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RAF Bomber Command
 

Parts 1, 2 and 3

 

Xtradecal

 

 

S u m m a r y
Description and Item Number: X05472 - RAF Bomber Command Part 1
X05572 - RAF Bomber Command Part 2
X05672 - RAF Bomber Command Part 3
Scale: 1/72
Price: each GBP£6.50 in the UK or GBP£5.53 for overseas orders online from Hannants
Package of all three available for GBP£15.00 (UK) or GBP£12.77 (Int'l)
Review Type: FirstLook
Contents and Media: 1 x full-size decal sheet; 1 x A4 full-colour instruction sheet for five aircraft subjects each.
Advantages: Interesting subjects; excellent register and colour density; thin decal film; nice colour instructions with multiple views; different aircraft types included on each sheet.
Disadvantages: Whitley caption on sheet 2 does not match artwork or decals.
Recommendation: Recommended

 

Reviewed by Glen Porter


HyperScale is proudly supported by Squadron.com

 

FirstLook

 

Xtradecals are owned and produced by Hannants of England, and they continue to do an excellent job.

The three-part 1/72 scale RAF Bomber Command releases are right up there with the best quality decals available anywhere in the world with perfect register, minimum carrier film and very good colour density - production quality cannot be faulted.

Five aircraft subjects are supplied on each decal sheet. These are a mix of different aircraft types. This is especially handy if you want to build a few different bombers from subjects on the sheet.

The contents of each sheet are:

 

Part One

  • Lancaster B.III RE118 HW N "Naughty Nan" 1945 RAF Elsham Wolds;

  • Lancaster B.III PA177 HW J "Jug and Bottle" 1945 RAF Grimsby. Both 100 Sqn;

  • Wellington  Mk.Ic T2508 LF O 37 Sqn RAF Shallufa Egypt 1941;

  • Wellington Mk III X3662 KD P 115 Sqn

  • Blenheim Mk.I L8612 OB-W 45 Sqn 1940

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images of the decals and instructions

 

Part Two

  • Lancaster EE139 HW R "Phantom of the Ruhr" November 1943;

  • Lancaster ND458 HW A "All Shot Down" April 1944, both 100 Sqn RAF Grimsby (Waltham);

  • Stirling B.1 R9358 BU A 214 Sqn Yellow Saint design RAF Chedburgh 1943;

  • Stirling B.1 N3705 MG-F 7 Sqn, 1942

  • Whitley Mk.V T4284 ZG-E

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images of the decals and instructions

 

Part Three

  • Lancaster B.III PB518 HW P "Pistol Packin Mama" November 1944;

  • Lancaster B.III LM723 HW H "Hellz A Poppin", both 100 Sqn RAF Grimsby (Waltham);

  • Halifax B.III MZ802 QB G 424(Tiger) Sqn "Gallopin Gerty" RCAF Skipton on Swale Oct 1944;

  • Blenheim Mk.IV N6155 114 Sqn 1939

  • Blenheim Mk.IV L8800 114 Sqn 1941

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images of the decals and instructions

One of the most interesting aircraft is the Blenheim Mk.I on the first sheet. It is camouflaged in desert colours and the codes are counter-shaded - ie Dark Earth on Middle Stone and Middle Stone on Dark Earth. Very nice!

The only problem that I could find on any of the sheets was that the caption for the Whitley does not match the artwork or the decals. Fortunately, my references suggest that the serial number on the decals and in the artwork are correct.

The artwork is in full colour but each illustration is a little on the small side due to the multiple views of the five subjects on each sheet.

These decals really do stand with the best available in the market.

Recommended.

Thanks to Hannants for the review sample.

Xtradecals are available online from Hannants' website

Review Copyright © 2003 by Glen Porter
This Page Created on 17 June, 2003
Last updated 14 August, 2003

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