As most who follow my threads (and I appreciate it) know I'm not too much into jets. Quite frankly they bore me. Grey...grey...more grey...throw a few missles on the bottom...you get the gist. That said, there a perhaps a select few that do hold my interest enough to model. The F-8 Crusader, F-14 Tomcat, A-10 Wathog and of course the predecessor to the Mustang, North American's F-86 Sabre, which is probably my favorite jet. Well, I have been challenged to build 10 kill ace Captain Ralph Parr Jr's F-86 and have it finished by Parr's birthday of July 1st......challenge accepted! I'll be using the Hasegawa kit with Parr's FU-778 markings. I'll enhance it with cockpit photoetch and Eduard resin wheels.
Since I don't nomally do jets I needed to do some research....quickly!. I learned that the cockpit on the Sabre was initially light grey then later models were changed to black. Since this was an earlier ride than Parr's FU-959 machine, I went with XF-66 Light Grey. After my normal cockpit construction, I assembled the intake and exhaust. Other than seamwork on these, I didn't get too carried away with the inside as it won't be seen at all.
The stock pit was decent, not great but decent. Typical 90's Hasegawa. The PE set was nice, especially the instrument panel. I jazzed up the seat with a set of arm rests made out styrene strip. I ended up losing the right ejection seat yellow handle to the floor monster and had to make a new one. It's weird seeing those green seatbelts though....
I then painted up the speed brake area and gear wells. I made a custom mix of XF-3 Yellow-Green, XF-49 Khaki, XF-58 Olive Green. I'm pleased and may use this concoction in the future.
I threw a couple fishing lures above the intake secured with epoxy to hopefully keep it on its front gear. I hope I added enough.
I got her buttoned up before calling it a night. Other than the usual wing/fuselage joint gap, I had no fit issues. This kit is void of Hasegawa's wing root gaps. The silver sharpie trick was used to check the seams.
I'll be painting soon. I intend to paint on the yellow stripes...