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Israeli Air Force KFIR

 

   Isradecals, 1/48 scale

 

S u m m a r y

Catalogue Number: Isradecals IAF 52 Israeli Air Force KFIR
Scale: 1/48 scale
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


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Introduction

 


Some years back, IsraDecals produced a couple Kfir decal sheets (IAF-12 and IAF-14). I was fortunate enough to secure a set of these decal when they first came out. They quickly went out of print and are quite difficult to locate any more. They have been heavily sought after by many modelers for some time.

Last summer and the IPMS National Convention (2005), IsraDecals released a set of Kfir decals for the US Navy and USMC aircraft that were leased to the US, but the Israeli aircraft versions were still not easy to find. This void has now been filled with the release of sheet IAF-52 on the Israeli Kfir.



 

The Decals



This decal set is a double sheet and is well-printed. It comes packaged in the familiar plastic zip-lock baggie. The instructions are only black and white, but they are printed on glossy stock paper and are very readable. The decals themselves are printed by Cartograf which speaks volumes about their quality.

The package measures up to everything we have come to expect from IsraDecals. Click the images below to see larger versions of the package contents.

 


Decals

Decals

Instructions
 

Instructions

Instructions

Instructions

 

The instructions include four-view drawings providing all three major camouflages worn by the Kfir in Israeli service. Color call-outs clearly indicate the colors (using Federal Standard numbers) for each scheme. An extensive center section outlines the locations of all the airframe data. Note that the Kfir C7 has different colored airframe data than the earlier aircraft, hence most of the airframe data items comes with two numbers. Take care to study the instructions and get the correct data markings for the aircraft you are building.

The decals have sufficient numbers and letters to make most any Israeli Kfir in existence, past or present. The only limitation is in the fact that there are only two of each number in each print style. This would make an aircraft number like "488" impossible as you would need four 8's to do that aircraft while the sheet only provides two. But this is only a minor issue. There is enough airframe data to make three complete aircraft, two in the early desert or ghost camouflages and one in the late desert camouflage.

The instructions state the decals are sized to fit the Italeri Mirage 3E kits when converted into a Kfir using one of IsraDecals conversions. IsraDecals currently produce an F-21 Kfir conversion set which would be correct to build an early Israeli machine. Soon to be released will be a Kfir C2/C7 conversion for building late Kfirs.
 

 

 

Conclusion



I have run out of good adjectives for describing IsraDecals decal sheets. I have yet to find a bad sheet from them. My only gripe I can really think of would be the cost (they tend to be one of the most expensive decal companies out there), but if IsraDecals produces the aircraft you want to model, you will not find a finer rendition of the decals to build said aircraft.

 

Highly Recommended

Review sample kindly provided by Isradecal. 


Text Copyright © 2006 by David W. Aungst
This Page Created on 08 September, 2006
Last updated 10 September, 2006

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