04-21-2008, 12:04 AM |
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|  A Rare SpecCast - One of Only Three to Exist
Last edited by John Youngs : 04-21-2008 at 03:45 AM.
Reason: clarifying a point & correcting a grammatical error.
I keep getting occasional requests for the photos, so I thought I'd re-post this again - it's been awhile. Hopefully some of you would like to see these photos, etc; since the subject isn't an Armour/FM model. Here goes... Approximately four years ago (Feb; 2004), I ordered from SpecCast, one of their 1/48th scale "Farm Safety - Just 4 U" F-86 Sabre models. It came with a couple parts missing (the nose plug and one of the external (drop) tanks). I called SpecCast & told them what the problem was, and they said they'd fix the problem right away. Approximately a week later, a large box arrived and when I opened it up, inside was a gloss white, diecast, 1/48th scale F-86 model with black plastic horizontal tail surfaces, black plastic nose air-intake & exhaust plugs, black plastic bombs & tanks, black plastic landing gear tires, and finally, black plastic cockpit accouterments (instrument panel, pilot's seat, joystick, etc.) The black plastic items were not painted black - they were all cast in solid, black plastic from the start. Everything else, with the exception of the clear plastic canopy (front and rear) sections, had been painted gloss white, and were minus any other markings or decals; there being only one exception to all this: and that being a tiny, black enamel painted "square" on the left side of the fuselage, right behind the speed brake outline & in front of the left horizontal tail surface. Its purpose or reason for being there is unknown to me, except I can only speculate that perhaps it was put there to demonstrate that small, intricate areas could be singled out & painted, if wished. Enclosed with the model was a letter from a gentleman named Dan explaining that "While we are completely out of this model & no more are going to be produced; nevertheless, enclosed please find the pre-production model from which I could remove the parts I needed & install them on my current 'Farm Safety - Just 4 U' F-86 model'". Dan went on to further explain in this letter that the model he sent me "in the white", was one of only 6 pre-production models that the Chinese company that mfgr's these models had made (the purpose of these being that SpecCast company officials could see what the models looked like before the different paint schemes & markings were applied & shipped); of these 6, only three (3) were made with the leading-edge slats depicted in the "down" position; the remaining three (3) were mfgr'd with "hard" wing leading edges - no slats. The model he sent me was the one off his desk - it had the slats depicted in the "extended" or "down" position. One of only three of this particular style of pre-production, 1/48th scale, diecast, F-86 Sabre models to exist - from the SpecCast company - complete with a so-marked shipping box & factory letter!! PS: Shortly thereafter, I called Dan back to see if he'd sell me any more of these "pre-production" F-86 models - "Nope - we're going to keep them for now...!!" was the reply!        Hope you all like these - it came as a surprise to me - courtesy of "Dan" at SpecCast - he offered it to me as a courtesy of his company!! One of only 6 pre-production F-86's made & one of only 3 configured with wing leading-edge slats "extended", or in the "down" position!! - JY  |
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