Let me start off with this, Lifelike Decals are some of the most thoroughly researched decals available. When your instruction sheets a sheet with 41 references on it for the subject aircraft, AND 26 references just addressing the Zero colors, you know this company is different.

Academy/MRC has released a new North American F-86F-40 Sabre in 1/48 scale with leading edge slatted wings. There are two new sprue-runners (I & H) with upgraded wings, slats, 200 gallon drop tanks, main landing gear wheels wells, and wheels. From Scalemates.com, the original molding was created by Academy in 1998 for all the other sprue-runners.

This is Part 2 of the review and focuses on the assembly and completion.

Review Process

This is a box stock build, but I did add simple tape seat belts. The only assembly deviation I did for this review was taking liberties of the assembly sequence to help make the process go faster. To try and make a simpler build, I decided to not open the fuselage speed brakes or the nose gun bays.

I have some history with the CH-54. In 1982, in Savannah, Georgia I was an airplane crew chief. The GA National Guard was flying these at the time. I went over and asked to go flying with them. They said no problem. So I hopped in the jump seat with a people pod mounted in back. We did a run-up and the rotor brake failed. So since I was a mechanic, the crew chief and I changed out the component and off we went to pick up the National Guardsman on maneuvers. I was in the back right next to the lever that disconnected the people pod. I was very aware of where that was. We flew them around, dropped them off and after the mission I thanked the crew and went back home. It was a cool experience, and I was struck by the massive size and power of the beast.

The EC-145/H145/ UH-72 Lakota series of models from Revell-Germany are some really great kits. Each one is slightly different.