What If...
Focke-Wulf Ta 183

Gekko Graphics

Reviewed by David W. Aungst

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Richard Chafer from Gekko Graphics is at it again. Earlier this year he marketed a set of "What If..." decals to go with the Revell 1/48^th scale Rafale kit. After posting a review on those decals, I got some fan mail questioning the validity of placing purely fictional markings on a real aircraft. "Crazy" and "waste of time" were some of the descriptive terms these fan mailings told me. I do not agree with these sentiments, but I do see their point.

So, how about fictional markings to apply to a fictional aircraft? After all, the Ta 183 was never really completed, and none ever flew as designed by the Germans in World War Two. The captured prototype was reportedly taken to Russia and became a guide for their first jets, including the MiG 15. But the Ta 183, itself, is mostly just one more "paper project" that was on the drawing boards of the German design teams at the close of the second World War.

Indeed, the model box on the AMTech model kit outright proclaims the model to be a "Luft-46" daydream. The box artwork, while very well done, is pure fiction showing Ta 183 aircraft attacking B-35 Flying Wings who themselves are beeing defended by P-80 Shooting Stars. Can you get any more fictional?

Richard, being a fan of science fiction and a champion of "What If..." modeling, saw an opportunity to fill a gap and produce some markings to decorate the AMTech kit as if it had seen the light of day and gone into production in 1946. The results of his work are the decals I am reviewing in this posting.

I had never bought the AMTech Ta 183 kit when it first came out. I read all the reviews when the kit was released. While the reviews reported that the kit was good, just did not find the subject that appealing. When Richard dropped me an e-mail earlier this year with preliminary artwork for decals to apply to the kit, I changed my mind. I set out and bought the kit to be prepared to use Richard's new decals. Now, I think I will need to buy a couple more kits...

There are two separate decal releases for the Ta 183 (with the promise of a third in the future). Both releases provide markings for five models. Each package provides one large decal sheet with the majority of the markings on it. As is the practise with many model companies, the Swastika markings are separated onto a small insert sheet so as to allow the package to be sold without them in countries where this is required.

The decals are printed on an ALPS printer. This printing distinction is important as this means the designs are printed all on one large carrier film. To use the decals, modelers need to cut closely to the designs to minimise the amount of carrier film that is present on the model. By using special non-ALPS ink cartridges, Richard is able to provide some very nice orange and yellow colors in the decals. The image quality is as good as any commercially printed decals on the market.

Each package provides full-color four-view diagrams to assist the modeler in painting their model. I have included images of these diagrams below. The diagrams call out the colors with RLM designations (where appropriate). The print quality of the diagrams is excellent and everything looks really good. Additionally, each package contains a photocopied page of descriptions and technical help for using the decals.

Richard has created some more winners as far as I am concerned. Like the Rafale sheet from earlier in the year, my only complaint is that I am having trouble deciding which camouflage(s) to build.

Recommended for any "What If..." lovers out there

Thanks to Gekko Graphics for the review samples

Gekko Graphics decals are available online from their website

Review Copyright © 2003 by David W. Aungst
This Page Created on 23 July, 2003
Last updated 08 October, 2003

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