THE MODEL

There are many kits of the Sabre available for the modellers. A detailed study or these can be found in Airfix Magazine Vol. 1, No.10, published in 1989. I recommend this article very strongly for modellers interested in the Sabre.  Personally, I have two favourites among the kits of the F-86E and F. These are produced by Fujimi and Hobbycraft.  

The Fujimi model comes either as a USAF F-86F-25 or -30 with a short span hard wing or as a Japanese F-86F-40 or RF-86F with a long span slatted wing. The Hobbycraft model comes either (incorrectly) as an USAF F-86F-10 with a short span hard wing or as a Canadair Sabre Mk.6 with a short span slatted wing portraying the slats in the open position. All these models have the '6-3' extended chord wings. My impression is that the Fujimi kit has the best fuselage while the Hobbycraft kit offers the best wings, especially the slatted variants; I therefore chose to combine these two kits to make the most accurate model.

I also used the three photo-etched metal sets produced by the Czech company Eduard. I had originally planned to build an F-86F-40 of the Royal Norwegian Air Force with the slatted and extended span '6-3' wing. I planned to use the Fujimi fuselage and long span wing with the wing leading edge and extended slats taken from the Hobbycraft wing. However, as described later in the article this plan was changed during construction of the model.  

CONSTRUCTION

	The Eduard etched metal sets are of very good quality. I studied the instruction sheets carefully to learn at which stages of construction the parts should be used. Set No.72-007 contains cockpit interior with a complete Weber ejection seat, instrument panel (with instruments printed on a negative photographic film), side consoles and rudder pedals. Set No.72-008 contains air brakes and actuators for the reading edge slots. Set No.72-009 contains undercarriage details including wheel well interiors and doors. This set also has parts for the wing bomb pylons and the port side ammunition bay.
	I started construction as usual with the cockpit. The upper and lower jet intake interiors were cemented together. I would later cover the jet intake with a FOD cover; otherwise I would find it necessary to clean up the inside of the jet intake. The upper jet intake half contains the cockpit floor with the two side consoles. The front part of the side consoles were cut off to give room for the replacement etched metal items. Also the raised detail on the consoles was removed. The etched metal side consoles-were then carefully bent and glued onto the plastic consoles with superglue.