realistic pure metallic look. The orange tail and wing marking were applied using MRP’s excellent International Orange Lacquer, over a white undercoat. MRP’s gloss varnish was applied prior to decals, and after decals, followed by some very light oil washes. A final coat of MRP’s semi-gloss varnish sealed everything in. These MRP varnishes have become one of my favourite solutions for finishing coats.

 

Some initial pictures during construction

 

IMG20211022160053 (1)

 

IMG20211110202514

 

IMG20211120213433

 

IMG20211120213443

 

IMG20220208161853

 

And onto the completed model

 

IMG20220530175404

 

IMG20220530175409

 

IMG20220530175417

 

IMG20220530175501

 

IMG20220530175504

 

IMG20220530175539

 

IMG20220530175614

 

IMG20220530175618

 

IMG20220530175624

 

IMG20220530175636

 

IMG20220530175657

 

IMG20220530175709

 

IMG20220530175740

 

IMG20220530175804

 

IMG20220530180126

 

I daresay there will be future builds of a US Naval QF-86F and a USAF QF-86H.

 

Comments/questions welcome

 

Thanks for looking.

 

T

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Corsairfoxfouruncle Blabber Mouth

Corsairfoxfouruncle

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Great looking drone, Ive got a photo like this of a Sabre.5, a German camouflaged one used as a drone, and a former JASDF Blue Impulse F as a drone. Its still wearing the JASDF colors and Stars & Bars. 

Edited by Corsairfoxfouruncle
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Terry1954 Completely Obsessed Member

Terry1954

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20 hours ago, keefr22 said:

Lovely model Terry, cracking paintjob and a really interesting scheme! 👍

 

Keith

 

Thanks Keith, it was an enjoyable build.

 

20 hours ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said:

Great looking drone, Ive got a photo like this of a Sabre.5, a German camouflaged one used as a drone, and a former JASDF Blue Impulse F as a drone. Its still wearing the JASDF colors and Stars & Bars. 

 

Thanks Dennis. As you say there are many other Sabre variants that were turned to drones, and I hope to do a few more soon.

 

20 hours ago, PattheCat said:

Superb Sabre!

 

Thank you sir!

 

19 hours ago, Learstang said:

Excellent Sabre with a very striking paint scheme!


Regards,

 

Jason

 

Thanks Jason.

 

18 hours ago, Sabrejet said:

Smashing job! Must get off my butt and do a QF-86F sometime :)

 

Thank you Duncan, it's all your fault really, the book is so inspiring! I agree, get cracking on your QF-86F, I suspect that would be in 1/48?

 

14 hours ago, Vultures1 said:

Very nice indeed! Great work and an eye-catching paint scheme - well done 

 

Thank you!

 

13 hours ago, k5054nz said:

Oh, now that is sharp! Beautiful work!

 

Thanks! 

 

12 hours ago, RidgeRunner said:

Now that is very nice, Terry :)

 

Thanks Martin, more to come at some point as I have quite a few more 1/72 F-86's in the stash plus a couple of 1/48...........😁

 

11 hours ago, giemme said:

Wow  Terry, that looks superb! :worthy: Glad the AK Extreme Metal paints worked for you, I use them myself  :winkgrin:  :thumbsup:

 

Ciao 

 

Thank you Giorgio. I am now a big fan of AK's new metallics, so will be using them a lot I think.

 

9 hours ago, general melchett said:

Lovely job Terry, great result on an interesting choice. Not the easiest scheme to mask up. Now I'll have to root around for something particularly quirky for the table.

 

Thank you General! It was a bit of a masking challenge, but I have to say one of the few I've done lately without any paint lifts! It would be an honour to have the table blessed with something quirky from you sir ........... but no pressure of course!

 

9 hours ago, Pete in a shed said:

Really unusual scheme, wonderful job with the metalwork and orange.:like:

Pete

 

Thanks Pete. I've taken it to a couple of recent events, and it does seem to catch peoples eye!

 

2 hours ago, Wulfman said:

Beautiful looking Sabre !

 

Wulfman

 

Thanks Wulfman!

 

Thanks again everyone for your very kind comments.

 

Watch out for an RFI for some Ryan KD drones shortly!

 

T

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Sabrejet Very Obsessed Member

Sabrejet

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6 minutes ago, Terry1954 said:

Thank you Duncan, it's all your fault really, the book is so inspiring! I agree, get cracking on your QF-86F, I suspect that would be in 1/48?

 

Most likely: I did 'your' QF-86E (based on the Heller kit) maaaaany moons ago and did a QF-86E conversion from the Hasegawa 1/32 F-86F-40 too. So a 1/48 QF-86F seems the correct version in the most suitable scale. Don't hold your breath though...

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Courageous Completely Obsessed Member

Courageous

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Well look at that, he's actually finished it and a right pucker job too. And before you get your stick out, you'll have to wait and see if I do QF as I have so many OTHER Sabres to do first. Now, we have small matter of a Vosper...🚤.

 

Stuart

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Terry1954 Completely Obsessed Member

Terry1954

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On 6/26/2022 at 10:38 PM, Courageous said:

Well look at that, he's actually finished it and a right pucker job too. And before you get your stick out, you'll have to wait and see if I do QF as I have so many OTHER Sabres to do first. Now, we have small matter of a Vosper...🚤.

 

Stuart

 

Thanks Stuart, glad you like. I'm hoping we'll see a QF from you someday and of course a D, and maybe even an H, we can dream! And as for that Vosper of mine, maybe your dreams will come true one day soon 🤞

 

10 hours ago, bigbadbadge said:

Love that scheme Terry,  the variation in metal shades really adds to the overall beauty, such a stunning looking Aircraft too.

Great work 

Chris

 

Thanks again Chris. For me, shade variations on NMF aircraft are becoming the norm these days, unless the real article has a painted silver finish (as many did have).

 

T.

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