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F-4EJ Kai Phantom II
JASDF 8 SQN

Hobbydecal, 1/32, 1/48 & 1/72 scales

Summary

Catalogue Number:

Hobby Decal AL72008A1 AL48008A1 AL32008A1 - F-4EJ Kai Phantom II JASDF 8 SQN

Scale:

1/72, 1/48, 1/32

Contents and Media:

Waterslide and rub-down decals plus instructions and notes

Price:

US$20/25/32 by scale from Hobby Decal

Review Type:

FirstLook

Advantages:

Nothing less than comprehensive coverage of the JASDF F-4EJ Kai in its final blue maritime strike scheme. Nice touch with the inclusion of white metal pitot and AOA probe set

Disadvantages:

For those who dislike rub-down decals, this will be less attractive..

Conclusion:

The two tone blue JASDF maritime scheme as applied to F-4EJ Kai and F-2A/B aircraft is certainly different and will make an attractive addition to any Phantom collection

Reviewed by Ken Bowes


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FirstLook

 

Hobby Decal from Korea has become known for their excellent maintenance stencil decal sets for a variety of modern and World War Two types. This time they have turned their attention to the JASDF F-4EJ Kai Phantom in its final operational guise as a maritime strike aircraft. The sheet is available in all three major scales to satisfy all modellers. The decal instructions cover two sides of an A3 sheet and are printed in full colour on high quality glossy paper. They are nothing less than thorough and include four views, colour call outs and reference lists in both book and internet form.

 

  • F-4EJ Kai Decal Review by Ken Bowes: Image
  • F-4EJ Kai Decal Review by Ken Bowes: Image
  • F-4EJ Kai Decal Review by Ken Bowes: Image
  • F-4EJ Kai Decal Review by Ken Bowes: Image
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The sheet provides markings for two aircraft from the JASDF 8 Squadron, being 57-8354 and 57-8331. Both aircraft sport a large black panther on the tailfin and are fairly plastered with stencilling. The decals themselves are spread over four odd sized sheets, three in Hobby Decals familiar rubdown style predominantly in black and the fourth printed as a waterslide sheet by Cartograf of Italy covering national insignia and red stencils. A nice touch to round things out is a white metal pitot probe and AOA sensor which is natural more detailed and stronger than the kit part.

Options and instructions are provided to fit the Hasegawa kit in 1/72 and 1/48 and the Tamiya kit (with Wolfpack Kai conversion) in 1/32. The decal sheet printed by Cartograf of Italy is superb and has clean crisp printing, minimal carrier film and no register problems. The rub-down decals are equally crisp and of course have no carrier film at all. Overall this decal package from Hobby Decal is extremely well put together and leaves little for the modeller to do save source a kit. If there is one reservation it is the use of rub-down decals and this only because they are not to everyone’s taste.

That said Hobby Decal provides detailed instructions for use so they should not put off the buyer.

Thanks to Hobbydecal for the sample.

Footnote

Be aware that the rub-down decals contained in the zip-loc bag require a different approach to apply them to your model.  A visit to the “Tips” page Hobbydecal’s website at http://www.hobbydecal.com/help.cgi?action=tips will advise guide you!

Text and Images Copyright © 2009 by Ken Bowes
This Page Created on 4 February, 2009
Last updated 4 February, 2009

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