¹⁄32

Italeri is set to re-release a 1/32 scale F-86F Sabre "Skyblazers" version. The Skyblazers were the Air Demonstration Team representing the United States Air Force Europe from the late 1940s through the 1950s. They were the forerunners of today's USAF.Thunderbirds. In 1956 the Skyblazers transitioned from the F-84E to the F-86F.

Italeri's F-86F Sabre "Skyblazers" kit (#552503) features a highly realistic cockpit and a completely detailed engine. You'll find this 13" model is faithful to the original with engraved panel lines and other authentic surface details. The canopy can be built open or closed. The kit is complete with three new super decal sheets plus a sheet for the F-86 Sabre, which has now been discontinued.

In the spring of 1949 the first flights of the Skyblazers Air Demonstration Team took places in the skies over Europe at the airbase in Furstenfeldbruk, Germany. The pilots were part of the 22nd fighter squadron from the 36th Fighter Wing as part of the USAFE (United States Air Forces in Europe). The team was instructed by the USAFE headquarters to create an aerobatics team using F-80B aircraft and perform demonstrations throughout Europe. Soon afterwards the team was given modified F-84E Thunderjet aircraft. The 50-caliber machine guns were removed from the front of the aircraft for better handling in the demonstrations. By the summer of 1952 the team had performed more that 260 air demonstrations in more than 12 countries. In 1953 the team came under the command of the 48th Fighter-Bomber Wing based in Chaumont, France. Soon after that they moved on to the F-86F Sabre jet for the next 3 years. During this time the team continued to perform air demonstrations throughout Europe using the F-86. In 1956 they were moved back to the 36th Fighter Wing and stationed at the airbase in Bitburg, Germany. During this time a new air demonstration team based in the U.S. called the Thunderbird had been formed. In 1962 with the development of mid air refueling, the Thunderbirds were able to make the trip to Europe for demonstrations. This eliminated the need for a team based in Europe and the Skyblazers were officially disbanded.

The release has not appeared on the Italeri website just yet, this news comes via MRC.
Scale: 1/32
Brand: ITALERI
Item # 552503
Vendor Item # 2503S
Price: $91.00

For more information on the product above, please visit MRC.

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