Empire City Decals, 1/72 & 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Steven "Modeldad" Eisenman

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Here we have another recent offering from the new decal company, Empire City Decals. This set is for four Bf109s in the Hungarian Air Force.  This is a good set for those who want to do a Bf 109 in something other than Luftwaffe markings.  The Hungarian tri-color tail markings add an extra “spice”: paprika, perhaps.

The decals are well printed by AviPrint of the Czech Republic and are in register. In testing samples from the green and red stripes, I found that they lifted quite quickly from their backing in slightly warm water.  So don’t walk away while they soak.

Upon application, they are a bit stiff and do not slide easily, although MicroScale Micro Set (Blue Label) does help.   They also react quite well to the application of Micro Sol and Micro Set (Red Label) decal setting solutions. But a little pressure with an application brush helps them settle into the panel lines and hinge lines.  The only problem I encountered was that the colors were uneven on the edge and the ends of the red and green stripes: a bit darker.

Although I personally like to paint the Hungarian tri-color tail markings, Empire City provides red and green decal strips, but you must first paint the white.  For any of the yellow theatre markings, you will need to paint the yellow.

1. Bf 109G-6; “Black 66” of Lt. Lázló Molnár; 5/2 Fighter Squadron; Kalinovka, Russia; early 1944.  The aircraft carries the name of the pilot’s girlfriend, “Erzsike’ just behind the cockpit canopy.  The aircraft is interestingly marked.  It appears that there is a heavy and rough application of white distemper applied over the standard 74/75, with 76 undersides, such that the size of the black on the national markings were reduced in size so as to look like hand applied German markings.  One profile I have seen shows that the aircraft did not carry Eastern Front yellow markings.  But, from one picture that has been published, one can see the yellow wing tips and underside of the cowling.  The existence of the yellow fuselage band is open for debate, in my opinion.

2. Bf109G-6; “Blue 4”; 1/Lt. Lázló Pottyondy; 102/2 Fighter Squadron; Munkacs, Hungary; Autumn 1944.  This aircraft is in the standard Farbton 74/75/76.  The rudder alone carried the red, white and green Hungarian marking.  The decals markings indicate that this aircraft had a yellow under-cowl, and underside wing tips, but did not carry a yellow fuselage band.  One other profile shows this aircraft with the yellow fuselage band.  I’m unable to confirm which is correct.

3. Bf 109G-6 (14?); “W-1+71”; Lt. Józef Málik; 101/2 Fighter Squadron; Veszprém, Hungary; March 1945.  This aircraft most likely is a G-14, rather than a G-6 and may have had an Erla canopy.  The Hungarian designation of W.001 et seq. was applied to the G-10 and G14; the G-6 had a V designation.  The aircraft is in the standard 74/75/76.

4. There is a yellow fuselage band and the yellow “V” shaped chevron under the left (port) wing.  This chevron was applied to the underside of the port wing, whole width of wing and open towards direction of flight with an angle of 45 degrees and arms 25 cm broad. The arms of the chevron are carried over leading edge of wing to upper side for distance of 60 cm to permit recognition from above.

5. Bf 109F-4; “V- + 07”; Sgt. Dezs? Szentgyörgyi; 1/1 Fighter Squadron; Rossosh, Russia, early 1943.  This aircraft is in the standard 74/75/76 with a heavy application of white distemper over the top surfaces.  The vertical fin and rudder carry the red white and green, but the green is confined to the rudder only.  The red, white and green markings are also applied to the full top and bottom of the horizontal tail planes.

This is a most interesting and colorful set of decals from Empire City Decals. There are enough national marking for all four aircraft. What must be recognized is Empire City’s consideration for the “ham-fisted” modeler.  The inclusion of extra spinner spiral decals (at least in the 1/48 set I have) is a blessing.  Thank you Empire City decals! As for the absence of stencil markings, Empire City Decals clearly decided to give more options and the benefit of color stripes and extra spirals, with stencil marking coming from the appropriate kit’s decals.

Thanks to Empire City Decals for the review samples

Empire City Decals are available online from their website

Review Copyright © 2007 by Steven "Modeldad" Eisenman
Page Created 2 May, 2008
Last updated 2 May, 2008

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