After more than 3 months to complete my Airfix Typhoon (1/24 scale, felt like a bazillion parts), I needed only 8 days to complete this dual kit release from Monogram, the F-86 Sabre and MiG-15.
I built these kits for the first time when they were released initially back in 1978 or thereabouts. I’ve built the F-86 a few more times over the years, but had never built the MiG again (other than Tamiya’s MiG-15 kit). It’s not really a fair comparison with the Airfix Typhoon, as the total parts count for both of these kits might have been equivalent with 1 of the bigger sprues in the Typhoon kit. The level of detail is far less as well, so consequently, these were far easier builds.
I built these 99% out of the box. The only addition was to add seated pilots, which I very rarely do even when I plan to build them wheels up. I found a couple of pilot figures in my spares box that looked appropriate for Korea (as opposed to WWII) and added them. This led me to the realization that neither of these kits were intended to be built with seated pilots. I had to modify the Sabre’s seat just to get the pilot in there (and it’s not like the pilot figure was a 48th scale Jabba the Hutt). I also had to cut off a hand and glue it back into a slightly different position so as to allow for the canopy to be closed. In the MiG, the pilot sat too high to allow the canopy to close, so I pushed on the cockpit tub enough to get the needed clearance.
I was pleasantly surprised by how simply the gear doors fit into place. Normally on these Monogram kits, that can seemingly require an Act of Congress to get the doors into closed position.
The paints were AK Xtreme Metals (aluminum, white aluminum, dark aluminum, jet exhaust, and pale burnt metal), Tamiya (red, yellow, black), and some random selections from Vallejo for interior paint.
I’m not sure when this kit was released, late 1980s perhaps? The decals appeared to be in good shape, but there was some gooey glue residue on most of them when I pulled them out of the water. Evidence of this residue is visible. There was also way too much carrier film on them that I should have trimmed away. Well, is what it is.
These were a nice trip down memory lane. Fun to build. Next up I am building Monogram’s 1/72 Space Shuttle Challenger. I’ve never built that one before.