Reviewed by Rodger Kelly
 

More early Korean War era F-86 decals from Cutting Edge. This time the sheet caters for F-86As only. Markings for three different aircraft of the 4th Fighter Interceptor Group (FIG) are provided.

Firstly, F-86A 48-260 of the 336th Fighter Interception Squadron (FIS) depicted during its participation in the weather reconnaissance flights that were part of OPERATION STOVEPIPE in 1951.

• The machine is in basic overall natural metal finish with a yellow nose cone. Unusual for F-86s, the upper surfaces of the fuselage, wings and horizontal stabilizers were painted in olive drab in an effort to hide it against the dark terrain if viewed from above. Other markings provided for this machine include the early Korean War theatre markings of black and white stripes that were only worn by the 4th FIG aircraft for the fuselage and the wings. The black stripes only are provided for these markings and modellers will have to paint the white themselves. I guess that Cutting Edge have their reasons for doing it in this manner but I for one would have preferred to see these markings supplied compete. The final markings for this aircraft are rounded out with the provision of the 4th FIG black stripe for the fin, buzz numbers, US Air Force titles for the fin and the serial number. This aircraft is still extant at the Smithsonian and if you chose to do so you can model the aircraft as it is today using this sheet by not simply not applying the olive drab paint

Next up is F-86A 49-1110 “Miss Kumsum” of the 335th FIS as she appeared in 1951.

• In overall natural metal finish with the more familiar yellow and black theatre bands with the 4th FIG yellow and black fin marking. Other markings include the squadron’s Indian head insignia for the fuselage sides. Cutting Edge has done us a favour here and provided two sets of these markings, one with a blue background and the other with a black background as it is unsure which was worn by this aircraft – a nice touch. As with the previous option; the markings are rounded out with the provision of what appears to be the overpainted 4th FIG black stripe of the fin (albeit the lower half only), buzz numbers, US Air Force titles for the fin, the serial number data block stencil – and yes, you can actually read it, as well as the “Miss Kumsum” titles for the nose.

Rounding out the sheet is F-86A 49-12811 of the 334th Fighter Interceptor Squadron when she was the mount of the 4th FIW Commanding Officer, Colonel Glenn Eagleston in June of 1951.

• In overall natural metal finish with a natural fibreglass coloured nose cone and black and white theatre bands. The machine also bears a personal marking of a white star against blue background with a red flash for the nose as well as the 344th squadron badge. There are three of the latter decal provided. Two are facing forwards and one facing rearward. No mention is made of this on either the instruction sheet nor on the decal placement guide so I guess that the badge was applied to both sides of the fuselage, but Cutting Edge were not sure if the right hand side faced forward and have provided both. It is nice to be given the option. The 344th FIS fin marking of black and white horizontal bands that were painted on the fin access door is supplied as is the 4th FIW black fin stripe and Colonel Glenn Eagleston name in both red and black. Again, no mention is made why two different colours of the same decal are provided. Cutting Edge has obviously done the research into this aircraft to have provided options and I don’t understand why they do not mention it in either the instruction sheet or the decal placement guide. The markings are rounded out with the provision buzz numbers, US Air Force titles for the fin and the serial number. There is no data block stencil for this aircraft.

The sheet also provides one set of stars and bars and USAF wing titles as well as two sets of turbine warning stripes and one set of “no step” warnings for the inboard upper surfaces of the flaps. As with the previous F-86 sheet, there are no yellow and black theatre bands supplied and you will have to purchase CED48028 if you wish to apply these as a decal rather than risking the masking and painting exercise.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

The instruction sheet provides a bibliography of references to consult but if you don’t have these books 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.

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 standards. Cutting Edge offers this conversion as a part of their range of their resin accessories/conversions.

A really nice sheet; and a great effort by Cutting Edge.

Recommended.

Thanks to Cutting Edge Modelworks for the review samples..

Review Copyright © 2002 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 08 October, 2002
Last updated 22 July, 2003

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