1/72 Hasegawa F-86D Sabredog

 in PAF colors

by Glenn "wingnut" Bontigao

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Hey folks,

Another PAF project, my first jet aircraft model kit project and as usual in Phil Air Force colors.  This ex-Korean fighter-interceptor served in the PAF from 1960 to 1968 with the 8th Fighter Interceptor Squadron for air defense functions.  An aircraft that was designed to use the belly mounted 2.75-inch "Mighty Mouse" Folding Fin Aircraft Rockets (FFARs) system.

This unit is a replica of the one displayed at the PAF Museum Park at Villamor Air Base, Philippines.

Gunze "Mr. Metal" Aluminum and Alclad2 Aluminum was used as base colors for the NMF effect.  Some experimentation on Gunze "Smoke" (light to medium layers) was used to create some varying hues of aluminum burnishing.

Decals are from Scalenutz, Wave, some homemade and the stencils came from the original kit's decals.  Weathering was done using Gunze "Clear Orange and Clear Blue" and Daler-Rowney Oils diluted in lighter fluid for panel lines and streaking.

This was an excellent and easy kit to build OOB, recessed panel lines, detailed cockpit and good fitting parts too, the only gripe would be the fitting at the nose/intake section which was remedied with a bit of CA glue and careful re-scribing and sanding.

A polishing stick was used to smoothen the kit's surface after the initial 400 and 1000 grit sanding. Mr Hobby white Surfacer 1000 was used for primer and another round with the polishing stick to finish it off before the aluminum paint was sprayed on.

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I'm still getting the hang of this NMF effects and experimenting on less painful ways to achieve this finish.

The canopy was dipped in Johnsons' Klear to have that added sheen.

Overall, I really enjoyed this build and I hope I did justice to this early fighter jet design.

As an option to doing this project, "Hi-Decals" came up with PAF decals for a 1/48 scale Sabredog which can still be ordered though the net.

Glenn

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Photos and text © by Glenn "wingnut" Bontigao