N.A. F-86F-30 Sabre

[cph64]

Not of my usual 'Gentlemen's scale' this 1/48 scale Academy kit is one the two that Tracy won on the tombola at Keighley a couple of years back. Consisting of 8 sprues of grey plastic. 1 clear, an 8 page booklet and decal choice of two airframes. I'd made a start by marking up the instructions as to the colours needed on the parts. Neil has kindly lent me a book he reviewed on the F-86 which is coming in handy.

[Bigkev]

This should be an interesting change for you. Watching with interest

[chriswil42]

Definitely a change for you Chris.

[cph64]

Cockpit assembled and painted. The instructions call for a dark grey but photos show it more of a medium colour so I used Vallejo Medium Grey followed by detailing in black and red. I don't usually put pilots with my aircraft but as these are so well detailed I decided to build and paint them. The photo shows them part finished using Humbrol. Tamiya and Vallejo paints. Again I digressed from the instructions as Korean War pilots used a combination of new issue and exisitng WWII gear. Online photos showing how much variation there is.

[cph64]

With the cockpit fitted the fuselage was joined up followed by the wings, tailplanes and a couple of hatches which sat proud and needed sanding down. Gaps were treated to Mr Surfacer 1000 and sanded before a coat of Tamiya Semi Gloss was applied. Another layer of MS 1000 has been applied with PPP in places ready for another coat of Black.

[zak]

Are you enjoying the larger scale?

[chriswil42]

Looks cool in black.

[cph64]

It's interesting working in this scale. Parts are detailed and go together well but any flaws are so, so obvious so perseverance is the order of the day.
There's a set of decals which include an overall red one Chris. That would probably be as much of a challenge as getting natural metal right.

[Bigkev]

Natural metal finishes are always difficult. But with good preparation like you are doing will give you the basis for an excellent result.
Are you using the kit decals? or some aftermarket examples?

[cph64]

I'm using the kit decals Kev. Yet another rendering of 'Mike's Bird' if all goes well. I'm in the process of seeing which of the various paints I have looks best for the metal finish. My Vallejo Metallic Silver a non-starter, it 'spotted up' when trying to apply.

[Bigkev]

I normally use Alclad II or AK Metallics, but I think that Tamiya AS-12 is also a really good silver. It comes in a mini spray can, and gives a great result straight from the can.

[cph64]

I initially used Vallejo Silver but it didn't look shiny enough so tried their Steel which appears to match the finish of some of the photos I'm referencing from.

[Bigkev]

That looks about right Chris. Will you be shading some panels in....?

[cph64]

Yes Kev, there's some which are gunmetal and a few which look like a pale aluminium?

[Bigkev]

Very good, I think that the thinner gauge metal panels were generally lighter and brighter in appearance. So generally the leading/ trailing edges, removable panels and the like. Key is restraint rather than a patchwork quilt effect.