One of the great things about AirDoc is that they will generally produce decals based on one of their fine books. Such is the case with the Canadair Sabre 5/6. A number of excellent subject options is available on this sheet. For the most part, these planes are in Luftwaffe shades of RAL 6014 Olive Green and 7012 Basalt Grey over 7001 Silver Grey. The last two options are in RAF colors of Dark Green/Dark Sea Grey over PRU Blue. One is an early aircraft in unpainted metal.

First two options are from 1. and 2./JG 71. These have the red or yellow nose rings and fin flash with the 'tulip' markings on the nose and tail section. Wing tanks also have a color flash on them.

Next three options are from 1. and 2./JG 72. These planes have more color with the nose, tank and tail flashes in red and yellow.

The sixth option is a much more subdued aircraft from 3./JBG 43. Only a unit badge differentiates this one from a standard Sabre.

Pretty much the same can be said for option 7 from 2./JG 73, though it does have a red and white painted fuel tank and pylon.

For option 8, one of the first Luftwaffe Sabres for 3./WaSLw in 1961.

Option 9 is from Erprobungsstaffel 61 in 1967. This one has a daglo orange. This and all the previous aircraft are Sabre 6s, some with Martin Baker mk5 ejection seats. The aircraft notes will point those out.

Option 10 and 11 are both Sabre 5s with 1. and 2./WaSLw 10 in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The first option has a white fin stripe and a checkerboard on the fin. The second is without the checkerboard but with a red stripe and unit badge. These have RAF colors.

The instruction booklet is superbly done with all the color information needed, a detailed data placement guide and a list of upgrade bit and kit suggestions. Most will pick the Hasegawa kit in this scale, as they die a specific Sabre 5 and Sabre 6 boxing. One can also use the old Monogram kit as a Sabre 6.

The decal sheets themselves are superbly printed in the Czech Republic. They are crisply done and I found no registration errors.

While non-USAF Sabres are not everyone's cup of tea, I find them quite a refreshing change from the usual Korean War ones that we so often see. This is a great set of sheets and you should really give this one a try.

My thanks to AirDoc for the review sheet. You can find these at your local hobby shop and if not, ask them to order them for you.

This same set of subjects is available for 1/72 builders.

April 2009

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