History

The F-86K was a version of the F-86D build for five NATO countries:- West Germany, Italy,Norway,France and Holland.
Armed with 4 X 20-mm M24A1 cannons and a fire control system the F-86K also was capable of carrying a pair of AIM-9B Sidewinder's on underwing hard points.
The main visual difference to the F-86D is the extended wings and longer fuselage to help balance the aircrafts centre of gravity due to the cannons being added.
An APG-37 radar system was installed in the nose.
120 aircraft were built in North America and 221 by Fiat of Italy.

Contents

The model arrived in a sturdy top opening (16” x 10” x 4”) box, the top showing the German version and the sides of the box showing five decaled version.
The box is full to the brim with seven sprues moulded in gray plastic packed it sealed plastic bags..
In the bottom of the box we find a Decal sheet the size of the box bottom packed in a zip-loc bag.
Canopy and other clear parts are found wrapped in plastic in a solid cardboard box.
A small PE seat belt set and fin parts are packed with the decals.
A twenty four page 10” x 7” instruction manual finishes of the content count.

• Sprue A : Two upper and two lower wing sections are moulded with recessed panel lines and very fine recessed rivet details.
  Wing slat guides are moulded in the top wing sections and on the under side is some wheel well details
  
• Sprue B: Possibly positional wing flaps and non positional wing slats come moulded in pairs also we find the wing pitot tube.
  
• Sprue C: The large items on this sprue are the fuselage sides and and under belly panels from the tail split forward.
  Cannons and their housing frames along with ammo belts make up the rest of the sprue.
  We will find the instrument cover detail included here.
  All parts are well detailed and free from any flash.
  
• Sprue D: Thirty seven parts go into making a very nice looking General Electric J47E jet engine along with twelve parts to make the exhaust assembly pipe for the tail section.
  Nose wheel strut is moulded in one piece, we are given a choice of two styles of spokes for the wheel rims.
  Tyres are moulded onto the rims and have a “weighted” look to them.
  
• Sprue E: ( This sprue is labeled as “G” on the parts page/sprue and in the instructions!).
  Large fuel drop tanks take up space on this sprue, the tanks are moulded in two half’s horizontally.
  Two AIM9B missiles are made up of nine pieces each.
  Hard point mountings are made from two parts
  Main landing gear wheels are moulded “weighted” in two half’s each.
  Wheel well frames round off this sprue.
  
• Sprue F; Tail from the fuselage split is moulded in nine pieces along with the air intake tunnel.
  The air intake tunnel has some ejector pin blocks and indents the will require removing and some filler.
  
• Sprue G: ( This sprue is labeled as “E” on the parts page/sprue and in the instructions!).
  Twenty two parts make up the cockpit tub and ejector seat.
  The instruments and switches on the side panels and main control panel are moulded on if you would like to paint them or there are decals supplied
  Five piece radar dish and nose cone completes the front end.
  The air brake doors are detailed inside and out but the mounting arms are the same length so the door will open horizontal to the aircraft body when they should drop away and down careful trimming should fix this with no problem.
  
• Sprue GP; Clear canopy,lenses and gun site are well protected in a plastic bag within a strong cardboard box.
  All fourteen parts a crystal clear and the canopy is mould line free!
  
• PE: As mentioned earlier a small PE seat belt set and fin parts are packed with the decals,these will require painting.
  

Decals

One large 14” x 8” sheet has marking and stencils for five different nationality's and one small decal sheet consisting of the instrument panels and squadron tail flashes.
The decals look to be thin and have minimal clear boarders.
Colours look to be true, the decal have a high gloss finish to them.
Decals for:-

• JD-352,3. JG74 Gemany 1964
  
• ECTT 1/13 Artois,Colmar 1957
  
• XII Gruppo 36 Stormo
  
• Royal Norwegian Air force
  
• 3556th CCTSQDN, Perin AFB 1960
  

Instructions

Twenty four pages (two blank) follow the usual build steps starting with the cockpit.
All steps are clearly printed in black and white, there should be no problem jumping ahead and building sub-assembly's if you wish.
One double page and four single pages are in full colour showing painting and decal placement.
Paint colour on the colour prints are listed as Mr Gunze and BS numbers although throughout the instruction book colours are listed as FS numbers.

Conclusion

This model has a lot of detail parts that look like they should fit together nicely, the moulding is flash free with a few as noted ejector pin marks on the intake tunnel, having said that I could not find any sink holes on any parts!
This model calls out to be built as a diorama, to show off the fine details and a great start for super detailing.
A build blog to follow.
Thank you to Glen at Kitty Hawk Models for the sample.

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