Decal reviews
GERMANS IN THE BALKANS
Star Decals’ fourth collection of German vehicles involved in operations in the Balkans during World War Two focuses on machinery deployed to Greece.
DEUTSCHE DATA
Modellers wanting to depict Luftwaffe Eurofighter Typhoons will find this neat decal sheet from ModelMaker very useful as it supplies sufficient airframe stencils and warning labels for a single one- or two-seat aircraft.
STRIPEY SPOOK
Syhart hasn’t been a company to shy away from replicating complex display/special liveries and arguably raises the bar with this mask and decal combination, which allows the modeller to finish their Hasegawa 1/48 Phantom FGR.2 in 74 Squadron’s striking 1992 tiger-stripe livery.
GLOBAL CLASSROOMS
In decal form, the BAe Systems Hawk hasn’t received much attention, so this splendid largescale offering from Euro Decals will be appreciated by fans of the type, providing five airframes, with one each from the UK, Jordan, Finland, Kenya and Indonesia.
TONKA DETAILS
Modern aircraft are often covered in a bewildering array of stencils, warnings and labels, and these items are either omitted from kits for simplicity or replicated poorly, so Eduard’s bespoke decal set, for those with Tornados GR.4s from Revell, Italeri or Hobby Boss, will be a boon.
INITIAL RESCUERS
Paulus Victor is a new decal firm to AMW, but its well-researched and highly detailed products, such as this superb set dedicated to US Army first responders at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, are sure to be popular with modellers.
IRAQ/SYRIA COUNTER-INSURGENCY OPS
Here’s another massive collection of markings from Air-Graphics, with the theme being aircraft involved in counter-insurgency operations against ISIS/ISIL between 2014 and 2020.
TESTBED CHECKERS
Modellers wanting different schemes for their Canadair Sabre Mk.5s will find Vingtor’s splendid Boeing Chase Planes sheet ideal, providing two liveries worn by Boeing’s test fleet.
GOING ON A SUMMER...
Decales Global offers up yet another unusual airliner scheme, this time in the form of the short-lived (1994-96) Turkish charter company Holiday Air, with its smiling four-tone ‘sun’ logo on the tail.
TRIPARTITE ALLY
This is the first in a series of decal sets covering Axis forces from World War Two, and concentrates on Bulgarian wheeled and tracked armour.
ARMOURED ROCKETRY
ToRo’s collection of Polish rocket-launching machinery continues with this third offering, which includes both surface-to-air and surface-to-ground systems.
COLOURFUL SUPER SLEDS
The second batch of F-100D schemes from Euro Decals provides four more colourful liveries as worn by US Air Force aircraft during the late 1950s.
CAPTURED MATERIEL
Perfect alternatives for the schemes supplied in Tamiya, Bandai or Hobby Boss kits, Star Decals’ 1/48 Finnish T-34s depicts vehicles captured from Soviet forces or purchased from Germany and operated by the Scandinavian country.
HOGS OF ALL HUES
Two Bobs can always be relied on to approach a subject differently, such as its latest A-10 sheet, which offers one aircraft as it appeared during Desert Storm plus during the DARPA Persistent Close-Air Support Program (PCAS) and a participant in Operation Cool Snow Hog.
FLYING SWIMMERS
While the de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter isn’t popular with kit manufacturers – Matchbox/Revell produce the only mainstream 1/72 styrene offering – Iliad’s treatise on the type is well received, having now been re-printed with a bonus scheme.
MAGYAR MESSERSCHMITTS
This splendid collection of four Hungarian Air Force Bf 109G-6s is the second of its type from SBS Model.
PAINTED PURSUERS
It’s rare aftermarket companies can supply beautiful markings, reference material and display options in one package, but these are hallmarks of Exito Decals’ products, including this collection of three 1/48 Pacific theatre aircraft.
SENNA’S RALLYING EXCURSION
Arguably one of the sport’s greatest-ever drivers, Ayrton Senna is revered by Formula 1 fans, but it’s a little-known fact he tested rally machinery in Wales during 1986: one of these was the MG Metro 6R4 replicated by these Decalcas markings.
BOMBER BIRDS AND DUCKS
Fans of F-15Es have plenty to choose from with LPS Hobby’s collection of Iraqi Freedom-associated decals.
AIR FORCE RUNABOUTS
H-Models’ extensive compilation of Jeep Willys MB markings continues with this limited-edition set that focuses on vehicles operated by the RAF during World War Two.
FELINE BUGS AND GUPPYS
FULL LISTING INSIDE: Model Art Decal System’s products tend to combine unrelated subjects – this 1/72 sheet covers post-war French and British Grumman Avengers, plus several French Tiger Moths.
COMMEMORATIVE SPITS
Released for the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, this ten-aircraft ensemble from Xtradecal is ideal for those wanting to build an early Spitfire that participated in that pivotal struggle in the summer of 1940.
MEDITERRANEAN BEAUTIES
Also available as a combined package with stencils (48-044), Foxbot’s collection of late-model B-25 Mitchell schemes is an ideal means of replicating World War Two airframe artwork on the type.
PIXEL PERFECT
While this mix of green, black and brown tones in the 'digital' camouflage scheme may be reminiscent of the video game Minecraft, it's also a real-world livery applied to one of Japan's F-4EJ Phantom II aircraft, replicated in 1/48 by DXM Decals.
AIRBORNE WEATHER LADIES
Those with Hong Kong Model’s monstrous 1/32 Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress offerings may wish to consider Kits-World’s aftermarket markings, which cater for a pair of RAF Coastal Command-operated airframes used for meteorological reconnaissance sorties.
PEOPLE’S ARMOUR
Star Decal’s fifth collection of North Vietnamese Army (NVA) decals also supplies handy generic national markings and flags to accompany the seven types of armoured vehicles and trucks, including several captured machines.
FLYING DUKES
The second batch of RAF Vickers Wellingtons covers B Mk.Ic and Mk.VIII bomber/maritime patrol machines plus a single C Mk.XVI cargo/transport version.
Star Decals 1/35 Releases
CHRIS CLIFFORD highlights two recent items from prolific Swedish company Star Decals
EASTERN FRONT HAWKS
Begemot’s collection of Curtiss P-40s operated by Soviet forces is one of the most comprehensive works on a single type, containing decals for no fewer than 41 individual aircraft.
PARTISAN HUNTERS
This second collection of German vehicles assigned to units in the Balkans focuses on the notorious 7. SS-Freiwilligen (volunteer) Gebirgs (mountain infantry) Division Prinz-Eugen, with a mix of old, captured and obsolete equipment.