'Have Guns...will Dance' 

1/72 Academy F-86E Sabre

1/72 KOPRO MIG-15

by Dan Parsons

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Here is my latest creation. It has been a long while since I last featured any of my work here on ARC (aside from the casual posting of pics in the Forums). Laziness mostly on my part. This project turned out much better than I was expecting so I figured I'd get a cup of coffee, pull up a seat, and do what has to be done.

A number of years back, I picked up an Academy F-86E Sabre kit in 1/72nd scale (the scale I prefer) at my local hobby shop. It was my first time building a Sabre and I loved it for its sleek lines, the shiny silverness and colorful decorations. So different from the drab aircraft we see today and so pleasing to the eye. While I sat there examining it in its plastic, an idea popped into my head. Wouldn't it be cool to build this in 'in-flight' mode. Immediately following that thought came, 'What if I put it next to its arch-enemy?' 'What if I build a MIG-15 'in-flight' as well?' Unfortunately, the beginning of this story does not have a happy ending. It was my first attempt at Bare Metal Finish, my work space where I was living at the time was not conducive to dust free paint jobs. Long story short, it was a complete disaster of an attempt. I ended up junking the build (something that rarely happens) and that was the end of that.

Fast forward to now. I have a MUCH better workspace in my current abode. I am working on another self-imagined project (me and my %$^@& ideas) which essentially has me building the first 10 years of US Airforce and Navy jet aviation in 1/72nd scale. More on that at a later date. I needed a side project to fiddle with when the monotony of scratch building and line scribing had gotten to be too much. I had picked up a KOPRO 1/72 MIG-15 a while back and 6 months ago, I was sitting there and decided to open her up. This immediately reminded me of the 'Versus' scenario I had dreamed up long before. I had by now completed a couple jets which had turned out quite nicely in BMF so my confidence was in place. I picked up another Academy F-86E kit and the rest is history.

My mom always told me, 'If at first you don't succeed...try, try again.' Apparently, she was right...

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One night as I was building the cockpit of the F-86, another idea popped into my head. 'Wouldn't it be hilarious if I had the American pilot flipping the Russian pilot off?' It was part homage to the movie 'Top Gun' and part experience driving in California. Although I cannot prove that this actually happened back then, I'm sure its not too far reaching. Hard to focus in on the pilot but hopefully you can make it out.

All in all, it was a fun side project. The builds went quickly. The KOPRO kit was not great and not horrible. Raised panel lines which I chose to sand down a little to reduce their appearance and no cockpit detail. This didn't matter as it was in flight. The Sabre kit was a breeze and a complete joy to build. I would highly recommend. I built the wooden base myself, stained it and had the face plate made at a local trophy store. I'm starting to like working with wood as a medium as well. Anyway, it was all a lot of fun to build and might lead to other similar projects in the future..we shall see. 

Enjoy!!!

Dan

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Photos and text © by Dan Parsons