Hobby Master HA4317
1/72 Scale CAC Sabre CA-27 Mk.32 (F-86F) Diecast Model
s/n A94-978, 79 Sqn, RAAF.

Hobby Master HA4317 – 1/72 Scale CAC Sabre CA-27 Mk.32 (F-86F) Diecast Model.

Hobby Master HA4317 diecast model replicates in 1/72 scale the CAC Sabre CA-27 Mk.32, RAAF serial number A94-978. One eight sabres deployed as No. 79 Squadron to Ubon Thailand on June 1, 1962, to help defend Thailand from its Communist neighbours. The aircraft, pilots and ground crew came from No. 77 Squadron stationed at RAAF Base Butterworth in Malaysia. Withdrawn from Ubon and disbanded in July 1968, without a replacement.

No. 79 Squadron RAAF.

No. 79 Squadron is a flight training unit of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), based at RAAF Base Pearce and operates the Hawk 127.

The squadron first established in May 1943 equipped with Supermarine Spitfires and saw combat in the South West Pacific during World War II. Disbanded in November 1945, re-formed 1962 until 1968 to operate CAC Sabres from Ubon Air Base in Thailand.  Activated again in 1986 at RAAF Base Butterworth in Malaysia flying Mirage III fighters, disbanded in 1988. The squadron re-formed during 1998 at RAAF Base Pearce initially with the Aermacchi MB-326 before re-equipping with Hawk 127 aircraft in 2000.

CA-27 Sabre.

Hobby Master HA4317 – 1/72 scale diecast model of the CAC CA-27 Mk.31 (F-86F) Sabre. S/n A94-978, 79 Sqn., RAAF, Ubon, Thailand, July 1968.

The CA-27 Sabre, sometimes referred to as the Avon Sabre is an Australian variant based on the F-86F. Designed and built by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC). Powered by a licence-built version of the Rolls-Royce Avon R.A.7 which was shorter, broader, lighter and more powerful than the J47. To accommodate the Avon the fuselage underwent a redesign, including a 25 per cent increase in the size of the air intake. Other changes included replacement of the six machine guns with two 30mm ADEN cannon, modified cockpit and increased fuel capacity.

North American Aviation F-86 Sabre.

The North American Aviation F-86 Sabre is an American, single seat, single-engine jet fighter and fighter-bomber. Developed from the FJ-1 Fury for the USAF, it was the first American swept wing fighter. The first flight took place on October 1, 1947, entering service in 1949. With the introduction of the Century Series of fighters, the US Air Force transferred it’s remaining F-86s to the ANG. The ANG retired their Sabres in 1970. The Bolivian Air Force retired the last operational F-86s in 1994.

Produced as both a fighter-interceptor and fighter-bomber in several variants. The -A,-E, -F and -H variants were day fighters or fighter-bombers. The -D, -K and -L versions were all-weather interceptors with radome noses. North American Aviation developed the FJ-2/-3 Fury, a navalised carrier-capable variant for the United States Navy and Marine Corps. It featured folding wings and longer nose landing strut, increasing the angle of attack for launching. All versions except for the -H used the General Electric J47 series axial flown turbojet. The -H variant used the more powerful General Electric J73-GE-3 afterburning turbojet.

Manufacture in the United States, Japan and Italy, with modified variants built in Canada and Australia. The F-86 served in over twenty-five countries. Production in the USA ended in December 1956.

The F-86 saw combat service during the Korean War, the 1958 Taiwan Strait Crisis with the Republic of China Air Force. During which it achieved the first air-to-air kill with an AIM-9 Sidewinder missile. The Indo-Pakistani Wars and the Portuguese Air Force (FAP) in the Guinea-Bissau War of Independence.

Armament (Mk.32).

• Guns: two 30 mm ADEN cannons mounted in fuselage nose.
• Hardpoints: four hardpoints, two under each wing, able to carry up to 2,400 kg (5,300 lb) of payload. The two inner pylons could carry  757 litres (200 gals) drop tanks.
• Ordnance: two AIM-9 Sidewinder Air-to-air missiles, rocket pods, a variety of bombs.
  

  Hobby Master HA4317 – 1/72 scale diecast model of the CAC CA-27 Mk.31 (F-86F) Sabre. S/n A94-978, 79 Sqn., RAAF, Ubon, Thailand, July 1968.

Performance (Mk.32).

• Maximum speed: 1,100 km/h (700 mph) Mach 0.92.
• MTOW: 9,621 kg (21,210 lb)
• Range: 1,850 km (1,153 mi).
• Service ceiling: 15,850 m (52,000 ft).