Royal Danish Air Force F-86D F-421

Gordon Sørensen Author
Building the old Airfix F-86D in the makings of the Royal Danish Air Force.
Last year, I was able to go to the museum in Stauning and took a lot of reference photos.
I scratchbuilt a cockpit, though not a lot of it can be seen.
I also used my razor-saw and removed the slats from the leading edge, so I can place them in the drooped position.

Kenneth
I don't know which decals you have, but you may want to bear in mind that Danish Sabres got Martin-Baker seats when they changed from the three letter code to the „F-xxx" code

Mid Franconian
Stoppel Decals 😍! They are great, I used them on my RDAF F-104. Unfortunately Mr Stoppel died some time ago.

Kenneth
Jacob Stoppel's son has an online shop, where he is selling the remainder of the stock from the now closed shop in Copenhagen, including many Stoppel decals. You can't use the online shop if you don't live in Denmark, but you can send him an email and he'll give you a quote and send them. I've done this a couple of times from Germany and it works very well. Not overly swift because he does it in his free time, but very reliable. Look up hobbyplastik.dk

Kenneth
Gordon, if you want the „DANMIL" drawings of the F-86D, send me your email and I'll pass them on to you.

Gordon Sørensen Author
I added the Slat Tracks on the wing leading edges. 8 pieces of 2mm styrene on each wing.
None of the drop tanks I have are of the type with the vertical plates on the tailfins. Looking for a better picture and will see if I can scratchbuild them. Need to modify a couple for my Canadair Sabre Mk.Vs too.
I have a reference book - F-86D ANG & Foreign - that has a couple pages on the RDAF use of the F-86D. They mention the change to the Martin Baker Mk5 ejection seat, so will have to start the hunt for one of those.

Kenneth
From what I can see, the drop tanks just seem to be the standard type, where the pointed tips of the fins have been sawn (?) off and end plates have been mounted perpendicularly to the fins (which means that they are canted outwards in frontal view). The Danmil drawings I sent you show them quite well. But thanks for the heads up, I need to do some extra work on my Sabre too, I see…

Kenneth
Speaking of scratchbuilding, just a slight hint: Danish Sabres had different auxiliary air intakes on top of the fuselage than the ones in your kit; they were not of the NACA-type…

Gordon Sørensen Author
Been on a bit of a sidetrack with droptanks. Thanks Kenneth for the pics.
I found a F-86F maintenance manual online, and it shows detail on three 'different' types of tanks - 120 gallon, 200 gallon, and 200 gallon with the end plates. The Airfix F-86D tanks look a little anemic… must be the 120 gal example. The tanks from the Hobbycraft F-86F look good, except that the leading edge of the mount is sloped back, which doesn't seem to be the case with the RDAF (or Canadian) Sabres. Going to use the Hobbycraft tanks, but with the Airfix F-86D mounting brackets.
The Martin-Baker Mk4 Ejection Seat seems to be physically close to the Mk5, but a LOT easier to find in 1/72 scale. And in 1/72, not sure anyone would be able to tell the difference anyway. We have a postal worker strike in Canada right now, so will have to wait a bit before I will order. Sometimes being a slow builder works out.

Kenneth
I only saw the excerpt from the maintenance manual now, so it seems that there is more to it than just cutting off the pointed tips of the fuel tank fins. Thanks for posting that, very helpful for my 1/48 build.

Gordon Sørensen Author
Modified the Hobbycraft F-86F tanks, extending the stabilizers and adding the end plates. Might not be 100% correct, but looks pretty good to me.
Next conundrum... the centre of the wings (and lower fuselage and speed brakes) look to be a grey paint as compared to just a bare aluminum on the upper fuselage. The example at the Flymuseum in Stauning seems to have grey paint, but it is hard to tell in period photos. Can`t find any painting guide - that would have make things too easy!

Kenneth
I'll be using dull aluminium on the lower surfaces on mine. This is what it looks like to me on period colour photos, and is also what was used on the lower surfaces on Danish F-84's. Then something between that and bare aluminium on the centre of the wings and most of the vertical stabilizer (still have to work out the exact outlines). The wing box panels (and probaly also those on the vertical stabilizer) were anodized, I believe.

Łukasz Gliński
Following, built the Hasegawa one lately

Gordon Sørensen Author
The fun begins! A bit of masking to try and get a little difference in the airframe panels.

Lost_Erik
Great progress! 👍
🪑🍿😊

Finn
Following

Gordon Sørensen Author
Painted the wing and lower fuselage with Ammo by MIG 212 Silver Grey. It is a little darker than I would have liked. I wonder if I could use that like a `pre-shade` for a metallic?

Guy Rump
Looking good, following. 👍

Gordon Sørensen Author
I usually use Klear on my kit canopies, but I picked up some Deluxe 'Looks Like Glass' from Telford a couple years ago.
Seems a little thick, but the instructions say you can dilute it with water.
Dipped the canopy, and set it up on paper towel to absorb the excess. Let dry for 24 hours. I think it came out pretty good. You no longer see the minor scratches from rattling around loose in the box since 1982.
Metallic Details make a Martin Baker Mk.5 Ejection Seat in 1/72. Will have to place an order...

Ekki
Watching.