Reviewed by Rodger Kelly
 

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FirstLook

Here is a new sheet from Cutting Edge Modelworks that provides markings for three F-86 Sabres. 

F-86E-5, 50-666,'Temptation' of the 334th Fighter Interceptor Squadron.  The placement guide does not identify the pilot of this aircraft but the decal marking bears the name "Colonel Mclean".  The supplied markings depict the aircraft as it appeared at K-14 (Kimpo Air Base, Korea) in the summer of 1952.  The machine is in natural metal finish with a grey nose and it wears the black and yellow theatre markings on the wings, fuselage, and fin and rudder.  The markings consist of: 

• The name 'Temptation' in red.

• Nose art in the form of a nude female figure on a yellow background.  This marking is supplied as a two-part decal with the yellow background separate.

• Black FU-666 'Buzz numbers.

• Black US AIR FORCE and 0666 serial number for the fin.

• Kill markings consisting of three red stars.

• A data block (with the correct serial number).

• A black square that has the pilot's and Crew Chief's names in yellow.

• A thin black line to apply on the left hand side of the fuselage in line with the canopy.

• The yellow and black theatre marking for the fin and rudder.  You will have to either paint the markings for the fuselage and wings yourself or purchase the Cutting Edge decal CED48028 that contains a full set of theatre markings (as well as a full set of stencil data)  if you wish to apply these as decals rather than risking the masking and painting exercise.

The next option is an F-86A, 52-8276, as flown by a Captain E.Y. Jorgenson of the 116^th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 81^st Fighter Interceptor Wing.  The placement sheet advises that the aircraft was a part of USAFE.  The squadron was a part of the Washington Air Guard and was activated in February 1951.  It deployed to the UK in 1951 for a short time so I guess the markings depict when it was based at RAF Shepards Grove or RAF Bentwaters, Suffolk.  It is in overall natural metal finish with a medium blue (no FS match provided) fin and rudder.  The markings comprise: 

• Red and black lightning bolts for the fuselage that incorporate an Ace of Spades playing card being pierced by a sword (Squadron insignia?).  Cutting Edge has supplied the right hand side marking as a lightning bolt without the playing card as well as the lightning bolt with the playing card and two further 'handed' playing cards as they were unsure of how the right hand side of the aircraft appeared – your choice but it is nice to have been supplied with these options.

• A data block.

• A one-piece decal that comprises three yellow lightning bolts, US AIR FORCE titles and the serial number in black.  You will have to paint the fin and rudder blue yourself before applying this decal.

• Black FU-276 'Buzz numbers'.

• Pilot's name in black for the canopy rails.

The final option is another F-86A, 49-1262 of the 94th Fighter Interceptor Squadron.  The aircraft is depicted in early 1953 when it was based at George Air Force Base, California.  The aircraft is in overall natural metal finish and bears markings that were applied especially for the fly-over of President Eisenhower's inauguration.  The supplied markings consist of:

• Yellow lightning bolts for the fuselage that contains the 94th's 'hat in ring' squadron insignia.

• A black bordered yellow band over the fin and rudder.

• Black FU-262 'Buzz numbers'.

• Black US AIR FORCE and 9162 serial number for the fin.

Strangely, there is no data block supplied for this option. 

There is a single set of national insignia and USAF titles for the wings supplied which means that you can only model one option from the sheet.  Apart from the two data blocks, there is no other stencil data provided. 

There is no indication as to who printed the decals.  My bet is that it was Microscale though such is the quality of the product.  Everything is in perfect register and there is an absolute minimum of decal film surrounding each subject which is a good thing as they are destined for a natural metal finish. 

The placement guide is A-4 in size and shows left hand side profiles of each option and a single top view of a Korean War era machine.  There is also a separate smaller sheet included and this sheet carries short notes on each of the options as well as full instructions on how to apply decals and a short bibliography.  If you don’t have these books  mentioned in the bibliography, or access to them head your browser towards José Herculano’s website at http://www.almansur.com/aviation/f86fdetail/  As well as giving a blow-by-blow description on tackling the Hasegawa F-86 it also has a wealth of close-up detail photos of the F-86

The decal sheet, placement guide and notes sheet are packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag.

The recommended kit is the Hasegawa F-86F but I'm sure that the Academy kit will be just as good. 

Should you wish to model any of the aircraft on this sheet, be aware that you will need to backdate both the Hasegawa and the Academy Fs to A standard.  Cutting Edge offers this conversion as a part of their range of their resin accessories/conversions. 

A nice sheet from Cutting Edge. 

Recommended.

Thanks to Cutting Edge Modelworks for the review samples..

Review Copyright © 2001 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 15 October, 2002
Last updated 07 November, 2003

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