This is Stormo Magazine's first 1/72 sheet, if I can believe sheet numbers, and it covers the F-86 in Italian Service. Italy got its Sabres from the British so these were Sabre Mk. 4 aircraft. The Sabre was only a stop-gap fighter for the RAF while they awaited their Hunters.

The aircraft were delivered in RAF camouflage and initially operated in this scheme. However, during overhaul, the Italians stripped the camouflage scheme from the planes so they were in service unpainted for most of their lives. The British planes were Canadair built and had 6-3 unslatted wings of a standard length. The aircraft were basically F-86E-6s with E-10 cockpits. The type served in service for about 20 years from 1956 to 1976. The recommended kit is the Airfix 1/72 Sabre, which is currently as rare as hen's teeth so one would hope Airfix would reissue the kit in the very near future. Of course, you could also use the Fujimi or Academy/Hobbycraft F-86F kits, and I'm sure many will until the Airfix kit becomes available again.

The sheet has five markings option, all in unpainted metal and all quite similar with unit badges on the fin and black code letters under the cockpit. There are three units represented.

With the red nose is a 14 Gruppo/2 Stormo aircraft from 1958.

Next is a 13 Gruppo (Aut) squadron with a green nose backed by a red stripe from 1958.

The other three options have no color on the nose and are from 4  Aerobrigata in 1959/60.

The sheet is superbly printed and has full insignia/stencils for three aircraft. It also has instrument decals for three planes, which is a nice touch. You are provided full instructions with notes on each aircraft. I would not doubt that a 1/48 sheet would be available in the near future.

January 2021

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