Warbird Hunting: Monogram model prize: F-86D

[Nathan]

A few years ago it was mentioned that the Monogram model company had a model contest and the prize was a real F-86D. A few years ago an F-86D was for sale on ebay and I was wondering if this was that aircraft and if anyone knows what happened to the aircraft?

[Nathan]

Just found some info. Apparently it was Revell that gave out prizes years ago. Including a Cessna and a Gemini capsule! But apparently there was some rules to follow, as the winner had to donate the prize to a local museum or park! I do remember people commenting about a F-86 prize too. Im trying to tack down this aircraft, if indeed it was a prize. In all honesty, this is the oddest thing I have ever heard! Imagine today if you won a prize from a model kit company and the winner received a F-15!!

thanks,
Nate

[JohnB]

I agree with Nate.. .
As I remember it, circa 1965, there was an ad in Boy's Life where Revell was giving away an airplane, the photo showed an F-86D.
And yes, it said you had to donate it to a school or city.

[Nathan]

I got a lead!!

The F-86 used to sit at the little town of Middlesex Vermont. This was the same location the ebay ad was from a few years ago of the F-86D. It was located at a place called "Camp Meade" which was a motel/restaurant/military museum. The place closed down 10 years ago. Google map shows the building still there still reading "Camp Meade". The F-86 disappeared a few years ago...after being stored in a state highway lot down the road. I wonder if it ever got sold, if it did who bought it?


Update: found the state highway yard on google map. No sign of F-86. Im gonna call.

[Chris Brame]

I agree with Nate.. .
As I remember it, circa 1965, there was an ad in Boy's Life where Revell was giving away an airplane, the photo showed an F-86D.
And yes, it said you had to donate it to a school or city.

Found it! Boy's Life, February 1964:


The winner, Jack Smith - August 1964:


Another mention in October 1965 - maybe it took a while to deliver the plane?


But no photos of the plane itself. Anyone here from the North Highlands area?

[Nathan]

Anyone here from the North Highlands area?

Apparently WIX is dying as there just doesn't seem to be anyone on here anymore. I admit I'm on the WIX facebook page more. Maybe people hate me and that's probably more accurate.

I digress........so did Revell give out two F-86's? A F-86F and a F-86D? Or can I start assuming the F-86 in Vermont was not the Revell prize? I was told it was, but it was a D model and the ad shows a F model.

I found a picture of it. If you search google Middlesex Vermont F-86. there is a good picture of it. No serial number on it though.

[Nathan]

update: there is or was a AT-11 displayed by the F-86. The F-86 was displayed in the center of the motel huts. The At-11 was under trees behind one of the huts.

[quemerford]

Anyone here from the North Highlands area?

Apparently WIX is dying as there just doesn't seem to be anyone on here anymore. I admit I'm on the WIX facebook page more. Maybe people hate me and that's probably more accurate.

I digress........so did Revell give out two F-86's? A F-86F and a F-86D? Or can I start assuming the F-86 in Vermont was not the Revell prize? I was told it was, but it was a D model and the ad shows a F model.

I found a picture of it. If you search google Middlesex Vermont F-86. there is a good picture of it. No serial number on it though.

It was F-86D-50 s/n 52-10068; delivered 27th October 1954 and sent straight to Mobile Air Materiel Area on 28th October for sea freighting to Europe. Arrived with 7485th ADW at St Nazaire on 14th December 1954, de-cocooned and assigned to 431st FIS on 28th January 1955. Served its entire USAF career with 431st FIS until retired to 3130th ABGp at Chateauroux on 3rd October 1960. It then went to the Yugoslav AF on 6th October 1961 and re-assigned a new YuAF sn '14123'.

However I'm not sure the competition dates agree: YuAF retired its 'standard' F-86Ds circa 1968; the recce versions going a few years later. Neither would agree with a circa 1965 prize win.

Irrespective, 52-10068 was at the Camp Meade Motor Court in VT by October 1992 and supposedly sold to John Ojala in Oregon during May 2004. However as alluded to, it was for sale on eBay (still at its at VT location) in September 2007 for a starting price of $20,000. I don't think it sold but still exists.

...there are still a few folks on WIX to answer such queries!

[Cubs2jets]

"Jack Smith", huh? Sounds nefarious.

C2j

[quemerford]

The Oakdale Sabre is IIRC the F-86F now at (McClellan?) It's the one recently restored in CA ANG marks. I'm working from memory away from my records at the minute.

So it sounds like the VT F-86D wasn't the give-away.

[Chris Brame]

The Oakdale Sabre is IIRC the F-86F now at (McClellan?) It's the one recently restored in CA ANG marks.

This one? Although North Highlands is up north by Sacramento and Gaviota is down by Santa Barbara.

F-86F-20-NA s/n 51-13082
*Was preserved in Gaviota, CA.
*Currently preserved at McClellan AFB, CA, falsely marked as "49-1046".

Last edited by Chris Brame on Thu Dec 07, 2017 9:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[JohnB]

Chris

Thanks for finding the Boys Life ad....thought in my memory, it had a different photo and was a "D". Oh well! Any chance they had different ads?

On the bright side, I'm amazed that the aircraft is still with us...and not vandalized to scrap years ago.
We can probably thank Revell for that plane still existing, if it had stayed wherever they got it (D-M, or scrapper) it would have Ben gone 50 years ago.
Anyone know where they got it?