Ray Wagner

This review covers all three volumes on the F-86D/K/L. Starting with Volume I (Part 1) Design/Structure/Testing which is probably where this particular three-part set shines in terms of technical illustrations.
While a bit short on text Vol I has some excellent technical drawing including a few drawings of the radar of the symbology presented on the radar scope, a few excellent engine photographs including a nice detail shot of the iris assembly. Other stand out illustrations were the missile tray, Sidewinder development and a few panel shots lifted from the T.O.’S and some access panel drawings that coincidently show some interior structural details that will be of interest to modelers. Like any other Ginter production there are eight pages devoted to models of the F-86D/K/L.
There is sufficient text to provide the reader with an understanding of the problems encountered to give the aircraft the nickname of “Dog” Sabre but doesn’t really elaborate on the number of crashes or attempted solutions. The any reader that is interested in the J47 problems will have to seek that information elsewhere. Like the issues with the engine, any readers interested in the conversion from D to L in regards to the SAGE system will also have to look elsewhere for nuts and bolts technical details.
Volume II (Part 2) starts with about four pages of text covering the introduction of the aircraft to the Air Force and then launches into the standard Ginter format of a brief unit histories. Although the pictures are B&W, most of the unit histories do describe flash/stripe colors, etc. Also, there are a few oral histories of pilots describing their squadron experiences. One nice surprise was a history of bailment aircraft that were used for various purposes by both DoD and DoD contractors.
Volume III (Part 3) starts with a very brief overview of the introduction of the F-86D/L to the Air National Guard and the F-86K to foreign operators. The foreign operator’s chapter does not receive an introduction, just a simple history of operations for each receiving country in alphabetical order. Like Part 2, a few unit histories do describe flash/stripe colors but it’s not as consistent as in Part 2. From a historical perspective there are a few pictures in Part 3 that might be of interest such as formation photographs of mixed aircraft formations, underground shelters, various shots of test equipment in use, etc. Additionally, there is a review of a Revell kit F-86D kit that had been released since the publication of Part 1.
All three Parts (Volumes) are enthusiastically recommended for modelers, those interested in the nuts and bolts technical aspects of the airplane and anyone interested in the operational history of an airplane that that initially had a reputation as a “Dog” Sabre.… (mais)