Canadair CF-100 Sabre

Canadair CF-100 Sabre

Italeri, 1/72

This is the Italeri F-100D kit, in 72nd scale. I really like these Italeri kits, nice crisp moldings, and good detail for the buck. The kit came with two different burner cans, as well as two refueling probes, one straight and one cranked. I elected to leave them off, as Canada didn't have any type of AAR capability until the 70's. The kit also comes with bombs and Napalm canisters, with their associated pylons. There is also the option to keep the air brake open, with two actuators.

The kit decals comprise of three schemes, USAF, French and Danish, which, incidentally are up for grabs if anybody wants them for a project ! I built it straight out of the box, with the exception of the decals. I used the kit decals for the stencils and data pertaining to the USAF 'Hun', but the rest came from Arrow Graphics. I used their Canadair Sabre 4 sheet C-96-72, which seemed to lend itself quite nicely to this bird. The decals were for a 422 Sqn. aircraft circa 1953. The Arrow Graphics decals went on perfectly, with no silvering, using Micro Set and Sol.

I painted most of the a/c with Tremclad Aluminum paint, from a spray can. I like the stuff....it costs about four bucks a can and does about a dozen models, with no clean up ! The rest of the model was finished with a mixture of my old pal Testors, as well as some Humbrol paints. And don't forget the half inch nut cyano'd in front of the cockpit that keeps it sitting level.....and it wasn't until I had it painted that I realized in every reference shot I have, that the leading edge slats should be hanging !

Oh well, you can't win 'em all !

Now, here's my story........

Canadair Sabre II
422 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
No.1 Air Division
4 Fighter Wing
Baden-Soellingen, Germany, 1963

In order to keep it's edge over the skies of Europe into the 1960's, the RCAF began looking to replace it's fleet of aging Canadair Sabre 6's. Among the requirements for the new aircraft were cannon armament, the ability to carry both offensive and defensive weapons, consisting of Sidewinders and iron bombs, and the ability to reach Mach speeds in level flight.

After talks with North American Aviation of the USA, Canadair approached the RCAF with the hopes of producing the F-100 ' Super Sabre' as a logical replacement for their F-86 Sabres. It was agreed upon in 1959 that Canadair would license build 200 Sabre II aircraft, the equivalent of the F-100D, as well as 25 Sabre II D's, which were basically F-100F's for pilot training. All aircraft were to be armed with four 20 mm cannons, as well as six underwing hardpoints for the carriage of drop tanks, bombs and missiles.

The first RCAF squadron to receive the new Sabre was 422, which began to receive it's new aircraft in April of 1963. All 'Super Sabres' were replaced in RCAF service by McDonnell Douglas F-4's, beginning in 1973.

Page created August 31 2002.