Reviews of scale model decal sets.

Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
May 22, 2020
Company
Twobobs Aviation Graphics
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$15.00

Two Bobs has released a decal sheet covering the Heritage Schemes for the 50th Anniversary of the T-38 in USAF service. You get a total of 5 camouflage schemes, covering an overall grey, a South-East Asia scheme, an Aggressor/Air superiority scheme, a two-grey with a blue fin, and an overall white scheme.

The instruction sheet (printed in full color) it is truly huge at 11”x17” and it includes color callouts in FS standard, plus Testors, Humbrol, Mr. Color, Xtracrylics, and Mr.Paint making finding the right paint color a breeze.

The decal sheet is printed by Cartograf and it looks thin, glossy and it is in perfect register. Likely the color density will be excellent too.

From an inspection to the decal sheet, I think it is possible to actually finish all the airframes in the sheet. I think the hardest thing will be to choose which camouflage to finish it on. But why choose? You can make them all. Kudos to Two Bobs for allowing that!

Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
May 21, 2020
Company
Twobobs Aviation Graphics
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$22.00

Two Bobs has released a decal sheet covering the 2018 deployment of the 391st to the Middle East to support Operation Inherent Resolve. During the deployment, 18 airplanes got individual mission markings and nose art.

The instruction sheet (printed in full color) it is truly huge at 11”x17” and it includes color callouts in FS standard, plus Testors, Humbrol, Mr. Color, Xtracrylics, and Mr.Paint making finding the right paint color a breeze.

As a “bonus” typical loadout is included, this will help you create an accurate model during their deployment in the Middle East.

A point to make is that they provide two different set of stencils, one for the Revellogram and another for the Great Wall Hobbies. Kudos to Two Bobs for doing that!

The decal sheet is printed by Cartograf and it looks thin, glossy and it is in perfect register. Likely the color density will be excellent too.

Highly recommended.

Review Author
Gino Dykstra
Published on
January 4, 2021
Company
ICM
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$19.99

Recently I had the pleasure of tackling ICM’s new Gloster Gladiator aircraft kit in 1/32nd scale. As is, the kit comes with a couple of British Air Service options for early World War 2 campaigns, but if you want something a bit more exotic, ICM has answered the call with a new decal sheet offering markings for four different nations which also used the Mk. 1 – China, Greece, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Review Author
Doug Hamilton
Published on
May 7, 2020
Company
Iliad Design
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$12.00

Iliad Decals is a firm based in Canada that produces decals for many subjects in both 1/48 and 1/72 scales. Printing is nicely done with all colors in register and true. They’re traditional water slide configuration, are thin and look good.

The sheet carries markings for seven F-104s. All aircraft depicted are combat aircraft.. There are a variety of schemes worn by these warriors, so there is a nice selection of colors and nationalities present. There are three USAF birds, two of which that were flown in the Southeast Asia scheme that were based at Udorn Thailand in 1966-67 during the Viet Nam war and escorted F-105s into action. The third one is a sleek looking bird in white over ADC gray that has an interesting back story, with the pilot being held as a POW in China for about 8 years!!

Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
May 5, 2020
Company
Iliad Design
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$12.00

Iliad Design has a newly released set of decals for 1/48th scale P-51D Mustangs in various National Guard markings. Upon receiving the decal set for review I contacted Iliad Design and asked if there was a specific P-51D kit for which the decals were designed to be used. I was informed that the decals could be used on any P-51D on the market. I bought an Airfix P-51D to use as the test bed for this review. This is not a review of the Airfix kit, but I should mention that it has a great deal of detail. I mention this detail because the decals would be put to the test to see how well they “fit” over, and into, this detail. I will mention that I enjoyed the Airfix project immensely and found it to be a model that I could recommend to anyone who is looking for a good Mustang.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
April 13, 2020
Company
Caracal Decals
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$13.99

IPMS/USA says “thanks kindly” to Caracal Decals for supporting the IPMS USA reviewer corps with yet one more of their growing number of releases, with useful additions for those who build. And thanks to IPMS leadership for sending it to me to be reviewed.

Kurst does a great job on his products… accurate, perfect resolution, and handling subjects which we have needed for many projects others won’t touch. Caracal crams as many various color schemes into one sheet as will fit, and offers a second, “stencil and detail only” sheet to allow one to model a squadron of 16 different F-117 markings if so inclined. (You get one in this sheet) .

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
April 8, 2020
Company
Aviaeology
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$9.99

Aviaeology is a company based in Ontario, Canada and calls itself “A product of research, illustration, & design for students, enthusiasts, & practitioners of Aviation History Publications, Decal Sets, and Model Parts

Right now I’m trying to make my fingers work in my back room where my laptop and I are banished for doing all our nefarious Modeling reviews and such works. However, Ontario is a LOT colder than Oklahoma, so I have it good…

Therefore, IPMS/USA sends warm regards once again to the stalwart proprietors of Aviaeology, Alison and Terry Higgins, for supporting the IPMS USA reviewer corps with yet one more of their marvelously produced, meticulously researched and top-shelf historical and artworks. And thanks to IPMS leadership for sending it to me to be reviewed.

Review Author
Michael Novosad
Published on
April 2, 2020
Company
AOA Decals
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$16.00

This decal sheet provides the extensive F-4 Phantom airframe data (including panel numbers/labels) for either an F-4B or F-4J. The airframe data provided is the painted (open stencil) type of markings commonly seen in the mid/late 1960's into the early 1970's on reworked USN/USMC F-4B and F-4J Phantoms (illustration shows the F-4J but the F-4B specific markings are provided).

Note that this is not the original new factory printed (full letter) type of airframe data - check subject for which type of airframe data was applied for a specific F-4.

Decal Sheet Contents

Two sheets of decals are included in the large zip-lock bag. The national insignia is provided on the smaller (nominal 4" by 4") sheet and the stencils and other markings are on the larger ( nominal 9 1/2" by 8") sheet. Each stencil is printed individually with minimal carrier film.

Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
March 31, 2020
Company
Iliad Design
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$12.00

Iliad Design has a newly released set of decals for 1/48th scale P-51D Mustangs in various National Guard markings. Upon receiving the decal set for review I contacted Iliad Design and asked if there was a specific P-51D kit for which the decals were designed to be used. I was informed that the decals could be used on any P-51D on the market. I bought an Airfix P-51D to use as the test bed for this review. This is not a review of the Airfix kit, but I should mention that it has a great deal of detail. I mention this detail because the decals would be put to the test to see how well they “fit” over, and into, this detail. I will mention that I enjoyed the Airfix project immensely and found it to be a model that I could recommend to anyone who is looking for a good Mustang.