Home  |  What's New  |  Features  |  Gallery  |  Reviews  |  Reference  |  Forum  |  Search

British Phantoms
FGR.2 and Stencil Decals


AirDoc, 1/72 or 1/48 scales

 
 

S u m m a r y
Catalogue Number: 72/48007
149001 / 173001
Scale: 1/72 and 1/48 scales
Price: $9 -17 USD depending on scale
Contents and Media: Waterslide decals
Review Type: First Look
Advantages: Excellent registration. Numerous decal options.
Disadvantages:  
Recommendation: Recommended

 

Reviewed by David W. Aungst


HyperScale is proudly sponsored by Squadron

 

FirstLook

 
Continuing what is seeming to be a tradition with AirDOC, they are releasing new decals in 1/48th and 1/72nd scale to go with their book release from last year, British Phantoms -- The FGR.2 (F-4M) of the RAF in Germany.

In both scales, they are releasing two sheets. The first sheet covers the various squadron markings of the units. The second sheet covers only the airframe data markings. If the kit you are building does not provide data markings, you will need both sheets to complete a Phantom. There are no data markings provided in the squadron markings sheet.

British Phantoms -- The FGR.2 (F-4M) of the RAF in Germany (48007, 72007)

 

  Decal Set 48007
Cover Page
  Decal Set 48007
Decals Page 1
  Decal Set 48007
Decals Page 2
This is a large sheet, with two full sheets of decals. My review sample was well printed, in register, and quite colorful.

Five, double-side printed, color instruction sheets provide directions for building 40 specific aircraft. The decals provide numbering and lettering generically for the modeler to piece together, so almost any non-specialty aircraft can be built.

A spattering of aircraft from all six RAF units to be deployed to Germany are provided in the set. Apparently, the RAF only ever deployed FGR Mk.2 Phantom aircraft to Germany as that is the only aircraft type provided on the sheet. The aircraft provided are as follows. Interesting to me was the inclusion of the 19 Squadron aircraft responsible for downing an RAF Jaguar, named (naturally) "Jaguar Killer".  

 

Unit SerNo Modex Camouflage   Description Year
 
2 Sqn XT901 T Green / Gray   Rounded Tail Top 1975
 
2 Sqn XV399 W Green / Gray   Rounded Tail Top 1972
 
2 Sqn XV411 H Green / Gray   Rounded Tail Top 1975
 
2 Sqn XV485 H Green / Gray   Rounded Tail Top 1974
 
2 Sqn XV494 N Green / Gray   Rounded Tail Top 1973
 
14 Sqn XV432   Green / Gray   Rounded Tail Top 1975
 
14 Sqn XV435   Green / Gray   Rounded Tail Top 1974
 
14 Sqn XV463   Green / Gray   Rounded Tail Top 1970
 
14 Sqn XV464   Green / Gray   Rounded Tail Top 1974
 
14 Sqn XV501   Green / Gray   Rounded Tail Top 1972
 
17 Sqn XT906   Green / Gray   Rounded Tail Top 1973
 
17 Sqn XV462   Green / Gray   Rounded Tail Top 1974
 
17 Sqn XV468   Green / Gray   Rounded Tail Top 1974
 
17 Sqn XV471   Green / Gray   Rounded Tail Top 1971
 
17 Sqn XV489   Green / Gray   Rounded Tail Top 1975
 
19 Sqn XT902 K Barley Gray   All Blue Tail, Squared Tail Top 1991
 
19 Sqn XT911 K Green / Gray   Squared Tail Top 1981
 
19 Sqn XV400 F Barley Gray   Squared Tail Top 1983
 
19 Sqn XV422 J Barley Gray   Squared Tail Top, "Jaguar Killer" 1987
 
19 Sqn XV430 C Barley Gray   Rounded Tail Top 1981
 
19 Sqn XV468 D Green / Gray   Rounded Tail Top 1983
 
19 Sqn XV474 F Green / Gray   Squared Tail Top 1980
 
19 Sqn XV480 B Green / Gray   Squared Tail Top 1982
 
19 Sqn XV481 G Green / Gray   Squared Tail Top 1982
 
19 Sqn XV485 M Barley Gray   All Blue Tail, Squared Tail Top 1991
 
31 Sqn XT905   Green / Gray   Rounded Tail Top 1974
 
31 Sqn XV440   Green / Gray   Rounded Tail Top 1970
 
31 Sqn XV491   Green / Gray   Squared Tail Top 1975
 
31 Sqn XV494   Green / Gray   Rounded Tail Top 1975
 
31 Sqn XV501   Green / Gray   Rounded Tail Top 1976
 
92 Sqn XT899 T Green / Gray   Rounded Tail Top 1978
 
92 Sqn XT914 T Barley Gray   Rounded Tail Top 1988
 
92 Sqn XV415 P Green / Gray   Squared Tail Top 1983
 
92 Sqn XV435 X Green / Gray   Squared Tail Top 1979
 
92 Sqn XV435 R Barley Gray   Red Vertical Tail, Squared Tail Top 1990
 
92 Sqn XV467 Q Green / Gray   Rounded Tail Top 1984
 
92 Sqn XV469 AO Barley Gray   Red Vertical Tail, Squared Tail Top 1989
 
92 Sqn XV490 S Green / Gray   Squared Tail Top 1982
 
92 Sqn XV492 W Barley Gray   Squared Tail Top 1992
 
92 Sqn XV498 U Barley Gray   Blue Vertical Tail, Squared Tail Top 1987
 

Recommended

 

British Phantoms -- Stencil Data (149001, 173001)

 

  Decal Set 149001
Cover Page 		  Decal Set 149001
Decals
  Decal Set 149001
Instructions
This sheet compliments the first one by providing all the airframe stenciling for the Phantom, either an FG Mk.1 or FGR Mk.2. Like the first sheet, my review sample was well printed, in register, and quite colorful.  

Three pages of instructions (one in color, two in black-and-white), clearly show where all the little stencils go. The decals are numbered out to "181" with lots of duplication, so expect to sit a few night getting all the little data markings applied to your Phantom.

The decals include stencils for both a green/gray aircraft and a Barley Gray aircraft. Trouble is, there are a number of common items for both schemes that are only provided once, so the sheet can only build one full aircraft. You'll have a ton of left over decals for the opposing camouflage (whichever you do not build). It would have been nice if the few dozen decals that are common to both schemes could have been duplicated so two full aircraft could be made from one sheet, but using kit stencils, this should not be too difficult to work out.

The 1/72nd scale version of this sheet is a photographically reduced, identical copy to the 1/48th scale sheet. So, you tiny scale modelers do not have to feel left out on applying several hundred tiny decals to your models, just like the 1/48th scale modelers.

Recommended

 

Review Copyright © 2005 by David W. Aungst
Page Created 09 June, 2005
Last updated 09 June, 2005

Back to HyperScale Main Page