Sabre F-86

Sweet!

Can't seem to find them. 
 
 

Thanks for pointing out this kit. I just picked up a Trumpeter kit, and while I think Joe Foss was indeed a hero,  the paint scheme is BOOOOORING. (First heard of him in  a book I got as a kid, called Wings of Fame). I just picked up the Valiant book on the Wildcat, and the Martlet appeals. Won't say I'm in on this build, too many things on the go, but I may get in later. 

Progressing slowly, completely revamped the fuel tank, and radios. Originals seemed too small and too short. Extended the tank so it goes under the aft deck where the fuel  fill is located. Working on the brake lines, opening up the exhaust stacks, lifted the rudder pedals off of the floor, and suspended them on the fire wall. Tried painting the instrument panel 3x, just can't do a decent job of it so I've ordered the Quinta set for the Tamiya Mustang.  
 

 

 

 
some sort of vent in the rad exhaust area, the guide bar for the vent panel and up in the left corner, the bowden cable that controls the vent opening/closing. 
 

Progressing slowly, completely revamped the fuel tank, and radios. Originals seemed too small and too short. Extended the tank so it goes under the aft deck where the fuel  fill is located. Working on the brake lines, opening up the exhaust stacks, lifted the rudder pedals off of the floor, and suspended them on the fire wall. Tried painting the instrument panel 3x, just can't do a decent job of it so I've ordered the Quinta set for the Tamiya Mustang.  
 

 

 

 
some sort of vent in the rad exhaust area, the guide bar for the vent panel and up in the left corner, the bowden cable that controls the vent opening/closing. 
 

Progressing slowly, completely revamped the fuel tank, and radios. Originals seemed too small and too short. Extended the tank so it goes under the aft deck where the fuel  fill is located. Working on the brake lines, opening up the exhaust stacks, lifted the rudder pedals off of the floor, and suspended them on the fire wall. Tried painting the instrument panel 3x, just can't do a decent job of it so I've ordered the Quinta set for the Tamiya Mustang.  
 

 

 

 
some sort of vent in the rad exhaust area, the guide bar for the vent panel and up in the left corner, the bowden cable that controls the vent opening/closing. 
 

Progressing slowly, completely revamped the fuel tank, and radios. Originals seemed too small and too short. Extended the tank so it goes under the aft deck where the fuel  fill is located. Working on the brake lines, opening up the exhaust stacks, lifted the rudder pedals off of the floor, and suspended them on the fire wall. Tried painting the instrument panel 3x, just can't do a decent job of it so I've ordered the Quinta set for the Tamiya Mustang.  
 

 

 

 
some sort of vent in the rad exhaust area, the guide bar for the vent panel and up in the left corner, the bowden cable that controls the vent opening/closing. 
 

Progressing slowly, completely revamped the fuel tank, and radios. Originals seemed too small and too short. Extended the tank so it goes under the aft deck where the fuel  fill is located. Working on the brake lines, opening up the exhaust stacks, lifted the rudder pedals off of the floor, and suspended them on the fire wall. Tried painting the instrument panel 3x, just can't do a decent job of it so I've ordered the Quinta set for the Tamiya Mustang.  
 

 

 

 
some sort of vent in the rad exhaust area, the guide bar for the vent panel and up in the left corner, the bowden cable that controls the vent opening/closing. 
 

I just picked up a started kit, major parts glued, whoever it was did a nice job. The wing part, the aft fuselage, and a few other bits. He'd started the cockpit but I cleared that off for the the Quinta Studio set which arrived yesterday, and I'll get to it as soon as I finish the P-51. Just how bad are the exhaust? Never really looked at a Phantom, never had a chance to see one on the ground. The missiles are pretty basic too. 

Ambitious project. Of all the German bombers, the Do-17 has always been my favourite. I can never figure out why no one had done it in 32nd scale. I'll be watching this with interest. 

Got going on this last week. So far so good, no problems. I'm adding some detail in the form of cables in the cockpit, the radiator air intake and exhaust have details not on the model. Chopped the "Radio" off the back deck, narrowed it, and trying to get it to look like the fuel tank. 
 

 

 
Finished one Zero, the A6M5c flown by Saburo Sakai. I'd give it a 7 out of 10. 
 

 
Please excuse the abysmal photos. I have contractors ripping all the balconies off of the building, so no access to my normal photo spot out there. It's dark in here, and the lighting sucks. I'm working on a backdrop similar to those German hangers you can buy, floor and two walls. The other Zero, the  A6M3 conversion is done but for the push molded canopy. Still trying to get that done, so far with limited success. Soon as I get the backdrop done and some decent photography lights I'll put out a bunch of it, the M5c, and the Bf-109. 
 

Got going on this last week. So far so good, no problems. I'm adding some detail in the form of cables in the cockpit, the radiator air intake and exhaust have details not on the model. Chopped the "Radio" off the back deck, narrowed it, and trying to get it to look like the fuel tank. 
 

 

 
Finished one Zero, the A6M5c flown by Saburo Sakai. I'd give it a 7 out of 10. 
 

 
Please excuse the abysmal photos. I have contractors ripping all the balconies off of the building, so no access to my normal photo spot out there. It's dark in here, and the lighting sucks. I'm working on a backdrop similar to those German hangers you can buy, floor and two walls. The other Zero, the  A6M3 conversion is done but for the push molded canopy. Still trying to get that done, so far with limited success. Soon as I get the backdrop done and some decent photography lights I'll put out a bunch of it, the M5c, and the Bf-109. 
 

Got going on this last week. So far so good, no problems. I'm adding some detail in the form of cables in the cockpit, the radiator air intake and exhaust have details not on the model. Chopped the "Radio" off the back deck, narrowed it, and trying to get it to look like the fuel tank. 
 

 

 
Finished one Zero, the A6M5c flown by Saburo Sakai. I'd give it a 7 out of 10. 
 

 
Please excuse the abysmal photos. I have contractors ripping all the balconies off of the building, so no access to my normal photo spot out there. It's dark in here, and the lighting sucks. I'm working on a backdrop similar to those German hangers you can buy, floor and two walls. The other Zero, the  A6M3 conversion is done but for the push molded canopy. Still trying to get that done, so far with limited success. Soon as I get the backdrop done and some decent photography lights I'll put out a bunch of it, the M5c, and the Bf-109. 
 

Gonna look super. You can never go wrong if you build a 109, no matter whose kit it is. And the E models look better (to me anyway). 

I bought two of these when they came out. Have one on the bench off and on, stock build but for the Quinta decals. (They are great, I bought 5 more sets for other models) I have the wings done, front and back fuselage with the engines (what a pig they were) and will be getting started the main assembly shortly. Going to paint it in a what if scheme. 

Got going on this last week. So far so good, no problems. I'm adding some detail in the form of cables in the cockpit, the radiator air intake and exhaust have details not on the model. Chopped the "Radio" off the back deck, narrowed it, and trying to get it to look like the fuel tank. 
 

 

 
Finished one Zero, the A6M5c flown by Saburo Sakai. I'd give it a 7 out of 10. 
 

 
Please excuse the abysmal photos. I have contractors ripping all the balconies off of the building, so no access to my normal photo spot out there. It's dark in here, and the lighting sucks. I'm working on a backdrop similar to those German hangers you can buy, floor and two walls. The other Zero, the  A6M3 conversion is done but for the push molded canopy. Still trying to get that done, so far with limited success. Soon as I get the backdrop done and some decent photography lights I'll put out a bunch of it, the M5c, and the Bf-109. 
 

Love the paint scheme. Rarely see civilian birds in the forums.  Perhaps I'll do the same, or a captured bird. 

Got going on this last week. So far so good, no problems. I'm adding some detail in the form of cables in the cockpit, the radiator air intake and exhaust have details not on the model. Chopped the "Radio" off the back deck, narrowed it, and trying to get it to look like the fuel tank. 
 

 

 
Finished one Zero, the A6M5c flown by Saburo Sakai. I'd give it a 7 out of 10. 
 

 
Please excuse the abysmal photos. I have contractors ripping all the balconies off of the building, so no access to my normal photo spot out there. It's dark in here, and the lighting sucks. I'm working on a backdrop similar to those German hangers you can buy, floor and two walls. The other Zero, the  A6M3 conversion is done but for the push molded canopy. Still trying to get that done, so far with limited success. Soon as I get the backdrop done and some decent photography lights I'll put out a bunch of it, the M5c, and the Bf-109. 
 

Got going on this last week. So far so good, no problems. I'm adding some detail in the form of cables in the cockpit, the radiator air intake and exhaust have details not on the model. Chopped the "Radio" off the back deck, narrowed it, and trying to get it to look like the fuel tank. 
 

 

 
Finished one Zero, the A6M5c flown by Saburo Sakai. I'd give it a 7 out of 10. 
 

 
Please excuse the abysmal photos. I have contractors ripping all the balconies off of the building, so no access to my normal photo spot out there. It's dark in here, and the lighting sucks. I'm working on a backdrop similar to those German hangers you can buy, floor and two walls. The other Zero, the  A6M3 conversion is done but for the push molded canopy. Still trying to get that done, so far with limited success. Soon as I get the backdrop done and some decent photography lights I'll put out a bunch of it, the M5c, and the Bf-109. 
 

Coming  along, hardest part were the stencils for the tail numbers. First attempt, the mask didnt cut all the way through. Scaled them up a tad, (The 9 was giving me fits) and had them cut twice. Solved the problem. Working on the hinomarus, upper wing done, stbd side of the fuselage done. Getting ready to do the lower ones, and the red stripe. I did put some OD Green splotches on, but I can see the fuselage band is not wide enough. I'll bump it about a 1/16 or so on the trailing edge to widen it. Working with the masks is getting easier, being hinomarus makes it easier to practice on. That glossy area around the band is Microscale masking gel. Just painted it, so the tape and goo isn't off yet. Any idea where I can get a white builders stencil found on the port side, just in front of the tail? I can find black ones, for the IJN Grey scheme but not having any luck with a white one. 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 

Ok, here are some photos. First one is of the wing tip after the upper and lower were glued together. I applied the milliput first, and then sanded the mating surfaces flat. Glued with Tenax and CA, clamped tight and left over nite.
 

 
After the wing was completely hardened, I put in the screws. Not really required but it does give a bit of extra insurance for when the mill file starts working on the epoxy, which is hard as rock. I then filed the leading and trailing edges straight out to the tip.
 

 
Having done this, I've started to file the airfoil into the wings. Like I said, a mill file, followed up with 220 sanding sticks and then 320 sticks. This is very tedious as I don't want to remove too much so the rough work is with the file, and then a lot of sanding, checking, and more sanding. I got one tip more or less roughed out tonite after work. There will be a bit of filling to do as the milliput wasn't applied far enough to fill in the taper of the original tip.
 

 
I'm working the surface by filing spanwise, and checking it at intervals of 1/8 of an inch chordwise with a steel rule so the wing surface will maintain its taper. Once that is done, I'll make up the tip templates and round the tip in plan form. Final job will be to round off the tip cross section. After all the tip is formed, I'll start to work on the ailerons and the panel line rescribe.
 
More photos tomorrow. Here's a shot of the closed up fuselage and cockpit. Still some touchup painting to be done, and I forgot to put the fuel handles in. Not to mention the seatbelts, and joystick. I should still be able to get them in with tweezers. (I hope)

 
 
That's what you get for being impatient.
--
Sabre

Going to be an outstanding  model. Love the detail in it. The memorial wings are a great tribute to a valiant crew. O7 to them, may they rest in peace. 

Slowly coming along, working on the landing gear and external fuel tank. Grabbed one off the Swallow kit. Bit of a glitch, dropped the canopy center section on the floor and didn't notice til I heard the crunch. Glued the bits back together, cleaning them up and pouring some epoxy to make it all one solid mass, then I'm gonna try my first push molding. 

Coming  along, hardest part were the stencils for the tail numbers. First attempt, the mask didnt cut all the way through. Scaled them up a tad, (The 9 was giving me fits) and had them cut twice. Solved the problem. Working on the hinomarus, upper wing done, stbd side of the fuselage done. Getting ready to do the lower ones, and the red stripe. I did put some OD Green splotches on, but I can see the fuselage band is not wide enough. I'll bump it about a 1/16 or so on the trailing edge to widen it. Working with the masks is getting easier, being hinomarus makes it easier to practice on. That glossy area around the band is Microscale masking gel. Just painted it, so the tape and goo isn't off yet. Any idea where I can get a white builders stencil found on the port side, just in front of the tail? I can find black ones, for the IJN Grey scheme but not having any luck with a white one. 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 

Coming  along, hardest part were the stencils for the tail numbers. First attempt, the mask didnt cut all the way through. Scaled them up a tad, (The 9 was giving me fits) and had them cut twice. Solved the problem. Working on the hinomarus, upper wing done, stbd side of the fuselage done. Getting ready to do the lower ones, and the red stripe. I did put some OD Green splotches on, but I can see the fuselage band is not wide enough. I'll bump it about a 1/16 or so on the trailing edge to widen it. Working with the masks is getting easier, being hinomarus makes it easier to practice on. That glossy area around the band is Microscale masking gel. Just painted it, so the tape and goo isn't off yet. Any idea where I can get a white builders stencil found on the port side, just in front of the tail? I can find black ones, for the IJN Grey scheme but not having any luck with a white one.