Flying Colors Aerodecals
Swedish Decals in 1/72 & 1/48
 

Reviewed by Steven “Modeldad” Eisenman

Flying Colors Aerodecals are available online from Meteor Productions

For those who enjoy all things Swedish, this must be a very rewarding time.  First, the Swedish ice hockey team took gold at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin (Torino), Italy.  Second, Flying Colors Areodecals recently released a number of decal sheets specifically for Swedish aircraft.

Flying Colors Aerodecals? That was my first response also.  According to the cover letter that came with the decals, the company has been in existence since 1988, but has kept a low profile for many years.  I don’t believe anyone would argue with that statement. 

But that low profile is a thing of the past now.  Given the commitment to quality and value, as seen in these recent releases, Flying Colors Aerodecals will have a very hard time avoiding the celebrity spot light. 

Let’s starts with Flying Colors oldest and most basic set and go from there. All the sheets are well printed, as noted below, and in register. Except for the first sheet reviewed, which was printed by Fantasy Printshop, Cartograf of Italy printed all the remaining sets. 

Modern Swedish National Insignias

Catalogue Number:   FCA72001c

Scale:        1/72

Contents and Media: Decal plus instructions and notes

Price:        USD$11.99. Available in the U.S. from Meteor Productions

This sheet of 90 decals provides marking in nine different sizes, from 215 mm to 1800 mm. 

According to the information sheet, there are 62 Swedish aircraft for which these decals would be appropriate, from the Hawker Hart and Gloster Gladiator to the to the Draken, Viggen and Gripen. 

Although in Swedish, the instructions appear to indicate that the national insignia with the yellow surround was instituted in 1940.

Swedish National Insignia 1937-1940

Catalogue Numbers:  FCA 72-009 / FCA 48-009

Scale:        1/72 & 1/48

Contents and Media: Decal plus instructions and notes

Price:        USD$7.99 for the 1/72 and 1/48 sets. Available in the U.S. from Meteor Productions

By August 15, 1937 the Swedish national insignia on all aircraft was to be changed from a black and white design to yellow crowns on a blue field. The crowns were to be outlined in a fine black line. 

The 1/72 scale set contains 54 national insignia in four different sizes ranging from 500 to 1500 mm.  Because there is photographic evidence that indicated that the J11 Fiat CR 42 most likely had 1000 mm national markings, there are two 1000 mm roundels included.

The 1/48 set differs only in the number of national marking on the sheet, which is 28.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

Swedish Warriors

Catalogue Numbers:  FCA 72104 / FCA 48103

Scale:        1/72 & 1/48

Contents and Media: Decal plus instructions and notes

Price:        USD$9.99 for the 1/72 set and USD$ 11.99 for the 1/48 set. Available in the U.S. from Meteor Productions 

These sets are identical in the aircraft they cover.  It should be noted that both sets came with correction decal inserts.  In the 1/72 set, the blue apparently was too dark, so a sheet of all decals containing the correct shade of Swedish blue is included. 

In the 1/48 set, a couple of numbers appear to have been misprinted, so corrected numeric decals are provided.

Flying Colors are to be commended for not letting the errors out the door, even if the incorrect blue was only slightly darker. 

Marking are provided for the following aircraft: 

• J8 Gloster Gladiator - serial 279, coded 8-49, of F8 Wing, Barkarby, 1937. 

• J8 Gloster Gladiator - serial 233, coded 2div.F8 – 1 of F8 Wing, Barkarby, 1939. 

Both Gladiators are in a scheme of Olive Green W25 on top with Light Blue-Grey W26 on the bottom.  The props are Medium Grey.  The Gladiators wear the national marking that were in effect from 1937 until 1940. Note that there are only enough national markings to do one, but not both Gladiators. 

• J9 Seversky EP-106 (P-35A) - serial 2131, coded 8 – 32 of F8 Wing, Barkarby, 1943.  The aircraft carries a leaping tiger on both sides just below the windshield. The national marking have the yellow surround.

The painting information for this aircraft is quite interesting.  The aircraft has a base color of zinc chromate over which closely spaced, small blotches of Olive Green W25 were applied.  The aircraft top was then given a coat of 95% clear varnish with 5% Olive Green W25 added.  The underside has the center section, extending to the wing guns, in Light Blue-Grey W26, with the remainder of the left (port) wing in black and the remainder of the right (starboard) wing in white. 

• J11 Fiat CR 42 - serial 2435, coded 9 – 27, of F9 Wing, Säve, 1942.  The national markings have the yellow surround and there is art work of a dog just below the cockpit.

This aircraft is painted in the Italian scheme of Giallo Mimetico base with blotches of Marrone Mimetico and Verde Mimetico.  The underside is Aluminum.  The spinner and wheel covers are in the Swedish blue color.  I believe the face of the prop blades would be Light Blue-Grey.

• J20 Reggiane 2000 - serial 2325, coded 10 – 25, of F10 Wing, Bulltofta, 1942.  The national markings have the yellow surround and there is a bird emblem below the windshield.

This aircraft is also in the Italian scheme, with Giallo Mimetico as the base. But in this case, the blotches are shown as Verde Mimetico blotches applied directly over Marrone Mimetico blotches.  This scheme has been referred to as the “fried egg” scheme

The instructions provide information on both the kits that could be used and the appropriate Humbrol paints. Note: Only the 1/48 decal set is pictured in this review.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

“Flying Barrels” – SAAB 29 Tunnan

Catalogue Numbers:  FCA 72105

Scale:        1/72

Contents and Media: Decal plus instructions and notes

Price:        USD$10.99. Available in the U.S. from Meteor Productions

This set provides marking for three aircraft, all in a Natural Metal finish, as follows: 

• F22 – White 1, serial 29365, Congo, 1961 – 1963.  This aircraft carries ONU black on white alphabetic markings of the UN, along with the emblem of the UN under the cockpit.  The fin and wing tips are in Olive Green.  There is a decal for the black outlined white band around the intake opening.

• F3 – Yellow P, serial 29448, Malmslätt, 1955.  This aircraft carries the Swedish national markings.  There are decals for the yellow stripes on the rudder and elevator.  There is also a decal for the yellow band, with the letter P, around the intake opening.

• F3 – Black 12, serial 29961, Malmslätt, 1963.  This aircraft also carries the Swedish national markings.  The band that surrounds the intake opening is black as is a small square at the base of the fin, no decals are provided for these.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

The decals for the Tunnan include three complete sets of stencils and sufficient national markings so that all three aircraft can be made.  There is a correction set of national marking that are the proper shade of blue.

These are excellent offerings from a formerly “low profile” company.  I tested sample decals from the Tunnan set by applying them to an unpainted wing of an Airfix Mosquito.  The decals reacted well to both Micro Set and Micro Sol. For any modeler who desires to do the aircraft of the Swedish Air force, I highly recommend these sets from Flying Colors Aerodecals. 

It is just a shame they were not available when I did my Hobbycraft P-35 as a J9 many years ago! 

One final note, contrary to what you might expect Flying Colors Aerodecals is located in the Garden State of New Jersey!  But there is a connection; Flying Colors Aerodecals is located not far from the heart of colonial New Sweden, northern Delaware.   

Flying Colors Aerodecals may also be obtained from: 

Hannants in England http://www.hannants.co.uk/ 

Rebell Hobby in Sweden http://www.rebell.com/ 

Flightdecs in Canada http://flightdecs.ca/

Thanks to Sten Sundelin of Flying Colors Aerodecals / Nordec LLC for the review samples.