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HELLER 1:72 F-86F SABRE
Reviewer: John Hall (rec.models.scale)
Kit Review submitted: Late
1998
Aircraft:
There needs to be no introduction for one of the USAF's most successful
jet aircraft, the Sabre has become a true legend in itself and has served in a number of
countries - still flying in the form of 'warbirds' of aircraft flying enthusiasts. The F
version was one of the later models of the Sabre and this particular kit concentrates on
the Norwegian example.
The Kit:
For a long time this was perhaps arguably the best 1/72 F-86 you could get as it is
generally very accurate. Perhaps Fujimi or a couple of Hasegawa gems now hold that
accolade but you are still going to get a relatively cheap but accurate kit with this
example nonetheless. The most debatable subject is the wing dimensions, this kit features
the smaller variety but any F-86 buff will tell you that many later F-86F-30 &
F-86F-40
models were fitted with a 6-3 wing that was subsequently retrofitted to many earlier
Sabres. So if you are after exactness to the 'nth degree then before beginning this
kit you should probably check your reference material for correct subvariant.
Construction:
The kit has only an average number of parts finished in typical Heller quality of the
time, nearly two decades ago. Plenty of detail on the outside with raised panel lines and
etched slats etc. The cockpit has quite a bit of detail for a kit of its type and
optional components on the finished product are open canopy and positionable speed brakes.
As far as speed brakes are concerned they do extend horizontally outward on the kit, as
opposed to the proper outward and downward slant. The instructions don't tell you this and
the even the box cover has a model photo of the brakes in the wrong position! Check your
references for the correct angle and with a bit of work I was able to have it correctly
done to my model.
You will need to put some weight in the nose, which is difficult because the intake trunk extends into the aircraft some way, so small ball bearings or in my case, blu-tak ended up being just sufficient. Most of the assembly fits were pretty good but I had trouble getting the canopy (specifically the windscreen) into its allocated space and ended up shaving it to get a proper fit - this meant that part of the windscreen stretched incorrectly over a tiny bit of the upper fuselage but once painted you could not tell the difference. Another bit of work was required in getting the undercarriage assembly to fit properly but nothing too bad. The wing resisted a good mating with the fuselage (that sounds wonderful!) and some filler was necessary, but other than that the construction was quite straightforward - not shake the kit out of the box and it's completed ease, but good enough not to find yourself hassling over any sections (other than wing/canopy/undercarriage)
Versions & Decals:
Just one Norwegian version is produced from this kit - but there is nothing stopping
you from getting aftermarket Aeromaster or Microscale decal sheets to produce your own
USAAF or whatever version. Colour callouts are in Humbrol numbers (as you would
expect since it is a Heller-Humbrol cooperative kit), which is all well and good if you
use Humbrol enamels, but since no 'colour names' are given you need to cross reference the
numbers yourself with whatever paint range you use. I produced the same example that
appears on the box cover in natural metal finish and it looks quite good, especially as an
alternative Sabre subject.
Overall:
Overall this is a great little kit, but the extra work required to get a good
Windscreen fit, Undercarriage subassembly and wing/fuselage join may be enough to bump
this kit into the 'Intermediate Modeller' category - which is a shame because otherwise
this would be the best F-86 kit on the market for value.
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