One of the
latest procurements by Israel on the aerospace
front has been the AH-64D Longbow Apache.
Apparently it is used by only one squadron, and
IsraDecals has provided markings to build an
AH-64D-I "Saraf" from the "Hornet" squadron.
As there is not much to
the markings for the Israeli version, the sheet
also provides several US machines as well.
This decal set is well-printed and 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 to there 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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Decal Print Detail
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Instructions
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Instructions
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The sheet includes the
following aircraft on it:
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AH-64D, Israeli AF, Green
/ Sand, "Hornet" Squadron, 2006 (numbers to
build most any Israeli aircraft)
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AH-64D, SerNo 99-5102, US
Army, All Green, B Company, 1-3rd ATKHB, 3rd
Infantry Division, Iraq, March 2003
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AH-64D, SerNo 99-5118, US
Army, All Green, C Company, 1-3rd ATKHB, 3rd
Infantry Division, Iraq, March 2003
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AH-64D, SerNo 99-5135, US
Army, All Green, C Company, 1-227th ATKHB,
1st Cavalry Division, Iraq, March 2003
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AH-64D, SerNo 02-5289, US
Army, All Green, A Company, 1-227th ATKHB,
1st Cavalry Division, Iraq, November 2004
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AH-64A, SerNo 94-0332, US
Army, Tactical Gray, A Company, 1-151st
ATKHB, SC NG, Iraq, December 2004
This last entry in the
list is a very interesting aircraft. I have
never seen a US Apache in anything other than
drab green. The two-tone USMC-style camouflage
is an intriguing option for building. I hope to
see at least one model built in these markings,
sometime. For me, my one and only Apache model
has already progressed past the point of
allowing me to change its color. I may even
finish my Apache in some decade...
The decals are in perfect register (on my review
samples) and have what seems to be all the right
colors in all the right places. As I mentioned
above, the decals are printed by Cartograf, so
their quality and usability is a known quantity.
The decals have sufficient numbers and letters
to make most any Israeli "Safaf" in existance.
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 one complete aircraft.
The instructions state the decals are sized to
fit any Longbow Apache kits. IsraDecals
currently produces an AH-64D-I "Safaf"
conversion set for converting a stock US AH-64D
Apache into an Israeli machine.
Evident in the images above, there is enough
airframe data to do one full airframe. A full
four pages of the instruction booklet is set up
to give precise information on where all the
data markings go.
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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