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My 1/72 scale aircraft

I started my F-86D Sabre, one of my favorites. It’s a Hasegawa kit.
First was the cockpit assembly…

Not a lot of detail, they use decals to simulate the control panels. Then after completing the other sub assemblies I joined the fuselage halves…


Its looks ok for 1/72 scale.
And you may have noticed I started painting the fuselage nose cone. But I applied some real metal film on a few panels to see what it would look like. It’s super thin aluminum foil with self adhesive on one side.


And it looks like real metal because it is! ;)
And this is as far as I got…tedious work for sure!


See ya next time…
 
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Progress is slow and methodical. I am looking at strategic application of panels.
First I measure and make a piece large enough to go a little past the panel or panels I am going to cover. Then I attach one side first and carefully press it around the contour of the aircraft. Once fully down, I burnish it with a q-tip to ensure it’s pressed down well. Then I trim the profile of the panel with an xacto knife. The pressure is very light on the blade. Then I remove the excess around the panel.
Then I made tools for the detail. I have a toothpick angle cut to have a thin round edge for panel lines, and one that has a sharp point for rivets. I use these to press the material into those features…



Some areas are tricky, like at the wing root on the leading edge…


Anyway, I ordered another sheet today as I’m running out…sigh!
In addition I am probably going to have to order a decal sheet, as this kit has decals for the Japanese version. So I need a US decal set for a 1/72 F-86D with squadron markings I like. Problem is the decal sheets are selling for as much as the model kit! That’s wrong…but I may print my own and see if I have success with those.
This is the scheme I like, but mainly the tail paint design…


See ya next time…
 
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Daniel20 said:
I'm going to have to add your metalizing technique to my toolbox. Great modeling Dean!
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Thanks Daniel!
I have found the key to success is to only apply small sections at a time and trim to the panels on the aircraft. It is so thin that large pieces will stretch and even wrinkle, sometimes just removing them from the backing.

Corsair said:
She is looking very fine Dean !
Click to expand...
Thank you! Getting there, it’s new territory for me. I have to figure out applying decals and clear coat. I have read different things, so I have some experimentation and decisions ahead. ;)
 
Dean62 said:
Thanks Daniel!
I have found the key to success is to only apply small sections at a time and trim to the panels on the aircraft. It is so thin that large pieces will stretch and even wrinkle, sometimes just removing them from the backing.


Thank you! Getting there, it’s new territory for me. I have to figure out applying decals and clear coat. I have read different things, so I have some experimentation and decisions ahead. ;)
Click to expand...
You will find decals and clear coat go on the same. :)
 
Update…
Canopy on, elevators on…exhaust panels painted. Next will be the wings…


This will be the scheme I copy, but may change the green to be black as I have it now…


Depends if I feel like painting it green and if I like the black better. I have to add the yellow first. ;)

See ya next time…
 
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Pathfinder65 said:
Thank you Dean, Happy Thanksgiving to you and you're family.

Thumbsup Just put the Turkey in the ovenThumbsup
Click to expand...
It was reported to me that In later versions of the F86 the radar/fire control system could be coupled to the auto pilot.
This being a very primitive fire control the steering Delta terms were not smoothed. So if the locked on target was anything but directly ahead at the same altitude. The fire on would steer the aircraft as directly as possible. The resulting high g turns were face smashing events where your nose became intimate with the canopy on most occasions.
Reportedly the pilots were hesitant to engage in anything but pursuit mode but were under orders to use the auto Lock on in order to develop the systems.
I your my old man story isn't inappropriate or hijacking the thread .
 
Ted Robinson said:
It was reported to me that In later versions of the F86 the radar/fire control system could be coupled to the auto pilot.
This being a very primitive fire control the steering Delta terms were not smoothed. So if the locked on target was anything but directly ahead at the same altitude. The fire on would steer the aircraft as directly as possible. The resulting high g turns were face smashing events where your nose became intimate with the canopy on most occasions.
Reportedly the pilots were hesitant to engage in anything but pursuit mode but were under orders to use the auto Lock on in order to develop the systems.
I your my old man story isn't inappropriate or hijacking the thread .
Click to expand...
Not at all Ted. This about aircraft models and their history. Thanks for your contribution!
 
From time to time, I grab an airplane off the shelf and add a detail or make a change for the best. Today the Tigermoth was needing my attention. The old rigging was a bit out of scale. Now with the EZline rigging I have, there is no excuse. So I removed all the rigging and added it back with EZline. And she looks more to scale now. ;)



On the F-86D Sabre, I am waiting on the rest of my Bare-Metal aluminum I ordered to arrive, but will start painting the landing gear and other pieces that will go on.
 
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I’m down to one wing before I can start adding the landing gear and decals. I’m still waiting for the Bare-Metal I ordered to arrive…sigh.


So I started the painting on the landing gear parts and doors. If I get all the parts painted, then once the things I ordered arrive, I can finish it in a day. ;) Looking forward to seeing her finished!
 
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I'm amazed at how smooth and wrinkle-free you can get that foil, especially on such large areas. Just beautiful! Have you ever had any issues with the adhesive failing over time and the foil starting to peel at the edges?
 
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