The Little World

Answer – because we have so many choices.

The Airfix North American F-86 E Sabre and the Canadair Mk 4 Sabre seem very similar in their boxes. The outside art changes and the decal sheets are different but I’m willing to bet I’m going to find the same plastic inside the clear bag on this model as I found in the box for my swap-meet Canadair Mk 4. And this is exatcly what I want.

The swap-meet Sabre went to an aerobatic team paint job from the mid-fifties to make use of some odd decals purchased at the same hobby show. As you’ll have read in my report of that model, those decals were somewhat of a nightmare – and the silver finish of the plane was not all I could have wished. Nevertheless it makes a good display partner for other air show-ponies. This one, however I wanted for a more prosaic paint scheme.

The RCAF had a presence in Europe well into the 60’s, and while there used the Sabres as interceptors and fighters. The basic scheme was very similar to the British day fighter paint of the time with a small variation on the underside.

Of course there were roundels and fin flashes that were distinctively Canadian, but the plane could readily be seen as British NATO at a glance. This is what the new F 86 is destined for. Had I not been seduced by the air show decal packet before, the other Canadair Sabre Mk 4 would be wearing the maple leaves.

One good thing about building the swap-meet model at a very cheap price was the experience it gave me with this Airfix kit. It is good all the way through, but ends up with rather spindly undercarriage legs and thin axles.  I shall make extensive use of discrete reinforcements for this build. It will also get a satin finish rather than the high gloss of the air-show Fireball plane.

I never moan about having leftover decals – they have come in handy many times in the past to make up deficiencies elsewhere.