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.
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
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Decals
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Instructions
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Instructions
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Instructions
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Instructions
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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.
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.
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