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SIAI-Marchetti SF-260 Duo Pack & Book (SH72451) 1:72 Special Hobby The SF.260 was designed by Stelio Frati as a three seat aerobatic aircraft designed for the sport aircraft market. It was designed for full IFR flight and with a capability similar to some military aircraft. It was these qualities which caused it to be favoured by Air Arms as a trainer and even light attack aircraft. Production was originally by Aviamilano with the first flight in July 1964. SIAI Marchetti soon after purchased the rights to the design and production continued by them until being bought by Aermacchi in 1997. Both piston engined and turbo prop aircraft were developed. Aermacchi continued production on taking over the company. The Kit This is a brand new tool for 2020 from Special Hobby, with two kits in this box for the early, and later bulged canopy Aircraft. The quality is fist class with crisp moulding and fine engraved panel lines. Given the small size of the real aircraft, in 1/72 the model is quite diminutive. each model arrives on two main sprues and a single part canopy. There are further small sprues for different aerial configurations and weapons. In this boxing there is a small fret of PE parts and some resin parts including rocket pods. Also included are a set of masks for the bulged canopy, and two for the normal canopy. Construction starts in the cockpit. The instrument panel is first mounted to the centre console with two different panels in the kit depending on your preferred decal option. The instruments are provided as decals. The console is then fitted to the cabin floor and the flight controls added in. Next the two front seats and rear bench type seat go in. All being provided with decal belts. The rear bulkhead is fitted along with the shelf which goes behind the rear seats. The cockpit can then go into the fuselage along with the front bulkhead. No mention is made of nose weight though I would highly suspect it will be needed. The single part main wing can then be fitted to the fuselage making sure to fit the nose gear well in the front section of it first. At the front the engine face and prop can be added, and on the tips of the wing, the tip tanks. These are followed by the tail planes and the single part canopy. The landing gear and doors can now go on. Depending on your decal choice aerial are fitted where needed. Lastly if doing an armed version the pylons can be added. The kit provides rocket pods on the sprues and in resin for the aircraft. Markings The glossy decal sheet is printed in house and looks sharp and in register. There are eight decal options available from the decal sheet. Only the first scheme uses the Bulged canopy, hence why there are two of the early canopy so two versions can be built from the box. A secondary sheet provides stencils, walkways and seat belts The eight options are; ST-34 Red Devils Aerobatic Display team. No.5 Sqn Belgian Air Force, 2015 White S, No.4 Sqn Rhodesian Air Force, Thornhill 1978 FAB-184, Bolivian Air Force, 1980. 91-0779/2-779, Turkish Air Force, Izmir Cigli AFB 2011 N405FD, Sky West Aviation Inc, Trustee , USA This flew with Air Combat USA. 70-21/M.M.54437 70 Stormo, Italian Air Force, Wearing special Black & Gold Scheme to commemorate the Squadrons 50th Anniversary No.603 Free Libyan Air Force 2018 TS-TBP W41-5034, No.14 Sqn Tunisian Air Force 2008 Book Included with this package is the Duke Hawkins Aircraft in Detail Number 016 from HMH publications. This is a 90 page book printed glossy paper featuring the SF-260 in use around the world. As well as Airframe detail along with lots of action shots the book looks at the Cockpit, Landing Gear, and maintenance of the aircraft. This is a comprehensive walkaround publication and brings a great deal to this package. Conclusion It is good to see a new tool out of this much used trainer/light attack aircraft. The double boxing with the HMH book, and eight new decal options is very welcome. Very highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

SEM Model (http://semmodel.altervista.org/) has just released a 1/72nd SIAI Marchetti S.M.1019 resin kit - ref.72006 Source: http://semmodel.altervista.org/sm1019.html V.P.