New Iliad Design Decals

A few weeks ago, a thick envelope arrived in my mailbox containing the latest decal sheets from Iliad Design of Canada.  These two sheets were specially released for some hot new plastic, specifically the 1/48 Revell PT-17 Stearman and the 1/72 Airfix C-47 Skytrain.

48030 Stearman PT-17

The Stearman trainer really is an unsung type in the modeling world, but the new Revel kit does it justice.  Sadly, the decal options in the kit were restored warbirds, so it has been up to the aftermarket to provide in-service schemes.

Iliad came up with some stunning options on this sheet.  First off, we have a PT-17 from Number 4 British Flying Training School (BFTS) in Mesa, Arizona.  Yep, you read that right, many British pilots were trained in the U.S. under the Arnold Scheme.  (For an interesting read about a British pilot training in the United States, check out “Wings Over Georgia” by Jack Currie.)  This PT-17 is in the standard U.S. Army scheme of a Light Blue fuselage with Yellow wings.  The large fuselage codes start with B, which indicates it hails from a BFTS, and the rudder is painted in the USAAF early war red, white, and blue stripes.  The second option is PT-17 42-16546 based at Kunming, China repainted in Dark Green with Dark Earth blotches on the rudder and the upper surfaces of the wing and horizontal stabilizers.  The third option is a pretty Navy N2S-3 in aluminum dope and yellow, while the final US aircraft is a very neat Navy N2S-4 from Grosse Ile, Michigan, that retains its U.S. Army blue and yellow colour scheme but with Navy markings, including the Buzz number repeated under the fuselage.  The final option on the sheet is FJ888, one of the last PT-27s on RCAF strength.  This aircraft is overall yellow with Type B roundels above the wings.  It appears from period photos that the Boeing painted the RCAF PT-27s in U.S. Navy Orange Yellow rather than the correct RCAF shade of yellow.  The U.S. shade has more of an orange component than the RCAF shade.

72016 1/72 Berlin Airlift C-47s

The Berlin Blockade and associated Airlift are one of the most important events of the early Cold War, but the aircraft involved are rarely featured in scale model form.  Maybe it’s because the associated aircraft are transports, but I see many WWII and post war C-47s, whereas rarely is a Berlin Airlift Dak featured online, in magazines, or on the model table.  This may change with Iliad’s latest 1/72 decal sheet which includes four C-47s that participated in the Airlift.

Three USAF and one BOAC C-47 are included.  The British Overseas Airways Corporation Dakota is overall natural metal with a Union Jack on the tail, a blue BOAC speedbird on the nose and black civil registration numbers on the fuselage and above and below the wings.  G-AGIZ made 21 flights into Berlin between October and November 1948.  One USAF C-47 is also in natural metal with red cowls and tail flash.  This aircraft served with the USAF’s European Air Transport Service and features some nice logos.  But it is the two Olive Drab over Neutral Grey C-47s that will make the most interesting models.  Both aircraft have pretty generic markings, but because they were war-weary types, they feature multiple shades of Olive Drab, substantial chipping, and replacement flying surfaces.  C-47 43-15672/52 is the more restrained aircraft with some Olive Drab overpainting of older markings and a nice black and yellow tail flash.  The ailerons and elevators are doped silver replacements.  The C-47 nicknamed the “Fassberg Flyer” will be the most difficult model to pull off, but very eye-catching when completed.  The Flyer is a mix of faded Olive Drab and multiple touchups, natural metal replacement cowlings, a replacement aluminum dope rudder, a mostly removed S code from its prior Squadron, and red and white “Fassberg Flyer” codes in red and white.  Fans of weathering will love these two options.

Both decal sheets are screen printed by Canuck Model Products.  All decals are glossy, well printed, in register, and have very minimal carrier film.  Each sheet has an full colour instruction sheet with side and top views of each scheme.

These really are some neat off-the-beaten-path options and both decal sheets are quite inspirational.  I can’t wait to dig into the Revell PT-17 and the Airfix Dak in order to put the sheets to use.

Thanks to Bob at Iliad Design for the samples.

fündekals The "Spook" Mosquito

Another new fündekals sheet also has Canadian content, even if it wears U.S. markings.  The USAAF actually bought a few Canadian built Mosquitos, called them F-8s, and the "Spook" was the most famous of these Mosquitos.  This is a slightly more complicated sheet than is usual with fündekals as it includes the usual serials, insignia, and nose art, but also stencils. Again everything is perfectly printed and the colours are spot on and you are directed to www.fundekals.com to download an instruction sheet for decal placement and scheme information.  In this case, the instruction sheet is the highlight of the set.  Spanning eight pages, it may be the best monograph ever published on the "Spook."  And hey, who doesn't want to build a Mosquito in the dayfighter scheme with U.S. insignia with the red surrounds?

fündekals Hank Zary 403 Squadron Spitfire

fündekals are back with three new decal sheets, but there is no question which one caught my eye.  Hank Zary was an American ace flying with the RCAF who ended his career as CO of 403 Squadron.  This new sheet has markings for Zary's Spitfire XVI TB752 in late 1945, but before the aircraft was tarted up post war.  The sheet has roundels, fin flashes, serials, codes, nose art, and the aircraft name.  (Interestingly two versions of the name are included, one for the closed cockpit door and one for the open cockpit door.)  Everything is perfectly printed and the roundel colours are spot on.  You are directed to www.fundekals.com to download an instruction sheet for decal placement and scheme information.  As I said in my previous review of one of their Spitfire sheets, I really like this idea of single subject affordable decal sheets and there is no question that the download instruction sheet is the wave of the future.

Well, That Didn't Work So Well...

So much for decal week...  After a good start, things kinda dropped off as life got in the way.  I'll finish up the planned reviews, but it might not be until August.

Rising Decals Donated Birds II

With my new found interest in Japanese World War Two aircraft I have started building up a collection of kits.  Sadly, many of those kits, especially a few of the old Mania kits I have found, have decals that are either missing, uninspiring, or just well past their use dates.  When I spotted this sheet online, I knew I had to have it. Much like the presentation Spitfires that were given to the RAF by different sources, certain aircraft were paid for by Japanese individuals and groups and six are featured here.  Options include a beautifully minimal natural metal Ki-43, a field camo Ki-51, two trainer Ki-9s, a Ki-27b in green, and a Ki-49.  While the Ki-49 doesn't really interest me much, I love the other options.  The field camo on the Sonia will be hard to paint, but will look wicked if I can pull it off.  The decals themselves are well printed and look really nice.  You get everything you need to do each aircraft.  Of course the instructions are in colour and provide all you need to know about the schemes, though the colour callouts are only in Mr. Color.  (Not a problem for me, I'm a fan, but it might confuse some.)  I can't wait to get my hands on Rising Decals new Zero Part II sheet that has just been released.  Watch this space!

Authentic Decals War Gifts: Presentation Spits

Unlike many in the modeling world, I tend to be pretty laid back about the items I purchase.  It is unlikely I'll overreact anytime soon and call a kit a piece of crap, a travesty, an abomination, or a disaster because it is 1 mm short.  (Heck, when I'm done sanding my kits, I'm sure I take off a millimeter or two.)  But sometimes even I get disappointed by a product.

I had no idea who Authentic Decals was when I first saw this sheet illustrated.  I knew they were from somewhere in the former Soviet Union and had 411 Squadron's Spitfire II "Venture I" as an option.  I ordered the sheet and sadly what I received was a product more fitting of 1973.  Sure, there is a nice colour instruction sheet...with the odd choice of light blue standing in for sky undersides...but it was the decals that were a slight shock.  Generally, if there is a yellow ring on the roundel it is out of register.  The fin flashes are unusable, most of the nose art is slightly primitive looking, and the rank pennants are quite dreadful.  The straight black stencil lines are not straight.  Oops.  The good news is most of the serials and codes appear usable.  Sure there are 14 neat Spitfire options on the sheet (only enough roundels and fin flashed to finish an early and late scheme), but what good is that if most of the decals are indifferent?

I'm sure this sheet would have been raved about in the 1970s...but it is 2012 and modelers expect better.  I have no idea how well these decals will actually work, but the printing and artwork quality suggests giving them a miss.

fündekals Lance Wade Spitfire Mk. VIII

At the Dayton Regional I picked up a couple of decals sheets from a new manufacturer named fündekals.  They have decided to take a new approach to decal production of doing simple one subject sheets with no printed instruction.  (In all majors scales, for those that believe scales other than 1/72 actually exist.)  In this case, the single option is for American RAF pilot Lance Wade's Spitfire Mk. VIII JF472 of 145 Squadron.  The sheet has roundels, fin flashes, serials, and codes.  No muss no fuss.  Everything is perfectly printed and the roundel colours are spot on.  Btw, the right code is not misprinted as it may appear, it is cleverly printed to be covered over by the squadron codes.  You are directed to www.fundekals.com to download an instruction sheet for decal placement and scheme information.  I really like this idea of affordable small sheets with one option...how about some RCAF subjects, guys?  I think a certain American Spitfire pilot commanding a RCAF Squadron would fit perfectly in your line...

Decal Week

Since we are stuck in a drought here in North East Ohio, it seems only right to have a decal week on the blog.  It has been so long since I've seen the rain that I'm ready to get on a plane to Seattle forthwith just to remind myself what it looks like.  Heck, with all this incessant sun I'm not sure if I'm in Akron or a totally unstylish LA.

BarracudaCals 1/72 and 1/144 Spitfires

BarracudaCals is the new decal venture from Roy Sutherland. Being Roy is both Canadian and a Spitfire fan, it is no surprise to see a RCAF Spitfire among his first releases. Sheet BC72004 is titled Spitfire Mk. IX Series Part 1, which is a little misleading as two of the options are for Spitfire Mk. VIIs... Options include HF.VII in the attractive High Altitude Fighter Scheme of Medium Sea Grey over PRU Blue, a Operation Starkey HF.VII, a pretty in PRU Pink Spitfire IX, and Spitfire MH883 as flown by Buzz Beurling with 412 Squadron RCAF. VZ-B has been issued at least once before by IPMS/Canada, but this is the only currently available sheet in 1/72. The aircraft is in the standard Day Fighter Scheme and has 30 little swastikas on then nose. (If you wish to build Buzz's other RCAF Spitfire, Eagle Editions have issued his 403 Squadron Spitfire MA585 as sheet number 72114. This aircraft has 29 German crosses as kill markings.) The decals are nicely printed, and include a supplemental sheet as Roy was not happy with the roundel and fin flash colours on the main sheet. A full set of stencils is provided for one aircraft. The instructions are in colour and quite clear about decal placement. Each aircraft has a short historical description and includes the necessary information about which wheels, elevators, and intakes were used on the aircraft. Finally, as a bonus, 1/144 decals are included for each subject. Now if only we had a kit to put them on...come on Sweet...

Mike Grant Decals 1/72 Royal Canadian Navy Sea Furies

A few years ago I assisted Jennings Heilig a little bit with some RCN Sea Fury profiles that later expanded into a magazine article. Now we have a very nice new decal sheet based on those profiles, and Jennings's artwork, by Mike Grant Decals. While Mike Grant started in the decal business with ALPS decals, he soon graduated to waterslide decals printed by Microscale.

RCN Sea Fury schemes have all kinds of minute details that are often misinterpreted, and misrepresented, both in profiles, descriptions, and in decal form. (See the VX690 on the new Xtradecal sheet for an example of a misinterprtation of the RCN Sea Fury schemes.) Thankfully these decals get it right. You get one option in the low demarcation Extra Dark Sea Grey over Sky scheme, four options in the RCN Dark Grey over RCN Light Grey scheme, and the WEE Cold Weather Flight aircraft in the rather rare high demarcation Extra Dark Sea Grey over Sky scheme with red high viz panels.

The decals themselves are well printed in good register and while markings are included to model all the options on the sheet, only two sets of full stencils are included. The colour instructions are quite clear and contain everything you need to know to finish your kit. (They also reference Jennings's article in Model Aircraft Monthly and in Hyperscale for the full story.)

In my opinion this is an excellent sheet and highly recommended to all RCN Sea Fury fans.


See Mike Grant Decals for ordering informtion.