NEW CASTING!!! Hobby Master 1/72 F-100D Super Sabre 'Triple Zilch' 20 TFW RAF Wethersfield, Essex.

The North American F-100 Super Sabre was in USAF service from 1954 to 1971 and
the ANG until 1979. It was the first aircraft of what was to become known as “Century
aircraft” referring to the 100. The F-100 was the first USAF jet fighter capable of super
sonic speeds in level flight. The F-100D was designed to overcome the short falls of the
“C”. The “D” suffered from electrical problems, landing gear and brake chute failures as
well as re-fuelling probes that broke off during high speed maneuvers. Of the 1,274 “D”s
produced over 500 aircraft were lost, mostly due to accidents with a loss rate of 50
aircraft per year during the Vietnam War.

The 20th TFW was activated in late 1930 as 20th Pursuit Group. The unit first went to
England in 1943 for WWII and returned to Wethersfield, Essex, England in 1952 as part
of United States Air Force Europe (USAFE). The first F-100s arrived in 1957. Triple
Zilch was chosen by Col. Raymond Toliver, the commander of the 20th TFW because
of its buzz number (FW-000). He began flying with the 55th TFS and this squadron
emblem along with the 2 other 20th TFW units the 77th and 79th are displayed on his
aircraft.  

The Collectors view

New Hobby Master tooling getting rave reviews from collectors the world over. In consultation with diecast collectors Hobby Master was able replicate the characteristic burns on the rear fuselage, a first for any manufacturer. The model is loaded with optional stores and feature an interchangable undercarriage. This model has been highly acclaimed by collectors world wide. Hobby Master is a company willing to listen to the collector and their products are constantly improving. These are brand new releases, try finding them in SA.

Picture and data courtesy of the Diecast Aviation Forum and Hobby Master Collector respectively. For a review posted on the Hobby Master Collector site, please contact me and I will forward it to you or log on to the site and have a look.