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B-24H Zodiacs
Parts One and Two 
 

   Elite Decals, 1/72 & 1/48 scales

 

S u m m a r y

Catalogue Number: Elite Decals 48006, 72006, 48007, 72007 - B-24H Zodiacs Parts One and Two 
Scale: available in 1/72 and 1/48 scales
Contents and Media: Waterslide decals
Price:  
Review Type: FirstLook
Advantages: Excellent quality, multiple options; interesting subjects; attractive half-tone artwork
Disadvantages:  
Recommendation: Highly Recommended

 

Reviewed by David W. Aungst


HyperScale is proudly supported by Squadron.com

 

F i r s t   L o o k

 

Elite Decals, an outgrowth of IsraDecals, has followed up their Desert Storm F-16 releases with some B-24 Liberator decals.

During WWII, the 834th BS gained some notoriety by naming all there unit aircraft with a theme of the symbols from the zodiac. To accompany the names, well done artworks enhanced the names. Elite Decals has brought us four of the Zodiacs on two sheets in two scales.

The decals are printed in two print styles. The majority of the markings are standard silk-screen printed decals, printed by MicroScale. Each set has an addendum sheet that appears to be printed by some method resembling an ALPS print. I can not find any edges to the decal film on the addendum sheets, thus I have to assume they are one large carrier film that must be trimmed to size before use. Elite Decals has no descriptions on there decal instructions or on their web site to explain what the addendum decals are or if you need to do anything special to use them.

All the decals on my review samples are in perfect register. The addendum sheets are nicely printed with colors that are finely graduated into each other. Inspection under a loop magnifier showed the print of the addendum sheets to be a stipple style print, like newspaper print, but very fine and well done. Applied over the white backing decals provided in the silk-screened decals, these will look very nice.

The instructions are simple left side / right side artworks showing the placement of all the decals. Scrap views of the wing tops and bottoms provide placement of those decals. The printing is a quality better than some books I have bought and the paper stock is very heavy and nice. You might almost consider framing the instructions after you finish with the decals.

No data markings for the aircraft are provided. You will need the kit decals for these items. The only "common" markings given on the sheets are the national insignia.

The 1/48th and 1/72nd scale sheets are equivalent to each other with all the same markings, just photographically re-sized to the appropriate scale.

 


B-24H Zodiacs -- Part 1 (48006, 72006)

 

  Decal Set 48006/72006
Click to Enlarge
Cover Page
  Decal Set 48006/72006
Click to Enlarge
Decals Page 1
Decal Set 48006/72006
Click to Enlarge
Decals Page 2
The two aircraft on the "part 1" sheet are as follows. Click to enlarge the images to the right.  

  • B-24H Liberator, 42-52508, "Libra"
  • B-24H Liberator, 41-29490, "Gemini"

Recommended

 

B-24H Zodiacs -- Part 2 (48007, 72007)

 

  Decal Set 48007/72007
Click to Enlarge
Cover Page
  Decal Set 48007/72007
Decals Page 1
Decal Set 48007/72007
Click to Enlarge
Decals Page 2
The two aircraft on the "part 2" sheet are as follows. Click to enlarge the images to the right.  

  • B-24H Liberator, 42-52532, "Virgo"
  • B-24H Liberator, 42-52650, "Cancer"

Recommended

 

 

Conclusion

 

These are really nice decals. You can buy with confidence that these decals will provide you excellent results on your B-24 projects.

I can see it now -- the "best of show" for the 2006 IPMS Nationals will be a diorama with all the zodiac B-24s taxiing out for a mission. Who is up for that?

Highly Recommended

Review sample kindly provided by Isradecal. 


Text Copyright © 2006 by David W. Aungst
This Page Created on 02 February, 2006
Last updated 03 February, 2006

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