Heller-Humbrol 1/72 F-86F Sabre

HELLER-HUMBROL 1:72 F-86F SABRE

heller_f86f.jpg (22098 bytes)

Reviewer: John Hall (rec.models.scale)

There needs to be no introduction for one of the USAF's most successful jet aircraft, the Sabre has become a true legend in itself and has served in a number of countries - still flying in the form of 'warbirds' of aircraft flying enthusiasts. The F version was one of the later models of the Sabre and this particular kit concentrates on the Norweigan example.

For a long time this was perhaps arguably the best 1/72 F-86 you could get as it is generally very accurate. Perhaps Fujimi or a couple of Hasegawa gems now hold that accolade but you are still going to get a relatively cheap but accurate kit with this example nonetheless. The most debatable subject is the wing dimensions, this kit features the smaller variety but any F-86 buff will tell you that many later F-86F-30 & F-40 models were fitted with a 6-3 wing that was subsequently retrofitted to many earlier Sabres. So if you are after exactness to the 'nth degree then before beginning this kit you should probably check your reference material for correct subvariant.

The kit has only an average number of parts finished in typical Heller quality of the time, nearly two decades ago. Plenty of detail on the outside with raised panel lines and etched slats etc. The cockpit has quite a bit of detail for a kit of its type and optional components on the finished product are open canopy and positionable speed brakes. As far as speed brakes are concerned they do extend horizontally outward on the kit, as opposed to the proper outward and downward slant. The instructions don't tell you this and the even the box cover has a model photo of the brakes in the wrong position! Check your references for the correct angle and with a bit of work I was able to have it correctly done to my model.

You will need to put some weight in the nose, which is difficult because the intake trunk extends into the aircraft some way, so small ball bearings or in my case, blu-tak ended up being just sufficient. Most of the assembly fits were pretty good but I had trouble getting the canopy (specifically the windscreen) into its allocated space and ended up shaving it to get a proper fit - this meant that part of the windscreen stretched incorrectly over a tiny bit of the upper fuselage but once painted you could not tell the difference. Another bit of work was required in getting the undercarriage assembly to fit properly but nothing too bad. The wing resisted a good mating with the fuselage (that sounds wonderful!) and some filler was necessary, but other than that the construction was quite straightforward - not shake the kit out of the box and it's completed ease, but good enough not to find yourself hassling over any sections (other than wing/canopy/undercarriage)

Just one Norweigan version is produced from this kit - but there is nothing stopping you from getting aftermarket Aeromaster or Microscale decal sheets to produce your own USAAF or whatever version. Colour callouts are in Humbrol numbers (as you would expect since it is a Heller-Humbrol cooperative kit), which is all well and good if you use Humbrol enamels, but since no 'colour names' are given you need to cross reference the numbers yourself with whatever paint range you use. I produced the same example that appears on the box cover in natural metal finish and it looks quite good, especially as an alternative Sabre subject.

Overall this is a great little kit, but the extra work required to get a good Windscreen fit, Undercarriage subassembly and wing/fuselage join may be enough to bump this kit into the 'Intermediate Modeller' category - which is a shame because otherwise this would be the best F-86 kit on the market for value.

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