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Luftwaffe F-4F Phantom II

Part 1

Norm 90J Air Defence Camouflage

 

 

AirDOC

 

S u m m a r y
Catalogue Number, Description and Price: M48-01 Luftwaffe F-4F Phantom II - Part 1. Norm 90J Air Defence Camouflage EURO 14,95 (approx. USD$12.87)

S48-01 Luftwaffe F-4F Phantom II. Norm 90J Stencils and Walkways EURO 9,95 (approx. USD$8.56)
Scale: 1/48
Contents and Media: M48-01 Two full-sized decal sheets (including S48-01); 3 x A4 sized full colour instruction sheets (five sides); 1 x double-sided black-and-white stencil placement diagram.

S48-01 One full-sized decal sheet; 1 x A4 sized colour instruction sheet; 1 x double-sided black-and-white stencil placement diagram.
Review Type: First Look
Advantages: Overall highly professional and polished package; supplies markings for any grey Norm 90J F-4F Phantom; exquisite decal printing by Cartograph; abundant colour artwork; artwork of very high standard; perfect registration and crisp printing; helpful notes; comprehensive stencil diagram 
Disadvantages:  
Recommendation: Highly Recommended.


Reviewed by Brett Green

 


 AirDOC's F4 F Norm 90J Decals are available online from Squadron.com

 

F i r s t   L o o k

 

These decal sets are the debut productions for the new German company Air DOC. They are a very impressive first effort.

M48-01 covers any Luftwaffe F-4F Phantom II that ever wore the Norm 90J Air Defence Camouflage. Although only grey Phantoms are featured, the markings and nose art makes for plenty of interest.

The decals themselves have been printed by Cartograph of Italy. The quality of the decals is second to none. Carrier film is almost non-existent, the colours are beautifully saturated, registration is perfect and even the tiniest stencils are so crisp that they may be read under a magnifying glass.

Fourteen aircraft are featured in full colour illustrations on three A4 sized instruction sheets. The instructions are particularly nice. AirDOC has gone to the trouble of providing high quality renderings of the subjects. The illustrations have an authentic feel for light and shade as well as providing a clear indication for placement of markings. The satin sheen paper has been printed with a background photo of a real Phantom. Nice touch! 

In addition to some regular grey machines, the instructions depict two low-viz Holloman Phantoms with their Luftwaffe markings overpainted with temporary stars and bars, in addition to an F-4F with lurid lime green ID markings, and the 35th anniversary Phantom with its striking red, black and yellow nose and blue/yellow tail. 

Each aircraft is described in brief text, and the colour instructions include top and bottom plan views for accurately painting the Norm 90J scheme. I also found the general notes, conversion/correction suggestions for the Hasegawa F-4E and the accessory recommendations to be helpful and relevant.

Enough markings are supplied to complete two machines, but an additional stencil sheet may be required. Indeed, the main markings could be stretched to cover two German-based machines and two US-Based Holloman Phantoms. 

The double-sided A4 stencil marking guide is very comprehensive yet quite easy to follow. The instructions note that RF-4E stencils are also included on the stencil sheet.

S48-01 supplies the same stencil decal and placement guide as the above set (click the thumbnail to the left to view a larger image). This supplemental set will be essential if you want to stretch the number of subjects from M48-01.

 

 

C o n c l u s i o n

 

This is an impressive and highly professional offering from AirDOC. Anyone contemplating a Luftwaffe F-4F Phantom II in 1/48 scale should consider buying these quality markings.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Andreas from AirDOC for the review sample.

Review Copyright © 2001 by Brett Green
This Page Created on 28 June, 2001
Last updated 22 July, 2003

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