Raptor01

Thanks Sabrejet, I knew you would come thru!👍🏻

So, should I repaint the nose a glossy light gray on this airframe?

The F-86A arrived in Korea mid-December 1950. The low hour airframes were taken from various Statside units. The early A models without radar ranging had fiberglass nose caps of natural brown color, many of which were painted light gray. Illustrations of LTC Hinton’s F-86A show both gray or white painted noses. Maybe originally arrived in gray than sometime after his first victory it was painted white with the blue band on the nose? Another point of contention is the gun blast panels square or the later more common style. Illustrations show both as well. Here is a pic of Squanee und

I found another discussion on this topic on Tap Talk last year and there is no definitive consensus as both seem to have been applied at various periods. It seems that they were applied in Japan after arrival from the US. Unless a specific aircraft has shown which type was applied you would be correct in an assumption of either type. After modeling a few Sabres with rounded fuselage bands, I think the point type would be easier to mask & paint. Definitely a hard topic to discern.

Don’t know if this has been discussed before: Were the Black & White & the Yellow & Black ID Bands curved or did they come to a point around the fuselage top? I have seen pictures of curved bands on the top but no clear pictures of the bands with point on the top. Were there a mixture of both styles. This would be a WAG depending on which aircraft was being modeled without a clear picture.

They must have messed up if they went 3D print. The original resin one fit well even though you had a lot of casting blocks to remove.

I bought all the resin additions from Res-kit, Black Dog, etc. and built the HB kit after they became available. Yes, I had to make some adjustments here and there but on any model that you cut up to alter the mold there is going to be a mismatch that will need to be dealt with. That is how you learn the skills to do this type of modeling. John

Ordered one from SB this AM. In Stock.

Mr. Vark is correct, the AN/ASQ-119 Astro Tracker was removed from the FB's in the mid-80's & a cover plate installed. This system was maintained in our shop and sent to reclamation. As for the AN/ALE-40 Chaff & Flare Buckets (Maintained this system as well) probably installed at Cannon AFB, never saw them at Pease AFB. We had some systems on the AMP jets at RAF Upper Heyford and maybe some other E's. Not sure which or how many. My guess is the FB/G slated for Australia had this upgrade. John

My Alligator & Begemont Decal Sheet with lots of Z sizes are on the way from Hannants! 👍 John

There are Aeromaster decals. I have the 48-408 sheet, I plan on doing Dolph's Devil. John

Mine will be here this afternoon according to Amazon. Special Book for me as I was at RAF UH on 15 April 1986. My shop maintained the ALQ-137 jammers on the EF-111A. Interesting to see if the Ghost Rider mission to Goose Bay Canada by the F-111E from RAF UH 6 months earlier is covered. This mission proved the F-111 Legs with individual Tanker support. John

The tied open early gun blast doors are pretty cool. This is a going to sell well in the US. John

The V Wind screen looks good!👍🏻 John

Those are very clear pics of the V windscreen. I have a few from when I visited Duxford a few years ago. The V windscreen is difficult to scratch, I tried my best to execute one, (See the 6th post in this Thread). It was my first attempt, and I have a better idea now, but with this release I should not have to scratch one. The CE conversion had a Resin Cast V-Windscreen that was poorly executed in my opinion, so a scratched one was necessary. I hope this new kit V Windscreen is as good as the frames seem to be. I may be able to adapt its windscreen to my built Hasegawa modded A-5.

Must be my tired old eyes, I looked, but only on my phone. This is going to be a must have kit for me! 👍🏻 John

Is a good close-up available of the armored V windscreen? That is the first and foremost distinguishing feature of the A & early E Sabre. Too bad the early gun blast panels were not on the frames, but I an definitely in for a couple. John

About time, looking forward to an A with the armored V windscreen. Hope for some early 1951 4th FIW ACE Markings. I built Eagleston’s Sabre before it got shot up using CE -A conversion & decals. A V screen scratch build is always the toughest feature. Definitely stoked on this one. John

Only a modeling problem if you choose to build it that way. 🤔 John

AB Charles & Son on West Liberty Ave. in Dormont during the 1970's was the best in the area. I think his son still operates after a few moves around the area. They had the best selection of kits & model railroad supplies. John

Bill & Walts Hobby Shop, Downtown Pittsburgh, PA. Still have my Binks Wren A Airbrush purchased when I was 12 Yrs Old! John

I have 12 HAS 1/72 Varks all versions, built the FB in 1989 when I was in the 509 BW at Pease AFB. I am currently working on a 1/48 FrankenBoss F-111E with Black Dog, Resikit, D-Mold and other upgrades. The F-111 has always been the USAF Bastard Child, no reason it should get any love in the modeling world. What I learned maintaining F-111 electronics for 17 Yrs. set me up life and I will buy every model & aftermarket piece released. John

Thanks Jim, I will get one of Zacto’s on order. Nothing like a bunch of goodies from a TDY!😂 John

Will do Jim, HB screwed up too many things, but I will have the resin to fix the most blatant. I think the weapons bay doors can be split and the inners not used because a second set of inner bay doors are on the frame. I will figure it out went I get to that point. Do you have a good pic of a travel pod? One of the old Hasegawa F-16 kits had the old napalm container style. I can't remember what we had on the Varks. John

ResKit Cockpit set is by far the best available, but I chose to use Zactomodels seats as the molded details are better than the PE provided.