Final product photos, HA4302, F-86F ROCAF Hsin Chu

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series, HA4302, F-86F Sabre 24494, 11th BG, ROCAF Hsin Chu, 1958.

In 1958 Nationalist China MIG-17s had an altitude advantage over the RoCAF F-86Fs and would cruise over the Sabres picking and choosing when to strike. That is until the USN provided the ROC with the new AIM-9 Sidewinder missile. Initially 20 F-86s were modified to carry the AIM-9.

 
On September 24, 1958 MIG-17s proceeded as normal and the RoCAF F-86Fs began to launch the Sidewinders destroying 10 MIGs with 2 probables with no loss of Sabres. F-86F 24494 was the first to claim a victory.