RAF Operation Granby
1990-91 Gulf War
30th Anniversary Special

On Target Decals

Air-Graphic Models, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Graham Carter

This is a monumental decal set that presents the modeller with sufficient items for an enormous range of offensive aircraft that served in the RAF deployment to the Gulf operations in 1990-1. some of these have been on sheets from other companies in the past but I have never seen such a huge range, so large that I will not be able to list all forty of them! I recommend visiting the company web-site for the details.

The three sheets come in the usual zip-lock bag with a detailed 24-page A5 instruction booklet in full colour which shows in detail where all of the markings are applied, as well as generic placement drawings for each aircraft type. 

One sheet contains the individual aircraft markings such as decorative figures, shark mouths, kill or operation records and squadron markings when applied. The details on some of the required an overlay decal which is supplied to reduce the likelihood of register issues.

A smaller sheet contains a spectacular set of the more colourful scantily-clad and provocatively-posed young ladies that decorated some of the Tornado and Buccaneer planes and which were hastily removed by order of ‘higher authorities’ on their return to the UK!!

The second large sheet is made up of all of the code letters carried by the aircraft as well as  a huge number of roundels, fin flashes and ejection triangles and other airframe stencils.

Kit decals should provide many of the national markings but there are 80 low-vis roundels just in case they are not well-reproduced on kit sheets, along with enough fin-flashes for nine models.

All decals themselves are beautifully printed with perfect register and minimal carrier film with a gloss finish on a blue backing sheet so that items can be easily recognised for cutting out.

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In broad terms the examples are :

1. Fourteen Buccaneer S-2Bs all in ARTF ‘Desert Sand’ in various states of wear and mostly wearing the Sky Pirates markings along with various clever or raunchy nose cartoons as well as the name of the pilot’s favourite ‘tipple’ in the form of a brand of Scotch Whiskey!

2. Twelve Jaguar GR1As in the same scheme and variety of nose arts, although not as ambitious as those on the Buccs,

3. five Tornado F.3s ( incorrectly identified as GR1/1As in the General Marking Guide) in the overall Barley Grey/Camouflage Grey over Light Aircraft Grey scheme (although nowhere does it tell you these colours) with standard squadron markings, and finally

4. nine Tornado GR1/1As in the ARTF ‘Desert Sand’ in various states of wear and decorated with a variety of nose arts as per the Buccaneers as well as different forms of shark mouths.

Each example is illustrated by port and starboard noses of each aircraft and a generic airframe diagram covering all four surfaces and there are a set of small colour photos of each group of aircraft and a list of accessories for each aircraft available from Air-Graphics.

This is a fabulous set of decals for modellers interested in this conflict and airforce although I doubt if there is any modeller out there who will use every item!. However, as a group or club purchase it is highly recommended for its completeness and quality.

Thanks to Air-Graphic Models for the sample.

Text Copyright © 2023 by Graham Carter
Images Copyright © 2023 by Brett Green
This Page Created on 5 July, 2023
Last updated 5 July, 2023

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