Wingnut Wings has released yet another decal set with multiple marking options for their Albatros D.Va kit. Oh…so many Albatros schemes…so little time!

There are two sheets in this set. These decals, like all of the others from Wingnut Wings, are packaged in zip-lock sleeves along with a comprehensive full-color 4-page instruction booklet that includes application instructions, aircraft profiles, top and bottom wing plan views, historical information, and a number of period photos of each of the aircraft covered by the decal sheets. This set exhibits the same high level of quality as all of the other products marketed by Wingnut Wings.

This set provides markings for five Albatros D.Va fighters that shared one thing in common…they all were finished with varnished natural wood fuselages. Some of the subjects will require upper and under wing lozenge patterns (and rib tape) not included in this set, but Wingnut Wings offers the necessary elements to take care of that in separate decals sets.

The markings in this set are for:

1. Albatros D.Va, serial 5815/17 – The aircraft was flown by Gerhard Hubrich (credited with 12 victories), of MFJ IV, in late 1918. The fuselage was natural wood, varnished with green mottle. The upper surfaces of the wings were painted in mauve and green, with light blue undersides.
2. Albatros D.Va, serial 7098/1 – “Gisi” (Pilot unknown) of Jasta 17, May 1918. The fuselage was varnished natural wood. The upper surfaces of the wings were painted in mauve and green, with light blue undersides.
3. Albatros D.Va, serial 7343/17 – The aircraft was flown by Kurt Jentsch (credited with 7 victories), of Jasta 61, mid-1918. Fuselage was finished in varnished natural wood. The upper surfaces of the wings were painted in mauve and green, with light blue undersides.
4. Albatros D.Va (OAW), serial 6981/17 – “Red 3” (Pilot unknown), of FA45b, in mid-late 1918. The fuselage was finished in natural wood. The wings were finished in a vivid 5-color lozenge pattern with blue upper and lower rib tapes.
5. Albatros D.Va, serial 7161/17 – “Stropp”, as currently displayed in the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum. The fuselage is finished in a varnished natural wood. The wings are finished in a 5-color lozenge with pink upper and lower rib tapes. (This scheme is different than the markings for “Stropp” that are included in Wingnuts Wings Kit 32015. The kit markings are based on the original way “Stropp” was painted when flown by Erich Gürgenz during the war)

These decals are produced for Wingnut Wings by Cartograf. They are accurately registered and printed in vibrant opaque colors on thin film (with minimal carrier film surrounding the printed images). All major aircraft markings, cockpit instrument faces, various data plates, propeller emblems, and miscellaneous fuselage marking are included. Cartograf decals respond well to most mild decal setting solutions (that are applied in moderation and carefully blotted quickly with a soft cloth or Q-tip). However, I’d again point out, take note in the instruction booklets – Wingnut Wings recommends using a hair dryer to get the decals to conform to the surface rather than using a setting solution. I still have not tried that trick, but will someday in the near future.

I recommend this decal set to anyone who has 1/32 Wingnut Wings or Roden Albatros D.Va kits and wants to finish them in striking markings with natural wood fuselages.

My thanks to Wingnut Wings and IPMS/USA for the opportunity to review these new decal sets.