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F-86F-30 Sabre by Egilman - Kinetic - 1/32nd scale


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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... 

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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...

842497292_2.2.1_F-86F-15-NA51-12971BeautiousButch39FIS51FIW5AF.thumb.jpg.6c88d243ec0c3a753899e6ac76dd61ae.jpg1607507894_2.2.0_F-86F-15-NA51-12971BeautiousButch39FIS51FIW5AF.jpg.03bce7d02acea77c4558992853390e60.jpg

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)

2.2.2_McCONNELL-Joseph-C.-Jr.-Captain-USAF-rescued-from-Yellow-Sea-by-Sikorsky-SH-19B-3rd-Air-Rescue-Group-12-April-1953..jpg.871c47b38fdf3d70618e1d4f1bcfa8b7.jpg

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.

2.3_3_15_b3.jpg.c4cd20865c96dedc25e739bc3e5b8b26.jpg

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)

951013134_2.4_F-86F-1-NA51-2910BeautiousButchII39FIS51FIW5AF.jpg.b1b5296f2c00b4c3b4af468205e67fa6.jpg

A few days later his aircraft was photographed on the ramp at Suwon clean of any personal markings...

553281668_2.5_F-86F-1-NA51-291039FIS51FIW5AF.jpg.883820b25340e8e5cece40a97dc3795a.jpg

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....

 

Lets take a walk.....

 

EG

Edited by Egilman

Current Build: F-86F-30 Sabre by Egilman - Kinetic - 1/32nd scale

In the Garage: East Bound & Down, Building a Smokey & the Bandit Kenworth Rig in 1/25th scale

Completed: M8A1 HST  1930 Packard Boattail Speedster  M1A1 75mm Pack Howitzer  F-4J Phantom II Bell H-13's P-51B/C

Temporary Suspension: USS Gwin DD-433  F-104C Starfighter "Blue Jay Four" 1/32nd Scale

Terminated Build: F-104C Starfighter

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote:

"Relish Today, Ketchup Tomorrow"

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Looking forward to this brother,   count me in.

 

OC.

Current builds  


28mm  Battle of Waterloo   attack on La Haye Saint   Diorama.

1/700  HMS Hood   Flyhawk   with  PE, Resin  and Wood Decking.

 

 

 

Completed works.

 

Dragon 1/700 HMS Edinburgh type 42 batch 3 Destroyer plastic.

HMS Warspite Academy 1/350 plastic kit and wem parts.

HMS Trafalgar Airfix 1/350 submarine  plastic.

Black Pearl  1/72  Revell   with  pirate crew.

Revell  1/48  Mosquito  B IV

Eduard  1/48  Spitfire IX

ICM    1/48   Seafire Mk.III   Special Conversion

1/48  Kinetic  Sea Harrier  FRS1

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have seat,  will travel ;) 

I yam wot I yam!

finished builds:
Billings Nordkap 476 / Billings Cux 87 / Billings Mary Ann / Billings AmericA - reissue
Billings Regina - bashed into the Susan A / Andrea Gail 1:20 - semi scratch w/ Billing instructions
M&M Fun Ship - semi scratch build / Gundalow - scratch build / Jeanne D'Arc - Heller
Phylly C & Denny-Zen - the Lobsie twins - bashed & semi scratch dual build

Billing T78 Norden

 

in dry dock:
Billing's Gothenborg 1:100 / Billing's Boulogne Etaples 1:20
Billing's Half Moon 1:40 - some scratch required
Revell U.S.S. United States 1:96 - plastic/ wood modified / Academy Titanic 1:400
Trawler Syborn - semi scratch / Holiday Harbor dual build - semi scratch

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Seems like all too many top aces of WWII and Korea were sent back to the states for their own safety just to get assigned to experimental aircraft research and end up dying anyway.:(

Lou

 

Build logs: Colonial sloop Providence 1/48th scale kit bashed from AL Independence

Currant builds:

Constructo Brigantine Sentinel (Union) (On hold)

Minicraft 1/350 Titanic (For the Admiral)

1/350 Heavy Cruiser USS Houston (Resin)

Currant research/scratchbuild:

Schooner USS Lanikai/Hermes

Non ship build log:

1/35th UH-1H Huey

 

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34 minutes ago, lmagna said:

Seems like all too many top aces of WWII and Korea were sent back to the states for their own safety just to get assigned to experimental aircraft research and end up dying anyway.:(

I was thinking the same thing, Lou.   I read where someone said that a test pilot needs nerves of steel, they also need a huge sense of caution whereas "aces" tend to go all out.

Mark
"The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me

Current Build:                                                                                             
Past Builds:
 La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD           Triton Cross-Section   

 NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit                                                                            HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64               

 

Non-Ship Model:                                                                                         On hold, maybe forever:           

CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed                                                   Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned)         

         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

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On 3/27/2022 at 7:31 PM, Old Collingwood said:

Looking forward to this brother,   count me in.

 

OC.

 

On 3/28/2022 at 9:04 AM, popeye the sailor said:

have seat,  will travel ;) 

 

On 3/28/2022 at 10:39 AM, Canute said:

I'm in, and in the front row, too.

Welcome aboard My Friends...

 

Although this is another RnB test, I'm going to do this one as a stand alone display piece trying for the best result possible... One of the things I'll be trying to accomplish is this...

100604-F-1234S-136.thumb.jpg.b0d2054a4bf59e12be76aceacf953ed2.jpg

Blue to white....

100604-F-1234S-142.thumb.jpg.1d8fb5e427c3f2620525af86d5d8c151.jpg

Fuzzy reflectiveness on closeup

100615-F-1234S-005.thumb.jpg.8339f32cf37feb668062e5107999e570.jpg

Sky Blue...

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Bright White...

f-86.webp.e25164196985be1bc2a08273857ccbc4.webp

And dark bluish steel gray....

 

All in the same finish.... and I will complete it even if I don't get all the variations....

 

This is the real test can a good polished BMF be done... We are going to find out.... (I believe for a high flying aircraft the only way to describe the finish is chameleon like, it changes with the surroundings)

I don't know if it can be done, but I'm going to give it one heck of a college try...

 

Thanks for following along...

Current Build: F-86F-30 Sabre by Egilman - Kinetic - 1/32nd scale

In the Garage: East Bound & Down, Building a Smokey & the Bandit Kenworth Rig in 1/25th scale

Completed: M8A1 HST  1930 Packard Boattail Speedster  M1A1 75mm Pack Howitzer  F-4J Phantom II Bell H-13's P-51B/C

Temporary Suspension: USS Gwin DD-433  F-104C Starfighter "Blue Jay Four" 1/32nd Scale

Terminated Build: F-104C Starfighter

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote:

"Relish Today, Ketchup Tomorrow"

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On 3/28/2022 at 12:33 PM, lmagna said:

Seems like all too many top aces of WWII and Korea were sent back to the states for their own safety just to get assigned to experimental aircraft research and end up dying anyway.:(

 

On 3/28/2022 at 1:10 PM, mtaylor said:

I was thinking the same thing, Lou.   I read where someone said that a test pilot needs nerves of steel, they also need a huge sense of caution whereas "aces" tend to go all out.

Yep it's why the Airforce created the Test Pilots School at Muroc in the early '50's they found that there were two types of pilots the Jimmy Doolittle type seat of the pants flyer, and the Orville Wright types who needed to understand everything in a methodical engineering approach to flying.... Both could make good test pilots if they have what Yeager called the "gift".... Sometimes like in the case of McConnell, the pilot could do everything right and still get killed.... (McConnell's loss was directly attributable to bad maintenance procedures and sloppy manufacturing quality control and several AF heads rolled cause of it) Yeager was actually given the task of replicating the fault that caused McConnell's loss, but he did it at 32,000 feet.... (and had to eject from the aircraft when it occurred)

 

There are several hundred Aces that became test pilots, most had uneventful careers as test pilots... But there are a few that just stick into your memory... Dick Bong & Donald Umphres testing the P-80 Shooting Star,  Jack Bade testing the F-105, George Welch, (yes, THAT George Welch) testing the F-100 Super Sabre....

 

Great pilots all.... Of course when most are asked who they consider the greatest test pilot many will answer Chuck Yeager, and I can't fault them for that.. But when Chuck is asked that question, his answer is Neil Armstrong... Neil was from the engineering school of test pilots, Chuck was from the Doolittle school of test piloting.... That says a lot...

 

Current Build: F-86F-30 Sabre by Egilman - Kinetic - 1/32nd scale

In the Garage: East Bound & Down, Building a Smokey & the Bandit Kenworth Rig in 1/25th scale

Completed: M8A1 HST  1930 Packard Boattail Speedster  M1A1 75mm Pack Howitzer  F-4J Phantom II Bell H-13's P-51B/C

Temporary Suspension: USS Gwin DD-433  F-104C Starfighter "Blue Jay Four" 1/32nd Scale

Terminated Build: F-104C Starfighter

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote:

"Relish Today, Ketchup Tomorrow"

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Your most welcome Kevin, happy to have you here...

 

Yeah Airframe silver is as close to true BMF you can get with a spray paint I feel... Very Very close... We are gonna see here if it CAN be done.... the results of my testing so far have me very optimistic for a good result...

This piece of plastic from my first test a few month back is my inspiration....

IMG_0090.thumb.JPG.d0e333854c816d616d01c5a3ef32fa99.JPG

That is some reflectivity there...

Current Build: F-86F-30 Sabre by Egilman - Kinetic - 1/32nd scale

In the Garage: East Bound & Down, Building a Smokey & the Bandit Kenworth Rig in 1/25th scale

Completed: M8A1 HST  1930 Packard Boattail Speedster  M1A1 75mm Pack Howitzer  F-4J Phantom II Bell H-13's P-51B/C

Temporary Suspension: USS Gwin DD-433  F-104C Starfighter "Blue Jay Four" 1/32nd Scale

Terminated Build: F-104C Starfighter

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote:

"Relish Today, Ketchup Tomorrow"

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Ok the Kit....

 

Kinetic # K3201, 2007 issue, the first kit from a brand new company at the time... When first released it was going for around $25-30.00, 15 years later, your lucky if you can find one for 5 times that...

F-86F-30 Sabre

IMG_0088.thumb.JPG.ff982cb82e9f74fc049be3a76f078342.JPG

There are plenty of first impressions open box reviews and several decent build reports... Although this kit is rather hard to find, there have been two releases under another brand... Italeri's 2009 #2501 is a straight rebox of this kit and their #2503 is a rebox in Skyblazers decals.... also Kinetic themselves re-released it in 2009 in RCAF Golden Hawks Sabre Mk 5 livery, (Kinetic # K3202) They then released it with reconfigured wings for an F-86F 40 NATO-Sabre 6-3 Extended Wing, post Korean War version, (different wing shape, Kinetic # K3202 in German livery) and Wolfpack (#WP13201) released the F-86F-40 Sabre as a Korean Airforce fighter bomber livery... So the kit still lives in the modeling world if you care to acquire one...

 

The Kit accurately represents an F-86F-30-NA right down the the instrument panel.. (correct instrument layout for a -1 to a -30 model) so you can model pretty much any late Korean War F-86F with non-slatted "6/3" wings installed... (wing configuration is an issue with this kit as there were several variations of wings employed on Sabre's and to model a specific aircraft requires a little education in Sabre version history) Not applicable here cause I'm directly modeling a sabre in this configuration, F-86F-1-NA #51-2910.

 

In the box comes nine Sprues of parts, one clear, two decal sheets, a steel nose weight and a twelve page instruction booklet....

Parts....

kin_32001_parts1.jpg.99fbcd4ba9016f448eab68726e796272.jpgkin_32001_parts2.jpg.e1f90d55cad6be94ae15877f38d90b4f.jpgkin_32001_parts3.jpg.e4fe039367990178206b9a827b2562cb.jpgkin_32001_parts4.jpg.049e532a0888d20d20b88f7b9a2a423a.jpgkin_32001_parts5.jpg.795bf694a5123bb9095cb63e9d264191.jpgkin_32001_parts6.jpg.c34deeeb3c3cf4d827cd2ee4602bc069.jpgkin_32001_parts7.jpg.6518a60225ee79d2121a5459d3ddd83e.jpgkin_32001_parts8.jpg.ab9f392f4fe5d3a840eb21aa0a2c191f.jpgkin_32001_parts9.jpg.3ba1668b0bc780b8591b1295a4e7e9a2.jpg

Instructions...

1812029927_KineticF-86F-30SabreInstructions_Page_01.thumb.png.28741151f860555b7015b7046cac1a0f.png758768883_KineticF-86F-30SabreInstructions_Page_02.thumb.png.74019bee462299f6df99b3d40fa904ea.png100966094_KineticF-86F-30SabreInstructions_Page_03.thumb.png.22a579846dc20d2d9a4cc53698c5381d.png298502791_KineticF-86F-30SabreInstructions_Page_04.thumb.png.fc36f4c57a0b0ecdcfaefdfd10b5ab82.png1745028221_KineticF-86F-30SabreInstructions_Page_05.thumb.png.f11f8c0f2f1c266ee95c33670dc302c2.png553292834_KineticF-86F-30SabreInstructions_Page_06.thumb.png.0383c412f60f9e88ba3eb962b01abf54.png519557814_KineticF-86F-30SabreInstructions_Page_07.thumb.png.9223fefd3c69fb26003b0d8f7dd21f2d.png1640078809_KineticF-86F-30SabreInstructions_Page_08.thumb.png.e18580a8f478dcb7ddd216d48bf9123e.png1680909910_KineticF-86F-30SabreInstructions_Page_09.thumb.png.dfb531a86668133dbb33c8c2d8cd698c.png219628564_KineticF-86F-30SabreInstructions_Page_10.thumb.png.70c7726799f19cf76e2057706cf50e6b.png1802085746_KineticF-86F-30SabreInstructions_Page_11.thumb.png.e86bef8fc9fbfc3eee900ad5a8fececb.png1743830414_KineticF-86F-30SabreInstructions_Page_12.thumb.png.3703229167bb97c6f2fd46e22cfa556c.png

Decals.. (for two versions)

78172104_KineticF-86F-30SabreInstructions_Page_14.thumb.png.049f2b104f42216629ddf68e19f6403c.png1636151689_KineticF-86F-30SabreInstructions_Page_13.thumb.png.119a921454e9ed758059a5e812814930.png

The kit to me looks like it will build well, it does have a separate J-47-27 engine which can be left out of the airplane but it will need an engine dolly scratch built to sit on....

 

Next up the first step, figuring out what to do with the cockpit....

 

And the journey starts....

 

EG

 

Edited by Egilman

Current Build: F-86F-30 Sabre by Egilman - Kinetic - 1/32nd scale

In the Garage: East Bound & Down, Building a Smokey & the Bandit Kenworth Rig in 1/25th scale

Completed: M8A1 HST  1930 Packard Boattail Speedster  M1A1 75mm Pack Howitzer  F-4J Phantom II Bell H-13's P-51B/C

Temporary Suspension: USS Gwin DD-433  F-104C Starfighter "Blue Jay Four" 1/32nd Scale

Terminated Build: F-104C Starfighter

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote:

"Relish Today, Ketchup Tomorrow"

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That looks like a Superb Kit   from an excellent  company   - this is going to be  a  stunning build  - can't wait brother.

 

OC.

Current builds  


28mm  Battle of Waterloo   attack on La Haye Saint   Diorama.

1/700  HMS Hood   Flyhawk   with  PE, Resin  and Wood Decking.

 

 

 

Completed works.

 

Dragon 1/700 HMS Edinburgh type 42 batch 3 Destroyer plastic.

HMS Warspite Academy 1/350 plastic kit and wem parts.

HMS Trafalgar Airfix 1/350 submarine  plastic.

Black Pearl  1/72  Revell   with  pirate crew.

Revell  1/48  Mosquito  B IV

Eduard  1/48  Spitfire IX

ICM    1/48   Seafire Mk.III   Special Conversion

1/48  Kinetic  Sea Harrier  FRS1

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I'm in to follow this build.   Popcorn is popping.....   nootjes_en_popcorn_31.gif.ce6cb3ef33ef3ff41b8346f0de7c3157.gif

Mark
"The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me

Current Build:                                                                                             
Past Builds:
 La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD           Triton Cross-Section   

 NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit                                                                            HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64               

 

Non-Ship Model:                                                                                         On hold, maybe forever:           

CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed                                                   Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned)         

         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

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20 hours ago, Old Collingwood said:

That looks like a Superb Kit   from an excellent  company   - this is going to be  a  stunning build  - can't wait brother.

 

OC.

 

I think it's a very presentable kit, it does have some challenges, (don't they all, chuckle) some modification surgery is going to be needed, to present it in a real world situation... Thankfully there is aftermarket to correct the relatively minor issues.... I will present those additions as I come to them.... Wish me luck my friend..

 

20 hours ago, mtaylor said:

I'm in to follow this build.   Popcorn is popping.....   nootjes_en_popcorn_31.gif.ce6cb3ef33ef3ff41b8346f0de7c3157.gif

Welcome aboard Mark, glad to have you here... the popcorn smells great nice and buttery...... 

Current Build: F-86F-30 Sabre by Egilman - Kinetic - 1/32nd scale

In the Garage: East Bound & Down, Building a Smokey & the Bandit Kenworth Rig in 1/25th scale

Completed: M8A1 HST  1930 Packard Boattail Speedster  M1A1 75mm Pack Howitzer  F-4J Phantom II Bell H-13's P-51B/C

Temporary Suspension: USS Gwin DD-433  F-104C Starfighter "Blue Jay Four" 1/32nd Scale

Terminated Build: F-104C Starfighter

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote:

"Relish Today, Ketchup Tomorrow"

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12 hours ago, yvesvidal said:

Very nice presentation of the kit.

 

Yves

Thank you Yves, I'm going the full tilt route with this one, accuracy is a priority so I will be taking my time trying my best... At least everyone knows what the kit actually is, and that's a good thing...

Current Build: F-86F-30 Sabre by Egilman - Kinetic - 1/32nd scale

In the Garage: East Bound & Down, Building a Smokey & the Bandit Kenworth Rig in 1/25th scale

Completed: M8A1 HST  1930 Packard Boattail Speedster  M1A1 75mm Pack Howitzer  F-4J Phantom II Bell H-13's P-51B/C

Temporary Suspension: USS Gwin DD-433  F-104C Starfighter "Blue Jay Four" 1/32nd Scale

Terminated Build: F-104C Starfighter

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote:

"Relish Today, Ketchup Tomorrow"

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Hammock slung, I'm in🙂

Current builds;

 Henry Ramey Upcher 1:25

Providence whaleboat- 1:25     HMS Winchelsea 1764 1:48 

Completed:

HM Cutter Sherbourne- 1:64- finished    Triton cross section scratch- 1:60 - finished 

Non ship:  SBD-3 Dauntless 1:48 Hasegawa -FINISHED

 

 

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2 hours ago, Edwardkenway said:

Hammock slung, I'm in🙂

Welcome aboard Ed, good to see you... Enjoy the journey...

Current Build: F-86F-30 Sabre by Egilman - Kinetic - 1/32nd scale

In the Garage: East Bound & Down, Building a Smokey & the Bandit Kenworth Rig in 1/25th scale

Completed: M8A1 HST  1930 Packard Boattail Speedster  M1A1 75mm Pack Howitzer  F-4J Phantom II Bell H-13's P-51B/C

Temporary Suspension: USS Gwin DD-433  F-104C Starfighter "Blue Jay Four" 1/32nd Scale

Terminated Build: F-104C Starfighter

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"Relish Today, Ketchup Tomorrow"

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Ok first step on most model aircraft is the cockpit.... (usually the instrument panel)

IMG_0091A.thumb.JPG.c6976a645165b5ed9988799f716b40fd.JPG

On this model, I'm blessed, (or cursed) with options... Two from the kit and two aftermarket....

IMG_0091.thumb.JPG.01c3ed5404d7320a25da7137e754ba33.JPG

The upper left corner shows the two kit options, A decal sandwiched between clear plastic panels, or a raised plastic panel... they are close to the actual instrument panel layout as shown from the flight manual page but not exact... The next option on the lower left is the Aires cockpit set for this model the instrument panel is a lot more accurate compared to the picture but not quite perfect... the last option on the right is the eduard set of which I only have the instrument panel portion... It is perfectly laid out matching the flight manual image... of course with all the switched levers and buttons you need a microscope to see much less install... the Aires set gives you seatbelts and harnesses that need to be assembled as well where the eduard set gives you simpler ones much easier to install... (the eduard set also gives you a brass panel to replace the kits decal with, you can see the detail differences between the kits representation and the eduard representation clearly there)

 

Before making this decision we also have to realize another situation....

Somewhere in the time after the end of WWII and the start of the Korean War, the Airforce decided to go to an all black cockpit...

F-86A

North-American-F-86-Sabre-Cockpit.jpg.9fabb6aca5a6078747379a672c4304df.jpg

F-86F

IMG_9918.webp.34523397e1c6274dd458b324589acbc0.webpIMG_9917.webp.5bcf2bd9e1bbde97efcff6b01481939b.webpdownload.png.499e04733cada9df67b35f3f489fa411.png9543fd7ab0112e00e01900c3b78a733a.jpg.61fe29abaea07c61f29034f202ce9097.jpg

The last image is a Palmdale (North American Aviation) built Sabre Mk 5 that is still in it's wartime configuration... This illustrates the black cockpit better than anything I could describe... Postwar, the Airforce decided that they were going to the aircraft grey cockpit with black panels (November '53) and all aircraft were to be switched to the new scheme upon the first IRAN (Inspect and Repair As Needed) so you will be very hard pressed to find any sabre aircraft with a black cockpit today, all of the currently flying refurbished/restored aircraft have a grey/black cockpit...

199-1.jpg.881e65fe86f11cc8c1dc476d66bf9395.jpg

 

Given this fact, I'm loath to do a ton of mods and AM upgrades to a cockpit you aren't even going be able to see...

 

Non-updated Sabre Mk 5 cockpit...

post-5311-1232330353.jpg.400a231c697b74490dee01b3d7ccac0a.jpgpost-5311-1232330590.jpg.37a253b5a9fd0c5bc8a0e4a7b559130c.jpg

Even the grey cockpit doesn't show up that well from above...

 

I'm probably going to do the Eduard instrument panel and pick out the rest of what kit details there are and call it good... There is just, in my humble opinion, no point to hacking and slashing a cockpit that no one can appreciate..., the eduard set has the most accurate IP and I'll leave it at that, I may dip into the Aires set and update the cockpit aft panel and canopy frame as the detail on those parts is better than the kit and it will be seen so that is a plus....

But other than that, I think I'm going with the basics.....

 

A wartime aircraft 

 

Next up, paint and glue to plastic....

 

EG

 

 

 

Edited by Egilman

Current Build: F-86F-30 Sabre by Egilman - Kinetic - 1/32nd scale

In the Garage: East Bound & Down, Building a Smokey & the Bandit Kenworth Rig in 1/25th scale

Completed: M8A1 HST  1930 Packard Boattail Speedster  M1A1 75mm Pack Howitzer  F-4J Phantom II Bell H-13's P-51B/C

Temporary Suspension: USS Gwin DD-433  F-104C Starfighter "Blue Jay Four" 1/32nd Scale

Terminated Build: F-104C Starfighter

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote:

"Relish Today, Ketchup Tomorrow"

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Looking good. I'm with you on the efforts on unseeable AM details. Most everything in the cockpit was that gray. Bezels were black, as were the canopy frames/rails. At our Southwestern bases, such as Nellis and Luke, the rails got hot as heck in the sun, so we needed to keep sleeves down and don flight gloves. Touching could lead to burns. Nowadays, they have shelters to protect the newer jets from the Sun. And good cockpit air conditioning. The F-4 had a good heater, but cooling was a joke. The Eagle A/C was vastly better.

Ken

Started: MS Bounty Longboat,

On Hold:  Heinkel USS Choctaw paper

Down the road: Shipyard HMC Alert 1/96 paper, Mamoli Constitution Cross, MS USN Picket Boat #1

Scratchbuild: Echo Cross Section

 

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1 hour ago, Canute said:

At our Southwestern bases, such as Nellis and Luke, the rails got hot as heck in the sun, so we needed to keep sleeves down and don flight gloves. Touching could lead to burns.

No Kidding, can you imagine sitting in a black tub in the Korean summer sun, under glass for four to five hours at a time? Sweltering... An oven on slow cook... It was reported that occasionally a pilot would pass out from dehydration once they climbed out of the cockpit...

 

Amazing men every single one of you..

Current Build: F-86F-30 Sabre by Egilman - Kinetic - 1/32nd scale

In the Garage: East Bound & Down, Building a Smokey & the Bandit Kenworth Rig in 1/25th scale

Completed: M8A1 HST  1930 Packard Boattail Speedster  M1A1 75mm Pack Howitzer  F-4J Phantom II Bell H-13's P-51B/C

Temporary Suspension: USS Gwin DD-433  F-104C Starfighter "Blue Jay Four" 1/32nd Scale

Terminated Build: F-104C Starfighter

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote:

"Relish Today, Ketchup Tomorrow"

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Well I can, EG. Did some fast FAC missions in Laos/Cambodia. We'd take off with 2 frozen water bottles and by the 3rd refueling, about 3 hours, they were gone. Got somewhat parched in the last hour or so. Cheap drunk that night. Good thing we had multiple flight suits, too. The salt stains were pretty bad, too. The hootch lady we had , scrubbed the suits with a tough bristle brush and after a few months, you could almost read thru the Nomex. What a way to fight a war.

Ken

Started: MS Bounty Longboat,

On Hold:  Heinkel USS Choctaw paper

Down the road: Shipyard HMC Alert 1/96 paper, Mamoli Constitution Cross, MS USN Picket Boat #1

Scratchbuild: Echo Cross Section

 

Member Nautical Research Guild

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the parts look really good....I'm sure that if you went into the history of the kit further,  you may find that the molds may have fathered more.   of course, this would account for the kits that seem less than perfect,  depicting the positioning of the wings {additional molds were created to make the parts for other variants}.  you may have trouble seeing the hues your outlining,  if you photograph in a room or such.  one suggestion would be to give the model a sort of 'green screen' as a back drop.  the ambient lighting in a room will reflect hues and colors as light bounces off whatever is in the room.   to get a better view of what the finish will reflect,  would be to literally take the model outside,  and chose a place to display for pictures.   asphalt,  concrete,  wood would be better represented in natural lighting....and you may even get the benefit of blue sky.  there were very few of these birds that were camouflaged,  so you have a pretty good representative of the finish you want to achieve  ;) 

I yam wot I yam!

finished builds:
Billings Nordkap 476 / Billings Cux 87 / Billings Mary Ann / Billings AmericA - reissue
Billings Regina - bashed into the Susan A / Andrea Gail 1:20 - semi scratch w/ Billing instructions
M&M Fun Ship - semi scratch build / Gundalow - scratch build / Jeanne D'Arc - Heller
Phylly C & Denny-Zen - the Lobsie twins - bashed & semi scratch dual build

Billing T78 Norden

 

in dry dock:
Billing's Gothenborg 1:100 / Billing's Boulogne Etaples 1:20
Billing's Half Moon 1:40 - some scratch required
Revell U.S.S. United States 1:96 - plastic/ wood modified / Academy Titanic 1:400
Trawler Syborn - semi scratch / Holiday Harbor dual build - semi scratch

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19 hours ago, Canute said:

The F-4 had a good heater, but cooling was a joke.

FINALLY......... Something the Huey was better at than an F-4, (Other than small landing zone and lower than treetop flying) We had excellent air conditioning, especially in the rear door positions! 😎 

Lou

 

Build logs: Colonial sloop Providence 1/48th scale kit bashed from AL Independence

Currant builds:

Constructo Brigantine Sentinel (Union) (On hold)

Minicraft 1/350 Titanic (For the Admiral)

1/350 Heavy Cruiser USS Houston (Resin)

Currant research/scratchbuild:

Schooner USS Lanikai/Hermes

Non ship build log:

1/35th UH-1H Huey

 

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440 air, Lou? 4 doors open, 40 MPH?😉:D Like in the old family sedan.

Ken

Started: MS Bounty Longboat,

On Hold:  Heinkel USS Choctaw paper

Down the road: Shipyard HMC Alert 1/96 paper, Mamoli Constitution Cross, MS USN Picket Boat #1

Scratchbuild: Echo Cross Section

 

Member Nautical Research Guild

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6 hours ago, Canute said:

440 air, Lou? 4 doors open, 40 MPH?😉:D Like in the old family sedan.

Probably didn't need the 40mph, Ken.  That big fan overhead probably worked.   The bigger birds (CH-46, CH-47, and CH-53) only had A/C that I'm aware of in the cockpit.  Everyone else, hugged an open window or went to the tail with the ramp doors open..

Mark
"The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me

Current Build:                                                                                             
Past Builds:
 La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD           Triton Cross-Section   

 NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit                                                                            HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64               

 

Non-Ship Model:                                                                                         On hold, maybe forever:           

CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed                                                   Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned)         

         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

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Ok small update...

 

Cockpit assembly...

IMG_0093.thumb.JPG.7724ca6604ec4abb4b8df6e26c264ebb.JPG

The kit gives you full intake ducting, no I'm not going to be cleaning up and metalizing the insides of the intake like some have tried, I don't mind a little self abuse, but torture, especially for something your never going to see? nah...

IMG_0094.thumb.JPG.dec595485cf9a429b762c33a0d238709.JPG

Basic black, you can already see the details fading to nothing... I actually went and looked for everything I could find on this specific aircraft to see if there was ANY variation of color... Nope McConnell's aircraft was an almost new F-86F-1-NA and yeah the cockpit was black as night... (even the headrest and seat pad) so I'm forced to give it the shadowbox treatment. (slightly off shade washes in the hope of highlighting shapes) Maybe a very light dusting of pastels to highlight the nooks and crannies....

IMG_0095.thumb.JPG.bab51ca78a49070c129c8dc434a416bb.JPG

As you can see it's pretty bland, would be much prettier in black over grey, but it just wouldn't be accurate...

 

Below a sample of it in the fuselage under flash and natural light for an idea of what I'm describing...

IMG_0096.thumb.JPG.afeb0bf200c414f09ecda2cbc77c0bb9.JPGIMG_0097.thumb.JPG.e6e1543d679a652e5fb15c5b4d8cf0ed.JPG

Detail just disappears in a black hole....

 

Oh Well....

 

Next up the instruments and side panels, hopefully the colored PE will add some pizzazz to it I will be picking out some switches and lights as well, there just isn't much you can do with an all black cockpit...

 

Onwards....

Edited by Egilman

Current Build: F-86F-30 Sabre by Egilman - Kinetic - 1/32nd scale

In the Garage: East Bound & Down, Building a Smokey & the Bandit Kenworth Rig in 1/25th scale

Completed: M8A1 HST  1930 Packard Boattail Speedster  M1A1 75mm Pack Howitzer  F-4J Phantom II Bell H-13's P-51B/C

Temporary Suspension: USS Gwin DD-433  F-104C Starfighter "Blue Jay Four" 1/32nd Scale

Terminated Build: F-104C Starfighter

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote:

"Relish Today, Ketchup Tomorrow"

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58 minutes ago, rudybob said:

If it cannot be seen then I just don't do it. So much to hone skills on... the unseen is not one of them for me. 

I was going to do a Sabre but just down the Hwy there is an F-84 on a pedestal. I have driven by it many times so I picked the F-84

Agreed on the not being seen not being done as well.... My skills are what they are no need to hone them on useless endeavors...

Yep the F-84F Thunderstreak, completely different aircraft from the F-84 Thunderjet it was derived from... It's is also a BMF bird in USAF livery... (the 3 color SEA scheme looks good as well) You should do a build thread on it...

 

Edited by Egilman

Current Build: F-86F-30 Sabre by Egilman - Kinetic - 1/32nd scale

In the Garage: East Bound & Down, Building a Smokey & the Bandit Kenworth Rig in 1/25th scale

Completed: M8A1 HST  1930 Packard Boattail Speedster  M1A1 75mm Pack Howitzer  F-4J Phantom II Bell H-13's P-51B/C

Temporary Suspension: USS Gwin DD-433  F-104C Starfighter "Blue Jay Four" 1/32nd Scale

Terminated Build: F-104C Starfighter

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote:

"Relish Today, Ketchup Tomorrow"

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Looking at the photos you posted, you probably could have got away using a very dark gray.. almost but not quite black.  Hopefully what you're planing will help a bit on the interior.

Mark
"The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me

Current Build:                                                                                             
Past Builds:
 La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD           Triton Cross-Section   

 NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit                                                                            HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64               

 

Non-Ship Model:                                                                                         On hold, maybe forever:           

CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed                                                   Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned)         

         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

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