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Tolga ULGUR
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1/48 Hasegawa F-86 E(M) Sabre

January 9, 2013 · in Aviation · · 7 · 5K

An old NMF example from the past. This is E(M) with Turkish Air Force (TuaF) markings.
Most RCAF Sabre Mk 2 and 4 aircrafts were retrofitted with extended wing leading edges and then sold to foreign air forces. These planes are known as F-86E(M) where “M” stands for “modified. In 1954, Turkish Air Force (TuaF) acquired 105 refurbished ex-RCAF F-86E(M) aircraft. TuAF operated these Sabres from 1954 till 1968.
The model is based on the F-86 E(M) ( 19.335 tail number) from the 141st squadron
The base kit is Hasegawa F-86 F30 . So some corrections are required to finish it as an F-86 E(M)
The construction began with the cockpit as usual. The components are painted to FS 36231 grey with Gunze Sangyo acrylic paint.
I ve added the instrument panel and the seat belts from .
Some details are deleted for backdating to E(M) version.

V shape early style windscreen is required for the “E “ version.
I ve used the unique option for this , which is from Cutting Edge. (CEC 48197 -F-86E (early) Conversion set ). Nowadays this set is long long sold out unfortunately

The model is painted with Alclad Aluminium. I used different tones of Alclad family for different panels.

Happy modelling
Tolga ULGUR

Reader reactions:
4  Awesome 1 

11 additional images. Click to enlarge.


7 responses

  1. Very nice finish on that one. Neat markings, too- I've not seen a Sabre in those markings.

  2. One of the most beautifully sculpted lines on a jet there is. It looks fast just sittin' there. Always liked the Sabre. And this one is no different. Great little build, Tolga...various panel shading is very nice. I like it.

  3. Ummmm... actually, the "vee' windscreen was only used on the first 100 US-built F-86Es and none on those sent to the RAF. Other than that, though, this is an excellent build.

    • said on January 9, 2013

      Thank you Tom,

      To make clear the situation of V shape windscreen of F-86E(M)

      I would like to paste here some information from my sources:

      "When Canada joined NATO in 1949, that nation was faced with the necessity of upgrading the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). As the best single seat fighter in the Western world at the time, the Sabre was a natural choice to be the primary day fighter of the RCAF. However, there were many in Canada who did not want to bring yet another US-built aircraft into RCAF service, and wanted a British aircraft instead. As a compromise, rather than simply purchase Sabres outright from the USA, the Canadian government decided instead to build the type under license, becoming the first foreign nation to choose to do so. In 1949, Canadair Ltd. acquired a license to manufacture the Sabre in Canada. The first aircraft assembled was designated CL-13 Sabre Mk 1. Only one Sabre Mk 1 was built, the first production version being the Sabre Mk 2. The Mk 2 was the Canadian equivalent of the F-86E, and also used the J47-GE-13. Faced with a shortage of Sabres available for service in Korea, in February 1952, the USAF arranged to purchase sixty Sabre Mk.2s from Canada. These were designated F-86E-6-CAN, and were delivered to the USAF between February and July of 1952. Starting on Mk.III, Canadair started used the Canadian produced Avro Orenda engines on the Sabres. After the emergence of Mk.5 & Mk.6, The Canadian Goverment donated 107 examples of Mk.II after refurbishment and modification of the wingtips to TuAF. These planes are known as F-86E(M) where “M” stands for “modified. The newly arrived Sabres were assigned to the 141st and to the 143rd Squadrons. Later on a new squadron called the 142nd was formed from one the units of the 141st and it was also equipped with Sabres"

      And here is the link of reference picture of the TuAF F-86 E(M)

      http://ozkanturker.brinkster.net/Galeri/f86e/index.htm

      • Stunning work on the model as shown on your site. Good catch on that windscreen, because it could be missed. Someone's going to have to rewrite the developmental history of Sabres because I just checked my two books and they both still say that shouldn't exist.

  4. Beautifully built, finished and documented. Ten.

  5. said on August 6, 2015

    All Canadair Mk2 Sabres were built with the Vee windscreen, They were equivalent to a F-86E-6. Some of the Mk2 production line was sent to Korea to bolster USAF numbers. The sole Mk3 also had the Vee, the Sabre Mk4 was delivered with the flat windscreen.

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