FROG F267 Canadair Sabre Mk6 or Mk32

FROG F267 Red Series Canadair Sabre Mk.6 or Mk.32, 1968

"Another famous jet released by Frog at the same time is the North American Sabre which appears, in fасt, in Canadair Sabre 6 guise. Once again two sets of transfers, Luftwaffe and RAAF, are provided, but the RAAF markings (for 76 Sqn) are inappropriate as the kit stands — to make a Mk32 as used by the RAAF you need to change the guns and the engine cover detail. The Luftwaffe markings are wery well done and most colourfull, though clear varnish was very necessary to stop them lifting off. One feature which mars an otherwise fine model is lack of wheel wells, but the positions are marked so could be cut out (or patnied matt black) to overcome this omission. The Sabre kit costs 4s.

Both the Sabre and the Lightning appear to be from the same moulds as the Japanese Hasegawa kits. The Sabre exactly matches the Hasagawa Sabre we reviewed last year, and the Lightning appears to be a double of the Hasegawa Lightning F6 of which we glimpsed an advanced sample at last year's British Toy Fair. Transfers, instruction sheets, and packaging are, however, entirely different.
C.O.E.

1969-01 airfix magazine

MODEL ENTHUSIAST
This month's colour subject

Ranking high among military aviation history's most successful fighters is the North American F-86 Sabre which first began to achieve fame just as the plastic aircraft kit began to achieve vogue. Although the Sabre long since came of age, it is still flying in some numbers in several areas of the world, but there must be many modellers who, like the writer, have not seen one for many a year, and whose chances of doing so are diminishing rapidly.

During its production life the Sabre appeared in several forms, but visually these fall into two basic categories — day fighters and radar-equipped all-weather fighters. Many Sabres were licence-built in Canada— including those that were firing their guns in anger late last year over the Indian sub-continent — and examples of these have been selected this month as our colour subject. The Canadair-built Sabres did not differ externally from the day fighters — with the exception of the F-86H — manufactured by the parent company, dnd any one of several kits of the F-86E and F can be used to represent the aircraft that we illustrate.

The most recent and undoubtedly the best of these Sabre kits is that representing a standard F-86F, to 1/72nd scale from Frog/Hasegawa, which is excellent in all respects. Its decal sheet includes markings for a Luftwaffe Canadair Sabre and, inappropriately, a Commonwealth-built RAAF Sabre. This kit should not be confused with Frog's much older offering, which, while quite accurate, definitely displays signs that it first saw the light of day some 15 years ago. On the other hand, the even older Lindberg kit to 1/48th scale which we have already mentioned is worth buying by those who prefer a larger scale. This embodies minor faults, the wing root chord being slightly too narrow and the tailplanes being marginally too long, but it is neatly made and finely detailed, and its only serious fault is the fact that its wheel wells have not been pressed out. This shortcoming is fairly easy to rectify. Lindberg's kit has been issued with US Navy markings, and, sporting these, it is more or less representative of the FJ-2 Fury.

When we featured the MiG-19 in this column (January issue), we stated that the only kit available was the 100th scale Tamiya offering, and several readers have since pointed out that Central of Japan has advertised a MiG-19 kit to 1/72nd scale. We had, in fact, heard of this kit but have so far been unable to obtain an example. Incidentally, long ago, a Polish concern, Pokoj, issued a 1/50th scale MiG-19 kit which, truly vile in quality, was at least reasonably accurate in outline. It should be pointed out that the so-called MiG-19 kits issued by Lindberg and Aurora bear no resemblance to the MiG-19, or, for that matter, any other known Soviet aircraft.
W R MATTHEWS

Air Enthusiast 1972-04 vol.02 no.04

Hasegawa JS-015 North American F-86F Sabre JASDF,
ハセガワ JS-015:100 ノースアメリカン F-86F 旭光 セイバー, 1966

1966

NEW AND IN VIEW - AIRCRAFT KITS
HASEGAWA. North American F-86F Sabre. l/72nd scale. Price (Japan) 100 yen.

"Though moulded in a rather dirty silvery-grey plastic, this kit must be commended for its subject as the standard Sabre has been somewhat neglected by kit manufacturers.

Surface detail on this kit is on the heavy side, though the cover plate over the gun panels should stand slightly proud of the surrounding areas, and is correctly depicted in this kit. Assembly is fairly straightforward, though we would suggest that a dry run be carried out prior to cementing the two sections of the wings together. The lower insert was a trifle too thick on our sample, and when cemented in place failed to butt satisfactorily against the wing root fairings. This fault may be overcome by sanding the lower wing inserts to a thinner section. We also recommend that, when removing the dive-brakes from the sprue very great care is taken, as if one trims the edges of these a noticeable gap will be left when the brakes are cemented in the closed position.

The undercarriage doors are simply scribed onto the plastic, with small doors into which the undercarriage legs and cover plates fit. The appearance of the model may, however, be made much more realistic by cutting out the wheel wells, and cementing the inner undercarriage doors, dive brakes and nosewheel doors into place slightly open. The Sabre's hydraulic system operated on the same principle as that of the Mustang, and after parking hydraulic pressure gradually bled off, allowing the doors to fall open under their own weight. The wheels on this model seem to be very slightly undersize, particularly the nose wheel, but a study of Sabre photographs shows variations in tyre size and tread, perhaps to compensate for differing field conditions.

The cockpit canopy is a one-piece unit, superbly clear and well-moulded. Unfortunately, this clarity shows up the lack of cockpit detail; all that is included is an undersize pilot on a too-narrow seat.

Decals are included for an aircraft of the Japanese Air Self-Defence Force and for an American F-86F. The decals are rather thick and too glossy, though this can be remedied by very light sanding down with fine wet-and-dry paper, used damp.

External stores include the rather peculiarly shaped drop tanks used on Sabres, together with underwing missiles and rails. This is a kit designed for the beginner, but which provides a good basi for the expert to improve.

The IPMS magazine, october 1967

1968

AMT-HASEGAWA A-627:100 North American F-86F Sabre, AMT Corporation

Matchbox PK-32 F-86A, Lesney Products & Co Ltd