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RAF Tornado F.3
 

1/48 scale

 

Model Alliance Premier Range Decals

 

S u m m a r y
Catalogue Number and Scale: 1/48 MA-48106 - RAF BAE/Panavia Tornado F.3
Contents and Media: 1 x full sized decal sheet; two A4 sized full colour instructions
Price: GBP£13.00 (1/48); GBP£9.00 (1/72) available online from their website
Review Type: FirstLook
Advantages: Attractive and colourful schemes; thin, flexible and strong; individually silk screen printed; good instructions perfect register; stencil data decals are included.
Disadvantages:  
Recommendation: Recommended

Reviewed by Brett Green


 HyperScale is proudly sponsored by Squadron.com

 

FirstLook

 

Model Alliance's "RAF BAE / Panavia Tornado F.3" adds a splash of colour to these otherwise uniformly grey interceptors.

Seven subjects are covered on this single sheet. All wear the basic colours of Camouflage Grey and Light Aircraft Grey. The tails are the focus of attention for each individual aircraft. The most spectacular examples are the 111 Sqn Tornado with its gloss black fin and, especially, the red-tailed machine of the Operational Evaluation Unit, adorned with its winged sword. The remaining options - a combination of airshow schemes and operational markings - offer a selection of chequerboard fin tips and unit emblems that should keep modern RAF fans very happy indeed.

Specifically, decals are provided for the following aircraft:

  • ZE158 111 Sqd, 2004,

  • ZE293 43 Sqd, 2003,

  • ZE162 56 (R) Sqd, 2003,

  • ZE159 111 Sqd, 2002,

  • ZH555 5 Sqd, 2002,

  • ZE785 Tornado OEU, 2004

  • ZE294 11 Sqd, 2004

The decals are beautifully printed and in perfect register. They are produced in the USA by Microscale (so they have been very well travelled by the time they got to me in Australia).

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

The instructions maintain the same high standard. They are presented on four sides of A4 paper, and include colour port side profiles for all seven aircraft. Top and bottom views of the camouflage scheme are also illustrated in colour, along with a stencil marking guide.

This is an excellent production from Model Alliance and good timing too, with Airfix having recently released their partially retooled 1/48 scale Tornado in F.3 guise (although I would probably still lean towards Italeri).

With seven colourful schemes, you will be able to stretch this sheet a long way.

Recommended

Thanks to Aviation Workshop / Model Alliance (UK)  for the review sample

Model Alliance products are available online from the Aviation Workshop.

Review Copyright © 2005 by Brett Green
Page Created 26 April, 2005
Last updated 26 April, 2005

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