Ian Jackson from Merseyside, UK (Liverpool area) has built this beautiful 4th FIS F-86D, based on the 1:48 Revell kit. Over to Ian for some low-down: "Paint - Airframe, Alclad II, standard and dark aluminium sprayed over a gloss black acrylic basecoat on alternating panels. Some panels sprayed directly from Halfords 'Aluminium' acrylic car-paint. The pale centre panels on the wings are Xtracolour 'Silbergrau' mixed 50/50 with Humbrol 'Metalcote' flat aluminium. I painted some of the access panels by hand, with Humbrol (56) 'Aluminium'. The anti-dazzle panel is Tamiya acrylic olive green." "Paint - Interior, wheel wells and airbrake wells were sprayed Xtracolour 'Interior Green', then drybrushed and given a light dirty brown oil wash. The cockpit, ejector-seat etc were all sprayed Humbrol (140) Dark Gull Grey then dry-brushed progressively lighter tones of grey. Instrument panels and consoles were hand painted Humbrol (85) satin black with details picked-out in gloss black, white and red. " "Extras - Eduard cockpit set. I didn't use all of this excellent set, just the seat harness, canopy sills, inside of canopy, some details for the seat itself and the instrument panel. " "Decals - Cutting Edge for the squadron markings and ALL the superb stencilling from the kit sheet. This stencilling took two whole nights to apply !" Ian's model won a quarterly competition at his local modelling club, and he was 'placed' at the Huddersfield show too. He'll soon be starting an Academy F-86F, to be finished in 366th FBW colours (that's the candy-striped aircraft depicted in colour in 'Fighting Colors - F-86 Sabre in Color'. Ian will also be building this side-by-side with an F-86E, which will either be a 3 Sqn RAF or 92 Sqn RAF machine.

Brad's Hasegawa-based XJF-2 model in 1/48 scale is highlighted further down the page. However, Brad hadn't quite finished it at that time. These shots show the completed bird. As Brad says, "I have made some changes to my XFJ-2 model. I have made a new more accurate nose gear completely from scratch, I added white data stencils, repainted the red circles around the fuel fillers (my originals were cocked sideways for some unknown reason), I changed the positioning of the main gear doors, and added the proper "Fighting-Fifty One" emblem." "I still have some errors which I may or may not correct on this model. I have ordered the 1/18 Admiral Sabre and plan to build a better version of XFJ 133755." I have to admire Brad's determination to get the model 100% accurate - once I finish one, I rarely go back to put things right.

Jack's father flew F-86Ls with 330th FIS at Stewart AFB, so it was only natural that Jack would choose to model an aircraft from the squadron, "My father flew these Sabredogs with this Squadron/Group at this time. Not sure if he flew this one. This airplane is modelled after the photo in your [AF Legends 207] book. I polled the 330th/331st Association to get the colors on the tail. This is what I decided to use based on their input. It is the Revell F86D kit with a Hasegawa F86F-40 wing. I used the Eduard photoetch set (needed to replace that "D-1" instrument panel) for the kit and it is painted with Alclad, ModelMaster and Tamiya paints. Of course the tail art decal had to be custom made, which a friend did for me. Jack should be sending some more photos of this model soon - you'll see them here first!

Admiral Toys began research into this 1/18 scale model during early 2005, deciding to build a Korean War aircraft, 'Jolley Roger'. The depicted aircraft flew with 335th FIS as the mount of ace Capt Clifford D Jolley. With critical input from myself, the paint scheme and other details were settled upon and the results - as you can see from the photos - are impressive. The model was produced in China, a country becoming synonymous with well-manufactured kits and models. The model is available from the Admiral Toys website www.admiraltoys.com , and this impressive jet retails for $58.99. (Admiral's website also kindly lists other sites where you can buy it cheaper). Thanks to Jason Foringer at Admiral Toys, Inc. for the photos and info.

Some time ago, Brad contacted me to enquire about the XFJ-2 Fury prototypes, of which three were built by NAA for the Navy. Brad wanted to model one of these machines, and from available information, he chose Bu Aer No. 133755, in PMTC colours. Well, as you can see, he's finished the model, starting with Hasegawa's 1/48 scale F-86F. Brad added barrier guards, arrestor hook and tail bumper, as well as filling in the F-86F gun ports (only the XFJ-2B had armament) and lengthening the nose gear. Markings are either hand-painted or based on decals from a B-29 kit, and though it's one of Brad's first models, you'd never know. Good work.

Though I don't normally include radio control models in this section, the finish on Joe Lupton's model was just too good to pass up. It depicts one of the converted GunVal F-86F-2s operated by the Colorado ANG 'Minute Men' aerobatic team. The model has a 60 inch span and length and is powered by a ducted fan. So far, Joe hasn't been brave enough to fly it. Can't say I blame him! That's Joe holding his pride and joy in the lower shot.

Koji Tashiro must never stop modelling. You can see other examples of his work below, but here are two more. Again based on the 1/72 Hasegawa kit, they are: TOP: A machine from 4th FIS, stationed at Misawa AB. This aircraft (52-4000) is exactly the same one Koji's previous model with 39FIS markings. The actual aircraft was transferred to 4th FIS in May 1958 just after 39th FIS deactivated. BOTTOM: An F-86D from 68th FIS stationed at Itazuke AB, in the southern part of Japan (the closest USAF Air Base to the Korean Peninsula). 68th FIS was the first unit to participate in the Korean War, and famous as the unit credited with the first kill in the War with the F-82 Twin Mustang. Koji's next project will be a TF-86D in the colours of 3625th CCTW at Tyndall AFB.

Giuseppe is probably well-known to many for his efforts in restoring full-size Sabres in Italy (he is currently involved in the AMI Museum's Sabre 4 restoration). However, he is also a keen modeller. The models are: First (top), the ESCI 1/48 kit, modelled as a Sabre Mk 6 of the RCAF Golden Hawks aerobatic team. Second, the MONOGRAM 1/48 kit, depicting an F-86F of Patruilla ASCUA, Spanish AF. Third, another ESCI 1/48 kit, this time modelled as a Sabre Mk2 of the Hellenic Flame aerobatic team, Greek AF. Fourth, an ESCI 1/48 kit built as a Canadair CL 13 Mk 4 (F-86E(M)) of the Cavallino Rampanate aerobatic team from 4° Aerobrigata, Italian AF Fifth, an ESCI 1/48 Canadair CL 13 Mk 4 (F-86E(M)) of Frecce Tricolori aerobatic team from 313° Gruppo Addestramento Acrobatico, Itialian AF (this is the team's initial colour scheme). Sixth, an ESCI 1/48 Canadair CL 13 Mk 4 (F-86E(M)) of Frecce Tricolori aerobatic team from 313° Gruppo Addestramento Acrobatico, Itialian AF, this time in the second colour scheme. And finally, (bottom), another ESCI 1/48 Canadair CL 13 Mk 4, in Lanceri Neri aerobatic team colours as flown by 2° Aerobrigata, Italian Air Force.

Koji Tashiro has already submitted shots of his other Sabre models (a TF-86F conversion and a 'stock' F-86D - see below) and here are three more. He is quickly building up a collection of Japanese-based Sabres and should be submitting shots of two more (4th FIS at Misawa AB and 68th FIS at Itazuke AB) soon. It's nice to see that one of this batch was inspired by my 'Yuma Sabres' feature a while back. Over to Koji: "339th FIS [top]: Stationed at Chitose AB, the northernmost USAF AB in Japan, and located nearest to the border with Soviet Union during the cold war age, after the Korean war. The marking is very unique and I personally like this marking best of all the F-86Ds. I was very lucky that I could see the real plane at Komaki AB, but only one time." "40th FIS [ middle]: Stationed in Yokota AB near Tokyo. The interesting story of "Yuma Sabre 1956" introduced in this website has motivated me to build this model. This is the marking when the 40th FIS participated in the Rocket Meet held in Yuma AFB in 1956. The unit loaned several Sabres from local units, and this model shows one of them, which was loaned from 332nd FIS at Larson AB. One of the members who participated in the rocket meet tells in another F-86-related website that those loaned Sabres were maintained in very good condition, which was not usual when loaning planes from other units. 41st FIS (squadron color is yellow) also stationed at Yokota AB for a short period of time, and they moved to Andersen AB in Guam Island." "25th FIS [bottom]: Stationed in Naha AB in Okinawa. This plane is also introduced in "F-86D & L Side Views" in this website and I applied exactly the same marking to this model. I also added a rocket scoring camera on the nose as shown in the drawing. 26th FIS (squadron color is yellow) and 16th FIS (squadron color is blue) were also stationed at Naha AB, and 26th FIS soon moved to Clark AB in the Philippines. If my memory is correct, all of these units were once stationed at Kadena AB, and then moved to Naha AB, both of them are in Okinawa." All of the above models are built from Hasegawa kits in 1/72 scale. I would like to thank Duncan for introducing wonderful references about Sabres."

Hiroshi Ohashi has previously submitted models for this page (see below) and it is a pleasure to see some more from his prolific hand. The larger models in the top shot are actually from 1/72 scale kits by Fujimi (897) and Academy (641). The two smaller models (also depicted in the lower shot) are 1/144 scale by Academy. Note that the smaller-scale models are in the same colour scheme as those in 1/72 scale; how about a brace in 1/48?

Rick Reinbott of St Louis, Missouri built this 1/48 model. Over to him, "This is my Monogram 1/48 F-86 Sabre Jet, built straight out of the box. I used Model Master Aluminum non-buffing metalizer for the natural metal finish which was airbrushed on using a Badger 200 Airbrush. The black stripes bordering the wing walk area were painted on by hand, after some careful and slow masking, and were quite a chore to do. The overall detail of the model is good and it goes together pretty well. " "I used the kit decals, which provided very attractive markings. My research indicated that “Peg “O” My Heart” was an F-86E, of the 336th FISq, 4th FIWg based at Kimpo, South Korea, in 1952." The Monogram kit is getting long in the tooth now, but still looks good with a bit of work.

This beautiful model from William Lawlor is the 1/48 Hasegawa F-86F-30 converted to an RCAF Sabre Mk 6.. The markings are circa 1959 and show a 434 Squadron 'Bluenose' machine. William used Larry Milberry's excellent Canadair Sabre as a guide to re-scribe vents ,hatches and panels. Further modifications entailed fitting True Details "late" F-86 wheels, Legend resin ammo bay and flaps. Cutting Edge's Mk6 resin wing slat set was fitted, which as William says, was, ".... a lot-o-work..cutting, filling, sanding, rescribing..but they look the part.". The cockpit is detailed with the Eduard PE set, with some scratch built parts. The gunsight was also re-built. Paint is MM's enamel, scaled down by adding a few drops of white and very light grey; William found their colors too dark out of the bottle, a feature common with most paint manufacturers. The paint is sealed with an acrylic semi-gloss final coat. Flightdecs supplied the decals, which also included the prominent ventral resin 'sugar scoop' intakes common to the Sabre 5 and 6. They were a little on the large size, so William sanded them down a touch. I should give William the final comment on this model, "The Canadair Sabre by Larry Milberry and your site were the biggest help in this build. Have two more on the go...a Mk 2 of 434 Sq. (blue sash) and Mk5 "The Wheels" (Smith Bros.) both in natural metal schemes. But it takes time just picking away at them between other builds. " Look forward to seeing them!!

Bill's model is based on the Hasegawa 1/72 F-86D kit. He used info from my F-86D/L USAF book to build a 13th FIS aircraft. Over to him, "I did in fact finish my Hasegawa F-86D and took it along to a regional IPMS meeting in Iowa, [April 2005] (about 140 miles from where I live). The model turned out pretty good, as I see it. It's a really good kit to begin with. There were things I paid attention to, while aiming towards a 13th FIS Sabre Dog depiction. The fuel tank fins in the photos I have are early design with no outboard vertical finlets. The U.S. AIR FORCE lettering is the rounded North American font, as I perceived it in the photos. Mine has the large orange tail stripe with black "piping". I wanted to get the squadron insignia placed in the orange field, but my graphics buddy (who has really nice pro-standard digital color printing equipment) was beset with serious family problems and was unavailable to do the squadron insignia reduction and printing. So my model currently sits with just the orange band & black piping." "I must say it looks pretty resplendent in that livery! With an SNJ base coat, plus various (home- mixed) Testors MM shades, aong with a few bits of metal-shaded decal (including a Tauro titanium decal), the model looks great sitting by a window in the sun. I was able to achieve subtle 7 shades of metal. I wish the anodized band thru the middle of the wing would've been more defined. Next time, I'll try a 36495 gloss undercoat before spraying on the SNJ." "My construction wasn't perfect (as usual). There's an ever-so-subtle 1mm long indentation where the liquid glue "settled" in dorsal fuselage join. Had I used the 324th FIS scheme instead, with its red/white fuselage bands, this minor flaw would probably have been effective masked. I had to leave the Iowa contest early to get back home (the awards ceremony wasn't until hours later at 8PM). " A while later, Bill discovered that his Sabre had been awarded 2nd place in the Jets pre-Vietnam category - as he rather modestly states, "more a testimonial to the quality of the Hasegawa kit rather than my "skills"!" As you can see here, he is indeed being modest.

Matt, from Kalispell, Montana built this Dog to represent the aircraft his father worked on as crew chief. Mike Grant at Mike Grant Decals made the custom decals for Matt, and rather predictably, as soon as he'd finished the model another decal manufacturer (Aeromaster) came out with decals for the same squadron - thankfully as Matt recalls, they are pretty much inaccurate. The squadron depicted was the 497th FIS based at Geiger Field in Spokane, Washington in the late 1950's. This particular D was the base CO's aircraft. As far as the model goes, it is the Revell boxing built straight out of the box. Alclad II "Polished Aluminum" and Testor Model Master Enamels were used for painting. The model won 3rd place in the "natural metal finish" class at the Rocky Mountain Model Club show in Calgary, Alberta last year (2004).

I finished this one some time ago and detailed the conversion from F-86F-40 kit to Canadair Sabre 5-based QF-86E model. Basic changes involved shortening the wing, gluing the slats in place, sanding off all the raised detail and rescribing all panel lines. Hopefully, if you've made this kit you'll notice other stuff I have scratch-built (ejection seat, speed brakes, external store etc), as well as other stuff I've modified (cockpit, undercarriage, wing pylon location and more). It took me a good few years as I was writing books, bringing up a family and getting bored with modelling at times. Now it has pride of place among the numerous other unseen models, gathering dust in the attic. But as someone once said, "It's not the destination that matters but the journey." (apologies if I've misquoted that, but the gist is the same.

Koji Tashiro's models display very nice natural metal finishes and comprise (top two), a very detailed conversion of the Academy 1/72 kit to represent the second TF-86F dual seat trainer in ARDC colours when based at Edwards AFB. Koji Tashiro cut and stretched the kit fuselage, extended the dorsal fin and added the ventral fin seen only on the 2nd TF-86F. The first trainer prototype, s/n 52-5016 was lost in a crash at Nellis AFB on 17 March54, taking the life of NAA test pilot Joe Lynch. Thus, the second machine was converted, and this one, 53-1228, eventually became a chase plane at Edwards, and served there until July 1959. The bottom two photos are of a more 'stock' model, this time the 1/72 scale F-86D by Hasegawa. Markings are of 39th FIS whilst the unit was stationed at Komaki Air Base in Japan. Koji grew up near Komaki and saw these F-86Ds almost every day flying over his house when he was a kid.

Hiroshi's beautifully finished Sabres are by Monochrome (released worldwide under the Trumpeter name), with decals by Cartograf. (upper photo) and a trio of 1/144 by Monochrome, 1/72 by Fujimi and the 1/48 kit by Hasegawa (bottom photo).

This is my latest finished model - High Planes' Commonwealth Sabre conversion. I used the 1/48 High Planes conversion fuselage along with the Academy 1/48 F-86F as the base. Though High Planes suggest using the Hasegawa kit as the base, I found no problems. Decals are for a Royal Malaysian AF example and come from the High Planes kit.

“You will note the wrap-around red stripes behind the canopy on two of my planes. In this squadron, the commander had 3 stripes on his aircraft, while his deputy had two. So that is the reason for these particular bands, made from red pinstriping tape.Be sure and attach the landing gear assemblies straight up, as there isn't much clearance between the drop tanks and the ground. Radomes varied from dull brown to glossy black. In my squadron, we had to polish them with shoe polish!” “The final phase of the diorama consists of personnel and equipment. The Monogram F-86D kit includes a tow tractor, which we called a tug. I used two of them in the display. The personnel and ground equipment are from two Hasegawa 1/48 scale kits, U.S. Ground Crew Set:A (Kit No. X48-4), and U.S. Pilot/Ground Crew Set:B (No kit no.) Although the ground power equipment is more modern than would have been used in the F-86D era, I can find no older-type units, and didn't feel like scratch-building replicas of the originals, so these will have to do unless and until earlier models are available. There are many more figures of pilots and ground crews than you'll need unless you build a lot of planes, so there are several left over. I used only enough to replicate the guys who would normally be present around three aircraft. Also, back in 1958, work clothing was different than the BDUs worn now, being two-piece OD fatigues, so that is how I painted the enlisted men, adding blue web belts, silver buckle, and blue rank stripes. All of our ground power equipment and tugs were yellow. To finish the scene, I used the Verlinden Airfield Accessories set, Kit No. 322. This contains safety cones, tool boxes, fire extinguishers, etc. which you can paint in appropriate colors. I made wheel chocks from scrap kit trees, painted yellow. Everything on the diorama is glued to the surface except the planes, the two figures working on 976, and the one mechanic sitting on the wing of 302. Unless you plan on moving things around periodically, you may as well glue them to the base. I used Weld-It cement, and so far, nothing has come loose from the surface, even when the diorama is turned over. It is especially helpful to glue the chocks into place so you will know exactly where to position the aircraft each time you move them.”

Randy Wise's 1/48 Hasegawa F-86F has been nicely modified into a Sabre 6 of the Golden Hawks aerobatic team. Randy took the slatted wing from the Hasegawa F-86F-40 kit and mated it to Hasegawa F-86F-30, shortening the span as he did so. Decals are from Leading Edge Models. Inspiration for this model was the F-86 memorial in Randy's home town, Sarnia, Ontario. Conversion also required fitting of smoke pipes along rear fuselage.

C&H's conversion kit is used with the old Hasegawa 1/32 F-86F; Jack Ballard finished his conversion in the scheme of 131st TFS, Massachusetts ANG.

Christian Guidi's Sabre is a Mk 4 in the colours of 4 Aerobrigata, Italian AF. The model is built from a Gleichauf kit with a Rossi 105 ducted fan engine. Upper photo shows Christian with his model at the 1999 World Championships in Austria. Lower photo was taken at the 1998/99 Italian Championships. Models are (L-R): Sandro Rosina's BVM Sabre in Frecce Tricolori scheme (BVM engine), Andrea Bicelli's Rossi 90-engined Gleichauf model in Cavallino Rampante colours, Mauro Pirotti's BVM Sabre in Lanceri Neri colours (BVM engine), and finally Christian's Gleichauf kit at rear.

Just to prove that I do actually complete the odd model, here is my 1/48 JDF-86D. Model is based on the Revell 1/48 F-86D, but with light modification; resin and brass nose probe, brass airspeed probes and brass antennae. Decals are a mix of custom-made with stencils from the Revell sheet. This aircraft was used as a temporary test missile controller with the Navaho project at Patrick AFB.

First model to be featured here was made by Stefan Eriksson of Uppsala, Sweden. Depicting Boeing's Canadair Sabre 5 chase plane, Stefan based the model on the 1/48 scale Academy Sabre. A friend made custom decals for this model, and Stefan modified the kit's '6-3' wing to incorporate Meteor Productions' resin leading edge slats. The model placed 3rd in its category in early 2002 at the Swedish IPMS nationals. It was Stefan's first competition model and I think the photos speak for themselves - note how he has correctly modelled this unique aircraft's camera ports along each side of the cockpit - a great conversion.