This new decal
sheet from
Spada
Decals includes
markings for 27 different 1/32 French Bearcats in colonial French Indochina
(Cambodia, Laos & Vietnam) that will permit you to build 2 complete
aircraft. This sheet is also available in 1/72, 1/48 and 1/24.
You get a huge
variety of aircraft and one thing that is worth noting, all the aircraft on this
decal sheet were from actual reference photos. The profiles are derived
from Spada
Decals
interpretation of these photos, with sometimes a small percentage of doubt
(indicated each time on the decal sheet). These decals are printed on 3sheets of
decal film much like decals printed on an ALPS printer, so you will need to cut
each decal from the backing paper with the use of sharp X-acto knife. The
decals don't seem to be delicate as some of the decal from other manufactures
can be. More about using these decals can be found further down in this
review.
20 of the
aircraft on this decal sheet have some sort of artwork or nose art, not sexy
noseart of beautiful ladies.....but artwork all the same. Some of the
markings that contain white lettering etc are printed on white decal
paper. For Serial # numbers this means the numbers are the white decal
paper and there is a blue square printed around the numbers. The challenge
is to make sure your blue paint matches this blue decal printing around the Serial #
numbers or you can carefully cut out each white number with very little of the
blue surrounding the number on the decal sheet.....the second option is the way
I would go (especially if your paint doesn't quite match).
The planes
included on this decal sheet are the following:
- 1) F8F, Serial # (9)4926, 'J' (Juliet)
Languedoc
- 2) F8F, Serial # 95014, 'K' (Kilo) Languedoc
- 3) F8F, Serial # 121509, 'C' (Charlie)
Languedoc at Cat-Bi at the end of 1952
- 4) F8F, Serial # 94999, 'U' (Uniforme)
Roussillon at Cat-Bi in 1952
- 5) F8F, Serial # 95220, 'U' (Uniforme)
Languedoc on January 23 1952
- 6) F8F, Serial # 121601, 'S' (Sierra)
Roussillon
- 7) F8F, Serial # *164, 'H' (Hôtel) Auvergne
- 8) F8F, Serial # *184, 'E' (Echo) Auvergne
- 9) F8F, Serial # 95487, 'T' (Tango) Corse at
Bach Maï in 1951
- 10) F8F, Serial # 95105, 'P' (Papa) Auvergne
at Tan Son Nhut in 1954
- 11) F8F, Serial # 95472, 'B' (Bravo) Corse at
Bach Maï in 1951
- 12) F8F, Serial # 95015, 'P' (Papa) Limousin
at Cat-Bi in 1951
- 13) F8F, Serial # 95062, 'L' (Lima) Corse at
Bach Maï in 1951
- 14) F8F, Serial # 95015, 'E' (Echo) Limousin
- 15) F8F, Serial # 95437, 'G' (Golf) Escadrille
de Reconnaissance d 'Outre-Mer
- 16) F8F, Serial # 94913, 'F' (Foxtrot)
Saintonge
- 17) F8F, Serial # 95338, 'C' (Charlie)
Escadrille de Reconnaissance d 'Outre-Mer
- 18) F8F, Serial # 121510, 'R' (Romeo)
Saintonge
- 19) F8F, Serial # *922, 'A' (Alpha) Escadrille
de Reconnaissance d 'Outre-Mer
- 20) F8F, Serial # 95035, 'W' (Whiskey)
Saintonge
- 21) F8F, Serial # 94836, 'A' (Alpha) Artois
- 22) F8F, Serial # 121489, 'I' (India)
Saintonge
- 23) F8F, Serial # 95172, 'G' (Golf) Limousin
at Cat-Bi in 1951
- 24) F8F, Serial # 95172, 'G' (Golf)
(variation) Artois at Bach Maï in January 1951
- 25) F8F, Serial # *2098, 'B' (Bravo)
Roussillon
- 26) F8F, Serial # 121491, 'R' (Romeo) Artoisat
Tourane in 1954
- 27) F8F, Serial # *5492, 'P' (Papa) Limousin
Click on
images below to see larger images
The instructions are mostly in
French and if you don't read French you can go to
http://babelfish.yahoo.com/?fr=avbbf-us
and type in the text and have
it translated into your language of choice. This will be helpful as the
instructions do include info about the markings on particular aircraft.
You get one side profile of each aircraft with partial profiles for the other
side when possible or needed. There is an additional page of text in
French explaining the colors and insignia of the French units that flew the
Bearcat. The decals are nice quality and are printed on 3 decal
sheets. This decal sheet will permit you to make 2 of the 27 different
aircraft featured on this decal sheet. Some markings come in two layers
due to the different shades of the blue dot used in the centre of the French
roundels.
Here's some instructions from the
Spada
Decals website
regarding using and installing their decals.
How to use "Laser Line" decals :
-
1- Using a new scalpel blade, cut as closely as possible around the motives chosen, exercising only a small pressure in order to cut the decal film but not the paper underneath. This can be done quite
safely, with no danger to slip away, provided you stay calm and contentrated.
-
2- Separate the motive and its paper background from the decal sheet, taking care not to damage the other motives.
-
3- Put the decal on water, with the motive on the upper side. It is not necessary to cover it with water.
-
4- Let the paper soak water for some 20 seconds or the time necessary according to the water used
(tepid water). With some practice, this can be determined quite accurately.
-
5- Remove the decal from water and delicately take it away from its paper background, preferably
with tweezers.
-
6- Softly put the decal on your model after the latter's surface has been carefully prepared, put it in
the correct place and slightly press it with a soft cloth or absorbing paper.
A few useful details :
-
1- test your softening liquid before using it. We have tested our decals with several brands that are
available on the market but we haven't tried every one of them. In theory, it is not necessary to varnish
decals before they are used.
-
2- It is possible for you to enhance the sticking power of a decal using a specific product (e.g. Blue
Microscale). It is also possible for you to dilute white glue into water and to put a drop of it under the decal or on the plastic part before the decal is set on your model.
This is a fine decal sheet and
it does include a huge number of French Bearcats during the special time in
history shortly after WW2.
Steve
I would like
to thank Spada
Decals for
providing me with this review sample.
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