Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

Yellow Wings Decals are available online from Squadron

Following along from their 48-021 sheet that provided fuselage bands and wing chevrons for the F4F-3 Wildcat, this sheet does the same for the F-3F.

The contents of the pack provides you with wing chevrons for the upper surfaces of the top wing and the lower surfaces of the bottom wing, as well as fuselage bands in each of the six colours used during the yellow-wing era of the U.S. Navy and USMC aviation.   You also get 42 tri-colour prop tip decals, four USMC “anchor and globe” insignia, a pair of red, white and blue rudder stripes for a USMC machine, four each squadron insignia for VMF-2, VF-5, VF-6, VF-7/72, and six VF-3/6 ones.  Thin black and white pin striping round out the sheet.  These latter items are to be applied around the edges of the cowl band that you will have to paint yourself to match the colours on the wing and fuselage chevrons.

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Thumbnail panels:

The decals themselves have been printed by the Microscale, the company that all the other decal manufacturers are measured against.  They are well up to their high standards being thinly printed with an absolute minimum of carrier film.

As with all Yellow-Wings Decals products, comprehensive support information is provided along with the decal sheet.  You get three A-4 sized sheets that are printed on both sides.  Individual side and lower surface plan views are provided for US Navy
F3F-1s of VF-6B aboard the USS Saratoga between 1936 and 1937, VF-5B aboard the USS Ranger between 1936 and 1937, USMC F3F-3s of VMF-1 based at Quantico between 1937 and 1938, and VMF-2 based at San Diego between 1937 and 1938 to give you an idea of the how to place the decals as well as providing info on the paint scheme.  You also get detailed information on the painting of USN/USMC machines between 1930 and 1941 (termed the golden wing era) as well as instructions for the sequence of the application of the decals themselves and a chart that suggest matches paints of the era to readily available model paints – Tamiya, Testors and Polly Scale.

The decals and information sheets come packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag along with a stiff header card to save everything from being bent.

The recommended kits are the Accurate Miniatures ones.

Another excellent sheet from Yellow-Wing Decals.

Thanks to Yellow Wings Decals for the review sample.

Review Copyright © 2008 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 26 January, 2009
Last updated 27 January, 2009

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