Hello Brothers... Continuing on with my exploration of Rub N Buff as a Bare Metal Finish for model airplanes....
Today, I'm doing the official start of my second attempt...
The North American F-86 Sabre
The F-86 Sabre was a revolutionary aircraft when it first entered the scene in 1947; the first American production fighter with a swept wing. It met with success in battle too, ending the Russian MiG-15’s dominance during the Korean War in the early 1950s. The type saw widespread use in nearly every Western-aligned nation, with factories set up outside the United States in Italy, Japan, Australia and Canada. The production run, with numerous different variants, eventually developed into a transonic aircraft, ("F" models) and reached almost ten thousand airframes, making it the most produced, Western-designed jet fighter in history. The type lived on long after its days as a front-line fighter were over, serving ultimately as a remotely-controlled live target drone for pilots to hone their skills in the use of air-to-air missiles. A healthy number of Sabres have made it into civilian hands, with a number flying on the air show circuit, and several more under restoration to fly...
I am going to present a specific aircraft, Captain Joseph McConnell's mount 'Beautious Butch' I hope you all enjoy the journey....
F-86F-1-NA sn. 51-2910 is the last Sabre which jet-ace Captain Joseph McConnell flew from Suwon Air Base during the Korean War with the 39th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing, 5th Air Force... While stationed there he is credited with shooting down sixteen MiG-15 jet fighters during the conflict, while damaging an additional five others... Captain McConnell is America’s highest-scoring jet ace, but interestingly, he started out as a navigator on B-24 Liberator bombers during WWII, flying on sixty combat missions. He stayed in the military following the war though, and pursued his dream of becoming a fighter pilot; earning his wings at Williams AFB, Arizona in February, 1948. He joined the Korean conflict, quite late, arriving for service in September, 1952. his first aircraft was F-86E-10-NA, sn. 51-2753...
McConnell had the last two of his fighters painted with the name, 'Beautious Butch' on the cockpit left side in honor of his wife Pearl, whose nickname was “Butch”... All of his victories came between January and May, 1953, in aircraft named for his wife, with the first eight being scored in his second assigned Sabre, F-86F-15-NA, sn. 51-12971...
On April 14th, McConnell was attacked by a MiG-15 piloted by Soviet ace Semyon Fedorets, McConnell's F-86 was severely damaged but McConnell was able to reverse the fight and shoot down Fedorets. (watching Fedorets eject from his destroyed Mig-15) Too damaged to land, (barely flying), fortunately, he was able to reach the Yellow Sea and managed to eject from his stricken fighter, and a rescue helicopter plucked him from the water and brought him home. (both Fedorets and McConnell were credited with victories for the action)
He was back flying in combat the following day though, and shot down another MiG-15.
The third Sabre which McConnell flew in combat was F-86F-1-NA, sn. 51-2910.
He shot down his final three MiG’s on May 18th, 1953... He and his wingman took on a flight of 30 MiG 15's by themselves... His fellow pilots were listening to the combat radio calls on the base radio when he loudly proclaimed to his worried wingman "Don't Worry, we have them all to ourselves!" (he shot down two of them, his wingman got one) Then went up again later in the day and shot down a third... (his 16th)
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for this action...
McConnell was immediately ordered home to the USA, (Gen. Barcus, head of Far East Air Force, didn't want to risk his top ace to any further combat, and is reported to have said, "I want that man on his way back home to the U.S.A. before you hear the period at the end of this sentence.") His F-86 was quickly repainted to remove the Russian Mig symbols he was using for victory markers in exchange for N Korean/Chinese red stars and a very famous, obviously staged, photo was taken of him and his crew chief for publication, they even re-spelled his aircraft's nickname to how the public affairs section thought it should be spelled... (shooting Russian MiG's down over Red China was still a military secret at the time)
A few days later his aircraft was photographed on the ramp at Suwon clean of any personal markings...
On arrival home, he served with the Sabre-equipped 445th FS at George AFB in California. Shortly afterwards, he was assigned as a test pilot at Edwards Air Force Base to evaluate the then new F-86H variant. While conducting a test flight in the 5th production example, F-86H-1-NA, sn.52-1981, on August 25th, 1954, the aircraft experienced a horizontal control surface failure at low altitude and crashed. McConnell tried to ride it out and land the plane, (dead-stick landings were a specialty of his in Korea) but a gust of wind off the desert floor lifted a wing as he was settling to the ground, too close to recover... He ejected from the aircraft, but it was too late, He was found next to his seat, his unopened parachute separated and came to rest a half mile away....
His 16 aerial victories made him the leading American Ace of the Korean War. He remains the highest-scoring American jet ace in history.
This is going to be my attempt to render a decent model of his last combat aircraft....
We're proud to announce that we reached a new agreement to have the license from Hermione's Association, allowing us to put back in the market our great Hermione Lafayette model.
Discover this astonishing model, as well as some related products like a specific figurines set to decorate the ship, a paints set with all the colors you need to complete this replica or our range of tools, at www.artesanialatina.net
You can also visit the website of the Hermione's Association to discover the great work they do: fregate-hermione.com
Here is a photo of my model of her in happier, more optimistic times.
Sadly, it was Shackleton himself who’s poor decision to push south against the advice of the whalers on South Georgia, which put them in the situation they found themselves in. The choice of S/Y Endurance/Polaris for the mission didn’t help matters since her hull wasn’t designed for pressure. She was originally intended to be a luxury polar yacht used for hunting trips and the like. However, had this story not played out, we wouldn’t have had one of the finest tales ever told, and for that I’m glad.
It’s no surprise she’s preserved as well as she is, and I’m glad she held together on the way down. From the waterline down, she has to be a right mess and I’m glad the structure seems to still resemble a ship.
Congratulations to the discoverers! Huzzah indeed.
More of the DUKW driver:
Daz file cleaned up and made printable by Game Print. Bad gaps all filled in with no serious loss of detail.
Pics show the figure fresh off the printer and post-cure, no fettling yet. But depending on the skill of the digital sculptor, some amazing detail can be included, as evidenced by the lacing, cuffs, collars, face. Of course a lot of this would be lost in smaller scales... this big boy is 1:8. BTW, I didn't bother buying the hair package! But he'll be wearing a helmet anyway.
Hi folks, first of all, thank you for your nice and positive comments, much appreciated. It's that time again for a little update. Starboard and port side scuppers completed and forward railing completed.
Jolley Roger got a reaction from Edwardkenway in F-86F-30 Sabre by Egilman - Kinetic - 1/32nd scale
Jolley Roger got a reaction from popeye the sailor in F-86F-30 Sabre by Egilman - Kinetic - 1/32nd scale
Jolley Roger got a reaction from lmagna in F-86F-30 Sabre by Egilman - Kinetic - 1/32nd scale
Jolley Roger got a reaction from Egilman in F-86F-30 Sabre by Egilman - Kinetic - 1/32nd scale
Jolley Roger got a reaction from Old Collingwood in F-86F-30 Sabre by Egilman - Kinetic - 1/32nd scale
Jolley Roger reacted to Egilman in F-86F-30 Sabre by Egilman - Kinetic - 1/32nd scale
Jolley Roger got a reaction from Beef Wellington in Search for Endurance
Jolley Roger got a reaction from modeller_masa in Search for Endurance
Jolley Roger got a reaction from Canute in F-86F-30 Sabre by Javlin - FINISHED - Kinetic - 1/32
Jolley Roger got a reaction from Javlin in F-86F-30 Sabre by Javlin - FINISHED - Kinetic - 1/32