IsraDecal IAF-21 and -22
 
Israeli
F-16C/D Barak

and

F-16A/B Nets
 

Reviewed by Dave Williams

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Israeli Air Force F-16C/D Barak (IAF-21)

Coincident with the release of the excellent new book on the F-16C/D Barak, Isradecal’s new 1/48 scale decal sheet allows the modeler to accurately depict many of the aircraft shown in the book.  The decal set consists of three sheets and an 8-page instruction booklet containing detailed placement instructions and black-and-white photographs of a number of the decal subjects. 

Instructions are provided for the following aircraft, all in the IAF green/tan/brown over light grey scheme: 

·         F-16C/D Block 30 “First Jet Squadron”

·         F-16C/D Block 30 “Knights of the North”

·         F-16C/D Block 30 “Valley Squadron”

·         F-16D Block 30 #055, “Valley Squadron” – squadron 50^th anniversary markings

·         F-16D Block 30 “First Fighter Squadron”

·         F-16C/D Block 40 “First Fighter Squadron & Scorpion Squadron”, 2003 – includes scrap view of Scorpion Squadron a/c #539 as painted during the 50^th anniversary of the IAF in 1998.

·         F-16C/D Block 30 & 40 “Test and Evaluation Unit” 

Although the instructions show specific aircraft, squadron badges and numbers are provided as individual decals allowing the modeler to make other aircraft than the ones shown in the instructions.  National insignia are included on the sheet, although the large insignia for the IAF 50^th anniversary bird are not included and will have to be sourced from sheet IAF-5.  Full stenciling is also provided, including decals for the drop tanks and Python 4/5 missiles.  Also included are decals for the flare/chaff dispensers on the underside of the fuselage with instructions provided for the varying configurations between F-16C’s and F–16D, and the Block 30 and Block 40 aircraft.  A curious omission on the decal sheet is that no color information is provided for the camouflage scheme, although the pattern is shown.  The colors, from the F-16A/B Nets instructions, should be FS 30219/34424/33531 on top over FS 36375 with the radome in FS 36270. 

The decals, printed by Cartograf, are thin and in register.  The subsheet containing the IAF 50^th anniversary badge and the orange tail stripes for the Test and Evaluation Unit (IAF-21/3) are printed on a solid sheet and the individual decals must be cut out by the modeler.  

Recommended kits are the Hasegawa F-16 kits with the Eagle Designs updates.

Israeli Air Force F-16A/B Nets (IAF-22) 

Similar to the aforementioned sheet for the Barak, IAF-22 contains markings for earlier F-16A/B models in IAF service.  Instructions are again contained in an 8-page booklet with pictures of individual aircraft. 

Instructions are provided for the following aircraft: 

·         F-16A/B “First Jet Squadron”

·         F-16A/B “Knights of the North Squadron”.

·         F-16A/B “Phoenix Squadron” – these aircraft were ex-USAF aircraft and server for a number of years in the standard USAF gray color scheme before being repainted in standard IAF camouflage.

·         F-16A/B “Test & Evaluation Unit”

·         F-16A/B “The Negev Squadron”

·         F-16A/B “Golden Eagle Squadron”

·         F-16A/B “Flying Wing Squadron”, 2003 

Aircraft numbers and squadron badges are again provided as individual decals so any aircraft may be modeled from the listed squadrons.  Speciality markings include Syrian MiG kill markings, Iraqi nuclear plant kill markings for the aircraft that participated in the attack, and IAF 50^th anniversary markings.  As with the Barak sheet, the large national insignia are not included and will have to be obtained from sheet IAF-5.  In addition, aircraft names for First Jet Squadron birds are included.  Stencils are included for the IAF camouflage scheme, as well as for the USAF grey scheme used on the early Phoenix Squadron aircraft. 

The decals are printed by Cartograf and are of high quality.  Similar to the Barak sheet, one of the decal subsheets (IAF-22/3) is printed as a solid sheet and the decals will have to be individually cut out. 

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

Recommended again are the Hasegawa F-16 kits.

These decals are of excellent quality and well researched.  Modelers who are interested in these IAF aircraft should have no reservations about picking up any of these sheet. 

Highly Recommended!

Dave Williams

IPMS/USA 19050

Review samples kindly provided by Isradecal. 

Preview Text Copyright © 2003 by Dave Williams
This Page Created on 18 December, 2003
Last updated 17 December, 2003

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