Korean War USMC Skyraiders

Euro Decals, 1/72 & 1/48 scales

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

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48-107 is the second of the two new sheets from Euro Decals covering the Douglas Skyraider in the Korean War.  The sheet provides markings for three United States Marine Corps Skyraiders. 

All options on the sheet wear the camouflage finish of the era, overall glossy sea blue. 

Details of the individual machines as follows: 

·        AD-3, Bureau number 122743, belonging to VMA-121 based at Pohang
(K-3) Korea in 1951. 

·        AD-2Q, Bureau number 122386, of VMC-1 at Seoul in December of 1952. 

·        AD-3 Bureau number 122733 of VMA-212 at Pohang in 1952.  A little different from the other two options, this one sports white tips to its fin and rudder and wings as well as the front of it’s propeller boss. 

As it does with the sheet covering the United States Navy Skyraiders, Euro Decals recommends the Tamiya, Italeri and Monogram kits in 1/48 scale with the word “backdated” listed against them.  You need to understand that if you want to model any of the options on this sheet you will be required to do to a fair bit of work.  Whilst some of the tasks are fairly simple, the removal of the anti-collision beacon on the fin, the antennae on the spine etc, the main task you will be faced with is the removal of the armour plate from the forward fuselage and undersides of the wing, a fairly long process which will consume much time and sandpaper. 

Support material/placement guides are in the form of two A-4 sized sheets with separate page for each option that shows left and right hand side profiles with plan views of the upper and lower surfaces of each wing in colour. 

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

The decals themselves have been printed by Fantasy Printshop.  They are all in perfect register and whilst not thick, appear to be opaque enough to survive being applied over a glossy sea blue painted airframe without any bleed-through.  Whilst there is no stencil data, there are two sets of national insignia provided. 

The decals and support sheets come packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag. 

The sheet is also available in 1/72 scale as sheet number 72-107. 

This is a nice companion to Euro Decals’ earlier United States Navy Skyraiders sheet. 

Recommended.

Thanks to Euro Decals for the review sample

Euro Decals are available online via Fanstasy Printshop's website

Review Copyright © 2007 by Rodger Kelly
Page Created 04 June, 2007
Last updated 24 December, 2007

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