When this kit turned up in the last shipment of review kits from Hornby USA, I'll admit to being underwhelmed when I took a look inside the box. Reading reviews of the previous release increased the underwhelm. But then I decided to unbag it and take a further look.

Overall, the kit is "clunky" in design, the way the Airfix 1/48 Bf-109E is clunky in its design. But with care in preparation and assembly, the result doesn't look "clunky," the same way the Airfix 109E can turn out OK. Shape outline is good.

The kit is designed in a strange manner as to parts breakdown. As I got into it, it suddenly occurred to me that Airfix does plan other versions. I suspect a Canadair Sabre Mk. VI will be next, since it will only involve a pair of "sugar scoops" to fit the opening in the fuselage halves where the F-model intakes are separate pieces, and the wingtip/aileron parts (which would be the same as the earlier Sabre 4 kit). And then it appears that - finally! - we could see a F-86A/E slatted wing version. Whether those actually happen, the parts breakdown supports the idea.

The hardest thing was cleaning up the slats to fit to the wing leading edge. I had to file the rails thinner, then open up the slots in the leading edge, lots of test fit-file-test-fit, file... If you treat the kit as a limited-run kit and check parts fit throughout, you can assemble it so you only need to use some CA glue on the centerline seam. But test-fit first on everything. Strangely, the inserts for the air brake (there is an airbrake-open option) and the gun bay cover (there is an open option there, too) and the ammo cover/steps (open option there also) all fit fine on the right fuselage half and had to be filed down a bit to get good smooth fit for all on the left side. The strange assembly for the upper rear fuselage/dorsal fin results in a "knife edge" dorsal fin you don't get with a Hasegawa or Academy kit.

I decided to pull this out after getting hold of a Hasegawa F-86F-40 "Blue Impulse" kit on eBay to turn into a slatted E with the Red Roo resin wing (which is the Bill Scobie wing released several years ago and an excellent way to get a slatted early Sabre) because I decided to use the Blue Impulse decals on this, since I could drop the slats.

As it turned out, I decided to use the Hasegawa cockpit with this, since the Airfix cockpit is the real failing in this kit. I cut off the rear of the Airfix tub and mated it to the forward part of the Hasegawa tub. I'll use the Hasegawa seat, with a pilot aboard. There is a good resin cockpit and seat for the Airfix kit that has been released by Special Hobby and I recommend it (I'm using it on the Hasegawa kit). The earlier resin cockpits and seats associated with Hasegawa kits aren't as available (the same way the Hasegawa kit isn't so available).

So, anyway, once assembled, this kit can sit next to a Hasegawa or Academy model and look OK, the same way the Airfix 109E can sit next to a Wingsy 109E. They're not as "delicate" in detail as the others, but not terrible either.

Next up on the project: paint and detail the cockpit, seat the pilot, attach the canopy, then proceed to painting and a lot of decalling.

5 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Yes to all

Since I had the Hasegawa F-86F-40 (two kits, actually, which turned out to be needed) "Blue Impulse" release, I decided to do this at a "Blue Imulse" Mitsubishi-built F-86F-40 from the final 1981 season. I was fortunate our ship was in Yokosuka when the Tokyo Olympics happened in1964 and that I was visiting my Japanese friends in Tokyo at the time. It was possible on opening day to walk up and buy tickets, with decent seats in the upper third of the stadium. (Can't do that at an Olympics today!).. As it turned out the seating was perfect to see the Blue Impulse team open the show with a very spirited display.

So, the model has a base paint of the lower wings and interior/leading edge of the slats in Vallejo Aluminum with the center spar area in White Aluminum. The rest was painted Tamiya X-2 Gloss White, then the rest is all decals. As I said, it was fortunate I had two kits, because there were "touch ups" for fit needed (a couple places still need some more).

This is a very interesting scheme not seen often, that looks good on the Sabre.

4 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Indeed a very interesting and so often seen scheme, Tom @tcinla. It does look great on the Sabre.

Calling it done.

Yes, this is a lot "clunkier" a kit than either the Hasegawa or Academy F-86s. However, it is the ONLY F-86 kit with slats. It is not impossible to convert the F-86F-40 "long" wing to the standard wing, which will allow you to do a Canadair Sabre Mr. 6 (in fact, it would not surprise me, given the geometry of the wing design in this kit, for Airfix to do that themselves with their next release. And from about 18 inches away with a nice paint scheme, it doesn't look that clunky. However, it desperately needs the CMK resin cockpit and seat, since the cockpit and seat from the kit is just awful.

So far as gear wells are concerned, these are also shallow. I for one have never been bothered by that with the many Sabres I have done. The panel lines are indeed "trenches" in comparison with either Hasegawa or Academy, but as I say, look at the model with paint and decals.

5 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Really great F86, Tom @tcinla. Excellent work on that scheme.