I walked into my favourite model shop yesterday and the proprietor was busy unboxing several cases of this kit. Naturally, my eager hands snatched one off the pile and was soon being gleefully opened to see if what was said about it was true. It is. The kit is everything one expects of Revell-Monogram. Superb detailing, excellent instructions and a great decal sheet. The ProModeler boxing has the usual very detailed instructions with photos of a museum plane to assist you with building the model. There is also a tow tractor tossed in to the mix. Undoubtedly this is part of the ProModeler package. You can see the quality of the molding from the image to the right. You'll also be glad to see that it is standard grey plastic and not silver or any other odd color.

This particular kit is an early F-86D without the braking parachute. The parachute was installed on all F-86D-45 aircraft and subsequent. This was brought about when it was discovered in 1953 that aircraft sent to the Far East were unable to be used safely due to the shortness of runways. In late 1953, all earlier F-86Ds without the parachute were modified during a specially ordered IRAN  (Inspect And Repair as Necessary) overhaul schedule. This allowed aircraft to be pulled from squadron use as soon as possible in order to get all F-86Ds up to a single standard. 

What this means to the modeler is that they need to be sure that any aftermarket decals used needs to be matched to the plane and the time frame in order to be completely accurate. Many of us will gleefully ignore this little problem and happily build the plane as we like, but you do need to know this. Serial number buffs will want to know that F-86D-45 serials start with 52-3898 so any that are earlier and prior to the IRAN overhaul that added the parabrake, will be applicable for this kit. This particular overhaul was started in July 1954 and all aircraft so modified by September 1955 under Operation Pull-Out (the USAF loves its special operation names and probably has one for when the general goes to the bathroom!).

Those wanting to build an F-86L will have to wait for a wing upgrade kit or do some heavy modifications. Part of the F-86L package was a slatted 6-3 wing, unique in the USAF to the F-86L. Not only was the chord broadened, but the wingspan was increased as well.

The two markings on the decal sheet are just as on the review of the build up. The box art plane is the 97th FIS and the other option is the commanders aircraft from the 498 FIS. On this plane, you'll have to paint the tail and canopy frame blue to match the  the fuselage stripes. You'll also have to paint the front of the drop tanks white and blue. There is an extensive suite of data markings provided and the instructions on placement are absolutely top rate as one would expect from ProModeler. This sheet is also superbly done, being very crisp and clear. This sheet is produced by Cartograf in Italy and is a major improvement over the often off-register Scalemaster sheets in previous kits!

Overall, it is very much worth the wait and the delay. I'll be joining the hordes in constructing this kit as it has moved very near the top of my 'to build' pile! 

The North American Sabre, Ray Wagner, Doubleday, 1963

Review kit courtesy of me and my wallet!

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