Decals

One of the newest decal sheets to be produced by the Japanese company Lifelike is #48-040, covering one Albatros D.III and three Albatros D.Vs in 1/48 scale.

Four aircraft are covered in this sheet:

Some months ago, I had the opportunity to review the Aviaeology RCAF Beaufighters in Coastal Command decals, product number AOD48002m, which ultimately resulted in an uncontrollable urge to build a Beaufighter and use the decals.  I had two Tamiya Beaufighter kits in my stash with the goal, of course, to build both someday.  The Aviaeology decals offered that inspiration.

Furball Designs fourth issue is a set of markings for Hasegawa's 1/48th series of F-4's including the  RF-4B, F-4N, F-4J, F-4S versions. There looks to be enough markings for two kits and there are ten total available. If you add stencils, you could use the entire sheet. The markings include:

Furball Designs and Geoff Martin hit another high note with their second release, Fast Fords designed for the Tamiya 1/48 F4D kit. There are options for 11 planes with a largely varied set of markings. Printing is done by Cartograph and is superb with great opacity and registration.

The markings listed are:

1. F4D-1, 130747, NATC, Pax River NAS, 1955
2. F4D-1, 130743, NATC, Pax River NAS, 1960
3. F-6A, 134806, USN TPS, Pax River NAS, 1966
4. F4D-1, 134809, VF-141, NK/213, USS Ranger, 1958
5. F4D-1, 134843, VF-13, AK/102, USS Shangri La, 1962
6. F4D-1, 114870, VF-102, AJ/00, USS Forrestal, 1961
7. F4D-1, 134947, VF-213, NP/301, USS Lexington, 1958
8. F4D-1, 139113, VF-74, AF/106, USS Intrepid, 1959
9. F4D-1, 139071, VMF(AW)-314, VW/20, Ping Tung AB, Taiwan, 1958
10. F4D-1, 139207, VF-13, AK/100, USS Shangri La, 1962
11. F4D-1, 139207, VMF(AW)-115, AG/110, USS Independence, 1963

The schemes are not only the standard gray over white but also a Navy blue plane and several colorful examples from NAS Patuxent from the test school.

I must admit that I had not carefully examined any 1/72 Lifelike decals before I received two sets to review.  When they arrived, I realized I’ve been missing something…something rather impressive.  If Lifelike set # 72-020 is typical of other sets (and the other set I received indicates it is)…they will almost make you want to peal the stretch wrapping off a new kit box and start clipping parts.

Lifelike decals appear to come from people who know something about the subjects they cover, are focused on delivering high quality…and, who have figured out how to do it right!  The sets include careful research, the original artwork looks accurate, the print registration is excellent, the colors are vivid, the film is very thin and the subjects covered are most appealing. 

After reviewing Lifelike #72-021 for Messerschmitt Bf-109s, I opened this set and found it difficult to resist working on a Tamiya 1/72 Fw-190A-3 that I had started dry fitting a few months ago.  Lifelike’s set #72-022, much like the Bf-109 set, offers a number of appealing decal options that beg almost immediate attention.

Included on the two small sheets packaged in the zip-lock sleeve are markings for:

While the P-38 gained its notoriety over the waters of the Pacific, I have always preferred it in D-Day stripes.  This sheet by Iliad Design caters to both theaters of operations.

There are 3 natural metal finish birds from the Pacific:

1. P-38J flown by Lt. Ken Ladd, 80th FS, 8th FG
2. P-38J flown by Lt. J.C. McHenry, 7th FS, 49th FG
3. P-38L flown by Maj. J.A. Watkins, also of the 7th FS, 49th FG

These are balanced by 4 birds flown over the European continent:

The newest release from Bob Sanchez and Twobobs is a set for the VFA-147 Argonauts aboard the USS Ronald Reagan. The Argonauts are based at NAS Lemoore and transitioned into their current planes, the F-18E Hornet, in 2008.  The set is designed for either the Hasegawa or Revell F-18E single-seat Hornet and represent the planes on their 2012 cruise.

Bob Sanchez and Twobobs continue their excellent new releases with a set for the EA-18 Growler. This set covers Electronic Attack Squadron 130 (VAQ-130), also known as the "Zappers" and based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. Currently part of Carrier Air Wing 3, the Zappers deploy aboard the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75). VAQ-130 is the oldest electronic warfare squadron in the U.S. Navy.

This set covers two planes, the CAG plane with black tail and spine with a green dragon breathing lightning bolts, and a line plane in all gray with the same markings. This kits listed are for Revell and Hasegawa F-18F with the Steel Beach conversions. I would suggest that the Hasegawa Growler release may be your best choice and it was reviewed here: http://web.ipmsusa3.org/content/ea-18g-growler.

Dutch Decal has released this decal sheet in 1/48 scale to coincide with their excellent book on the Grumman Tracker used by the Royal Netherlands Navy. The sheet also gives modelers a chance to do something a little different with their Kinetic S-2 kit. There is also an option provided on the sheet for a single Airspeed Oxford, which the Royal Netherlands Navy used in 1947. Special Hobby has recently released a kit of the Oxford in 1/48, so now I suppose I will have to buy one of those.