Did I see somewhere that there’s an injection molded 48th scale F-86H coming out soon or am I dreaming? I know about the Collectiaire kit, but $110 is just a tad too steep for me. Does anyone else make one or is it possible to convert an FJ-4B?
I’m just in the planning phase of this build, but after seeing NY ANG F-86Hs in the Southeast Asia paint scheme, I’m really tempted…
About the only thing an F-86H and an FJ-4B had in common was a deep air intake. I got to know the H pretty well building a CollectAir rendition, then building a “corrected” CollectAire rendition with an F-86D canopy grafted into it – among other things. The tail was still wrong being based on an E/F. The H was broader in chord. Not by much, but you can see it if you look. I doubt a serious injected molded kit of the Hog will ever be released. A shame.
At first glance, the D and H models of the Sabre look like the same airplane. They are actually quite different, with the H having a much deeper and a little wider fuselage, 4 20 mm cannon instead of the ventral rocket pod, different wings and tail, etc. Converting a model of the D to an H would involve major surgery.
Darwin, O.F. [alien]
Hawxboss,
So you’re saying that even the Collectaire kit is wrong? Oboy…
I think my hopes of building a NYANG Hog in SEA colors are slipping away…
The Collect-Aire kit has some definite outline goofs. It looks more like an H than anything else, but it’s not quite there. Check out my article in the Sept. '04 issue of FSM “Tips on Building Resin Aircraft” for a shot of my finished stock Collect-Aire kit. Note the F-86E/F rendition of the windscreen. The H and D windscreens were not up on a ledge like that. Grafting a Revell D canopy (and part of the fuselage spine) made a noticable difference. The longer, broarder, no dehidral horizontal stabs are correct, but the vertical, and rear fuselage to the engine nozzle are again more reflective of an E/F than an H. The drop tanks are also those you’d find on a Korean War Sabre. The Hs almost always carried the bigger, fatter 200 gal. tanks. I suppose one has to decide how fussy one wants to be.
Part of the problem is that there are no real good drawings of the H that I’ve ever seen. And I have looked. Volume 3 of the “Warbird Tech” series, “SabreJet Day Fighters” has good '86H photo coverage.
For the amount of $$$, I’d expect a really accurate model from Collect-Aire. I am not a fan ot their products.
Pat
Pat,
Thanks for the reply. After rebuilding my Hasegawa F-30, I’ve been in a Sabre mood and wanted to do something different. I found photos of NY Guard (I’m a New Yorker, even though I’m living in Alabama right now) H models in the Southeast Asia scheme and had to build one. Guess I’ll be waiting a bit longer… I think I’m probably going to get the Italeri E model and the Promodeler D. My dad’ll get the D model, as it was his favorite airplane growing up. I think I may do an A conversion too with the Cutting Edge set.
Right now I think the D will take priority, since I’m going to be photographing one at the Frontiers of Flight Museum here in Dallas tomorrow afternoon!
Merry Christmas!
If you can track down a Feb. '91 issue of FSM, you’ll find an article showing how one guy converted a Monogram F into something that looks a lot like an H. I suspect this was the basis of what Collect-Aire produced. I tip my hat to the guy for doing what he did, but he didn’t change everything thay needed changing.
C & H does, or did, a 32nd H fuselage to combine with the big Hasegawa kit…if you’re interested in 32nd scale. Unfortunately they too expect you to use the Hasegawa F canopy on your model. Either they didn’t notice (or hope YOU won’t notice) the H did NOT share the canopy of the A/E/F.
Maybe someday, SOMEBODY will get it right.
Merry Christmas to you too.
Thanks Pat!
I guess an H isn’t in the cards for my F-86 family. I’m working on an A,D,E and L now, on top of all of my other builds, but the Sabres have caught my attention after rebuilding my F-30.
Pat,
Just out of curiosity, I’ve been looking at FJ-3 fuselages and comparing the profile to the H. While it would take a complete rescribing and a new wing and empennage, the FJ-3 fuselage seems to be pretty close. Any thoughts?
My 2 cents worth: Somewhere in the FSM, guesseng at least ten years ago, there was a feature on converting the F-86F to an H. Complete with all the major surgeries, it was a step-by-step how-to on the fuselage, wings, and canopy. Please don’t ask me which one.
Tom,
Apparently the CollectAire H model is based on that very conversion. Problem is, there are several major inaccuracies to it. I’m thinking that with the deeper fuselage of the FJ-3, (J65 instead of a J47 engine) I may be able to fudge it. Wings I’m not too worried about, I plan on taking a 6-3 wing from a Hasegawa kit. Empennage may be a bit more difficult, but we’ll see… The canopy will most likely come from a Dog Sabre kit. Lotsa kitbashing ahead, but it’ll be cheaper and more accurate than the CollectAire lump of resin.