Reviews of scale model decal sets.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
December 15, 2019
Company
AOA Decals
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$13.50

AOA Decals specializes in Vietnam to modern era planes and covers all the major scales. This sheet is 1/32nd scale and covers VMA(AW)-533 was previously featured on AOA's first 1/32 sheet 32-001 covering their Vietnam War deployments (1967-69 and 1972-73) and again on sheet 32-003 covering Operation Desert Storm. This new sheet 32-029 expands that coverage of VMA(AW)-533 to now include the intermediate and immediate postwar periods in the early 1970s.

The set includes three sets of markings for A-6A Intruders:

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
December 5, 2019
Company
AOA Decals
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$13.00

Never one to rest on their laurels, AOA Decals has rereleased their 32002 stencil sheet for Hi-Viz A-6 Intruders in 1/32nd scale. Not only have they rereleased the sheet but they have also upgraded it to include: main and nose landing gear placards, walkway outline stripes, red engine intake warning markings, "A-6B" identifications, original style fuselage formation lights, radome latches (red & white), & tail hook stripes. And it gets a new number- 32026. This is also in addition to the following from the original sheet:

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
December 5, 2019
Company
AOA Decals
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$13.00

AOA Decals specializes in Vietnam to modern era planes and covers all the major scales. This sheet is 1/32nd scale and complements with VA-75 SUNDAY PUNCHERS (1), Sheet 32-027 and covers a spans of almost 20 years of the A-6 Intruder in service with one Navy squadron - VA-75 Sunday Punchers - from Vietnam to Desert Storm. This review is for Part 2 and covers the low visibility period with coverage of the late 1980s into Operation Desert Storm in 1991. There are two markings included for the following:

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
November 21, 2019
Company
Caracal Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$13.99

Caracal Models provided these great decals for the Valom 1/48 Kit release of the Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander aircraft.

Included is

  • One sheet of decals
  • One Instruction sheet

The decals are of the best quality and printed by Microscale for Caracal Models.

The decal sheet provide decals for four different Markings options.

  • The British Parachute Regiments Freefall team Red Devils aircraft
  • The Heridean Air services aircraft
  • Aurigny Air Services aircraft
  • Armed Forces of Malta Aircraft

The instruction sheet is well detailed and includes color details.

The decals are awesome and will add a lot to the Valom Kit which I have now ordered to allow me to use these in the future. I will do the Red Devils aircraft as I have seen this one in action a few times in the past.

Review Author
Chris Smith
Published on
February 3, 2020
Company
Iliad Design
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$12.00

Iliad Designs is a company based in Ottawa Canada. They offer decals, aircraft color charts, and publications. This time around we’ll take a look at their decal sheet for the B-25B, C, and D models. There are five different aircraft represented on this sheet. My modification comments are based on using the Airfix B-25 (kit # A06015). See my separate review of that kit on this site.

Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
November 17, 2019
Company
AOA Decals
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$21.00

All Phantom Fans have heard of the famous VF-154 Black Knights. This decal set from AOA provides an excellent set of four markings for the F-4J during the 1970’s. This sheet covers one Navy fighter squadron - VF-154 Black Knights - when they operated the F-4J Phantom in the 1970's. From the AOA website:

Marking Options Included:

  1. USS Ranger [Vietnam] (1970-71) - standard scheme
  2. USS Ranger [Vietnam] (1972-73) - CAG & standard scheme
  3. NAS Miramar (1977-78) - CAG scheme

AOA states that there are markings for the centerline fuel tank for the 1972+ period. You will notice that the fuel tank is quite visible on the illustrations of the F-4J provided by AOA in the packaging.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
February 3, 2020
Company
Fightertown Decals
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$25.00

Ok to start off, WOW! Now that I got that out of the way Fightertown Decals always produces great sheets with multiple marking options. This one is one of the best yet. This was previously released but this set has been adjusted to fit the Tamiya kit, as well as, any other F-14/F-18 kit, and this sheet even includes some new aircraft.

‘Top Gun’- the movie, has produced more dreams in the minds of little kids of my generation than any propaganda movie ever. I know I was in love with the high speed, low level flying and the good story. Okay so it wasn’t believable, but it was a good story. Anyhow the aircraft, especially the F-14, was the actual star of the movie. With the new Top Gun 2 being made currently the interest is sure to grow again, even if Maverick will be flying an F/A-18.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
February 3, 2020
Company
Fightertown Decals
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$25.00

Navy jets can be boring in their all grey color schemes, however, that is not always the case. The CAG birds tend to get the full color treatment, hence this sheet and the title of Showboats. These aircraft sported all kinds of markings at different times in their lifecycle.

With the release of the Tamiya, and now the AMK F-14 Tomcat kits, there is a need for some colorful markings for them. Fightertown Decals has the answer for those markings.

Fightertown Decals has produced decals for 14 different aircraft. Well that isn’t quite true. They provide markings for eight aircraft at different timeframes to show 14 different marking options. Fightertown produces some great looking Tomcat decals. This sheet is no different.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
February 3, 2020
Company
Iliad Design
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$12.00

The MiG-21F-13 was the first operational version of the fighter. It was used throughout the Soviet sphere of influence. It was used in the deserts of the Mideast to the Jungles of Vietnam. Trumpeter’s kit of the F-13 is a really nice kit but the kit decal options could use some updating. Enter Iliad Design and this sheet.

Packaged in a ziplock bag is a single sheet of instructions. Printed on a double-sided page are seven aircraft from around the world in full color. The instructions show left side profiles and upper plan views. There are descriptions and FS callouts for each aircraft.

The decals themselves are very well printed. I’m not sure who printed them. They are thin on the sheet and it perfect register. The colors all look accurate. There are no stencils included but the national markings and individual aircraft markings are.

The first aircraft is from the Chinese PLAAF with Love Live Chairman Mao on the nose.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
December 29, 2021
Company
Fightertown Decals
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$25.00

The F-14 Tomcat, was a movie star and retired way too soon. This beautiful fighter led a long and distinguished career and sported some unique color schemes. At the end of its service life it was predominately shades of gray. That doesn’t mean it was a dull collection of markings, just the opposite. Some of these grays made for some colorful markings.

Fightertown Decals has been producing some great decals for the F-14 Tomcat and this sheet is no exception. Included in the marking options are 6 Squadrons with 16 marking options. There are at least four different variants of grey paint schemes on these subjects.

The decals and instructions are packaged in a large Ziplock style bag. The instructions are printed on high quality bond paper in full color, on three double sided 8.5x11 sheets. Each aircraft is shown on both sides, as well as, upper and lower plan views. Each aircraft shows where all the individual markings are applied.