Reviews of scale model decal sets.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
October 4, 2021
Company
Foxbot
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$20.60

Russian aircraft are really starting to take-off. Pun intended. With the release of new kits out of the Ukraine we are seeing an influx of well-engineered kits from Zvezda and AMK. One thing that always struck me as ‘cool’ about VVS aircraft was the slogans painted on the sides of them. American aircraft had pinup nose art, but the patriotic slogans of the Russian aircraft have always resonated with me. The problem is what do you do when you find one that you like. Usually, you have to go to the bland ones instead or whatever is in the box. Not anymore. Thanks to Foxbot you now have options.

Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
September 12, 2021
Company
Lifelike Decals
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$16.50

Lifelike Decals from Japan has released its 4th installment in a series of Ki-27 “Nate”. There are a total of 9 aircraft, with 7 of them being of the Japanese “Gray Green” color, which the instructions suggest to replacing with German RLM 02. The other two aircraft are painted in Japanese Dark Green over Gray-Green.

The decals provide squadron codes and fuselage art for all aircrafts. However, you don’t have enough national markings for all aircraft. This is not a big problem as you can use the national markings and stencils from the decal sheet in the original Hasegawa kit. The set also provides templates -in regular paper- for masking of cowlings

Decals have been printed by Microscale and they have a well-earned reputation for thin decals and in-register sheets. These are no exception. Decals are glossy, look thin, and likely will adhere well to a gloss surface.

Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
September 12, 2021
Company
Lifelike Decals
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$16.50

Lifelike Decals from Japan has released its 5th installment in a series of Ki-27 “Nate”. You get a total of 8 aircraft, with 6 of them being of the Japanese “Gray Green” color, which the instructions suggest replacing with German RLM 02.

One of the other two aircraft is painted in Japanese Dark Green over Gray-Green, while the last one is an attractive disruptive camouflage of dark green, green and brown over Grey-Green.

Decals are provided for squadron codes and fuselage art for all aircraft. However, there aren’t enough national markings for all aircraft. This is not a big problem as the national markings and stencils from the decal sheet in the original boxing from the Hasegawa kit can be used.

Decals have been printed by Microscale and they have a well-earned reputation for thin and in-register decal sheets. These are no exception. Decals are glossy, they look thin, and likely will adhere well to a gloss surface.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
July 23, 2021
Company
Twobobs Aviation Graphics
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$15.00

TwoBobs has been producing decals for modern planes for a long time and has tons of superb decal sheets available. Several of the latest sheets deal with the 1/48th scale A-10 Warthog and this sheet, 48274 is titled, “A-10A/C Brrrrt to the Future”, and provides markings for three A-10’s- two A versions and one C version. The markings cover:

Review Author
Brian R. Baker
Published on
July 14, 2021
Company
Croco Models
Scale
1/72 and 1/48
MSRP
$5.00

Historical Background

Latvia, a small Baltic republic, developed an air force in the twenties, and adopted a striking insignia of a red swastika ( no relation to the German version) on a white circular background. Aircraft operated with this insignia in place up until the outbreak of World War II, Many of their aircraft were imported from Britain, including Hawker Hinds, Bristol Bulldogs, and Gloster Gladiators. In 1940, Latvia was invaded by the Soviet Union, and all surviving Latvian military aircraft were captured by the Russians. Any aircraft that remained were later probably destroyed by the Germans.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
May 17, 2021
Company
Tamiya
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$12.50

Another quick addition to the lovely new Tamiya 1/48th scale F-4B is this decal set which includes decals to recreate the numerous numbers and cautions found on the aircraft's access doors. Also included are decals to recreate yellow canopy rain seals, as well as adding details to engine nozzles.

Inside the package, there is a large foldout sheet with large enough print to add all the appropriate decals for the door markings. What I found nice is the size of the instructions which open to 10” x 14” and are dual sided; top on one side and bottom on the other. Also included in this set are additional markings for the F-4J. The instructions are color coded with black being both B and J versions; Red is specific for the B version and Green is specific for J versions only. And did I mention they are big enough to actually read!

Review Author
Ben Morton
Published on
May 3, 2021
Company
Foxbot
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$11.00

This review was originally published on May 4, 2021. Shortly thereafter IPMS/USA received some additional information from Alexander Pawlygin representing "Foxbot Decals". IPMS/USA is pleased to have received this additional information and thanks Mr. Pawlygin and Foxbot Decals for sharing it with IPMS/USA.

Mr. Pawlygin states......

1. The decal 72-004 contains numbers for (a) single seat Su-27S/P and for (a) twin seat Su-27UBM. Masks for Su-27 and Su-27UB are different. Therefore we cannot complete this decal with masks. But we have separate decals for Su-27 and Su-27UB in 1/48 scale and we have sets 48-047A for Digital Su-27 and 48-067A for Digital Su-27UB which contains decals with masks.

Review Author
Brian R. Baker
Published on
May 1, 2021
Company
Iliad Design
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$12.00

Background

Since the Douglas DC-3 and C-47 was produced in larger numbers than any other transport aircraft, it stands to reason that the plane is well represented in the modeling world. Although the plane has been produced in a number of scales, the majority of the kits are in 1/72 scale. Starting with the old Airfix kit in the sixties, the more recent issues by Italeri and ESCI have featured recessed panel lines and some variations in form, and recently, Airfix is reported to have reissued their kit with more up-to-date features. I have not seen the new Airfix kit, but have built both ESCI and Italeri kits, and they are both exceptionally good kits.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
February 27, 2021
Company
Eagle Editions Ltd.
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$19.50

Eagle Editions has produced some of the most accurate decals on the market. Normally known for their Luftwaffe subjects, they have quite a collection of other aircraft as well, including the Spitfire. With new 1/48th subjects from Airfix, Eduard, and Tamiya these decals are perfectly timed.

There are decals for three aircraft that represent the evolution of the Temperate Land Scheme and the under-surface colors. One aircraft has the black and white belly, the next has the sky color and the following one has the Sky-Blue belly. The first one is flown by P/O Al Deere with the Kiwi emblem in front of the cockpit. The next is flown by Sgt. Bernard Jennings from No.19 Squadron and is typical of the Battle of Britain period. The final option has an American flavor, with a red spinner, flown by an American, P/O Hugh Reilley, flying with No.66 Sqdn.in the Battle of Britain. He was shot down and killed by Werner Molders.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
February 27, 2021
Company
Eagle Editions Ltd.
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$19.50

Eagle Editions has become synonymous with quality research in their parts and decals. This sheet is no exception. With the release of the Eduard and Hasegawa early model 190s there is a need to add some marking options. Packaged in a resealable ziplock baggie are two decal sheets for four aircraft and the instructions.

The decals themselves are printed by Cartograf, so you know they are the highest quality in the world. They are in perfect register, thin and look great. The first sheet is the big sheet with all the aircraft individual markings and enough stencils for one aircraft. The smaller sheet includes enough markings for all four aircraft upper wing crosses.