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Naval Air Power No.1

Phantom FG.1

 

1/48 scale

 

Model Alliance Decals

 

S u m m a r y
Catalogue Number and Scale: 1/48 MA-48126 - Senior Service Phantoms
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.
Disadvantages:  
Recommendation: Recommended


Reviewed by Rodger Kelly


 HyperScale is proudly sponsored by Squadron.com

 

FirstLook

 

MA-48126 is the latest release from Model Alliance Decals in their On-Target Range.  It provides markings for nine different F.G.1 Phantoms operated by the Royal Naval Air Service 

At last!  Having long been a fan of the Royal Naval Air Service and of the McDonnell Douglas F.G. Mk 1 Phantom I have long wanted to add a model or two to my collection but have been held back from doing so due to the lack of good quality decals available for them. 

Model Alliance has addressed the shortfall with the release of this sheet.  It provides markings for nine machines in various different guises, eight of them from 892 NAS, the squadron depicted in the first issue of the Hasegawa 1/48 scale kit. 

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

All the options are in the extra dark sea grey over white scheme worn throughout the service life of the F.G. Mk1. 

The individual aircraft are: 

  • XT866 of the Phantom Post-Operational Conversion Unit based at RAF Station Lecheurs in 1970.

  • XV567 '011' of 892 NAS in October 1969 when the squadron operated from the US Navy's USS Saratoga.  The markings differ a little as '011' wears USS Saratoga titles on her rear fuselage.

  • XT872 '005' of 892 NAS operating from HMS Ark Royal in 1973.  More variance here as '005' sports large VF-11 squadron insignia on the red of her fin squadron markings.

  • XT860 '014' 892 NAS operating from HMS Ark Royal in 1976.  This time the 'zap' marking is from VF-84

  • XV590 '001' of 892 NAS aboard HMS Ark Royal in 1976.  Lots of variations here.  '001' wears the unflattering title "Colonial Navy" in place of Royal Navy titles to her fuselage, a modified fuselage roundel resembling a pre-WWII US national insignia, and VF-171 'zaps' on her vertical stabilizer and fuselage sides.

  • XT865 '004' of 892 NAS aboard HMS Ark Royal in 1976.  Wears some form of commemorative inscription "976 - White Ensign – 1976".

  • XT872 '004' of 892 NAS aboard HMS Ark Royal in 1977.  The second marking version for this airframe on the sheet.  Sporting what looks to be a partially restored roundel on her fuselage sides.

  • XT863 '014'of 892 NAS aboard HMAS Ark Royal in 1977.  '014' is wearing another commemorative marking in the form of a red thistle with the words "red Thistle Flight" in white with the words "Goodbye Mr C" in yellow.

  • XT864 '007' of 892 NAS aboard HMS Ark Royal in 1975.  More markings nonsense here as '007' is wearing "Fly Navy" rather that her more normal and correct "Royal Navy" titles on her fuselage.

Two sheets of decals are provided with this set.  The main sheet carries all of the individual markings as well as the standard squadron markings whilst the second sheet carries two sets of serial numbers for the undersides of the wings.  Both sheets are very full with very little space between the individual designs.  Enough markings are provided to produce just two machines from the sheet.  You can only produce one of the 892 NAS machines as there is only one set of their red and white squadron insignia.  The other option is the first one on the sheet, XT866. 

The decals are of the silk screen type.  Everything is in perfect register and sharply printed.  The whites used appear to be dense enough to survive application over the extra dark sea grey that they are destined for. 

The placement guide runs to three pages of side profiles as well as top and bottom plan views, all in colour.  Individual notes are provided for each option as well as a list of the references consulted.  Directions are also provided to assist the first time users and the novice as are brief colour notes on the colour notes to the airframe, cockpit interior and ejection seats.  A helpful note is provided too advising that you need to research the airframe you wish to model as the ejection sea details varied between machines. 

The placement guides and decals come packed in a plastic zip-loc bag. 

This is an excellent product from Model Alliance Nice stuff from Model Alliance. 

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 Rodger Kelly
Page Created 18 August, 2005
Last updated 18 August, 2005

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