Those Sabre targets are really cool!
Never heard about them before.

Thanks, Alfred (@alfred) and Steve (@sjcorvi). My next F-86 will be a Navy QF-86. I like weathering planes, so this will be a good canvas. I already have a thread going for the Airfix F-86 that will be my target.

I read about the acrylic filler trick for the intake in one of the English modeling magazines several months ago. The modeler said he would fill the intake with an emulsion he got at the home improvement store, then let it drain out. I don't know what he used, but I used Vallejo acrylic putty diluted about 50-60% with water. I close the front end of the intake with tape, then I use a plastic pipette to squirt the thinned filler into the forward end of the intake pipe. I let it sit for about 10 minutes, then I let the filler drain out. I don't try to fill up the whole thing, maybe 1/4 of the length. There is usually a hole in the pipe for the landing gear that I use to judge how much filler is in the pipe. I have used the technique twice now and had good results both times. Next time I am in a home improvement store I plan to look around for another option that might be less expensive than Vallejo filler.

Excellent progress, my friend @gblair!

Some fine progress on this Sabre, George @gblair

Looking great George (@gblair). I've heard mixed reviews on the Airfix Sabre, but I think it is probably no worse than other Sabre kits.

This is only my second "new era" Airfix kit, the first being a Beaufighter that was a marvel to build. I expected the same here, but this kit is a real mixed bag of good and bad. There are a large number of panels that must be added to the fuselage that must fit perfectly to avoid sanding. I am really trying to avoid sanding because of the upcoming natural metal finish. Some panels fit perfectly, while other aren't even close. The irritating thing is that the panel on one side of the fuselage might fit perfectly, but the corresponding panel on the other side requires a lot of work to get something that sort-of fits. The wing consists of seven parts on each side (not counting the gear, gear doors, etc), and it would seem to be an overly complicated collection of parts that are just asking for trouble. The wings will take a lot of work to get them ready for a NMF. Anyway, one step at a time.

On another note, I think I may build a third F-86, this time in Honduran colors. More to come. :o)

13 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Despite the odds you do your usual magic with the Airfix Sabre, my friend @gblair! Looks fantastic so far! And, yes, one step at a time will get you there. Also, one can never build too many F-86s, can he 🙂

Now on a small vacation, coming back next week, hoping to finish my NATO camoed Greek Sabre, then, maybe, resisting the temptation to tackle one of my too many started projects and tackle another Sabre?

Really Iike how your Airfix Sabre proceeds, looking forward to your progress!

You're making some good progress on this Sabre as well, George @gblair