Wolfpak Decals 72-002

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

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The second of the two initial releases from Wolfpak Decals features four vastly diverse subjects.

Still sticking to 1/72 scale and their chosen theme of aircraft operated by the United States Army Air Force and the United States Air Force, the sheet carries markings for five aircraft as follows:

• C-130J 96-8154, the “Spirit of Biloxi” belonging to the 815th Airlift Squadron, the Flying Jennies, 403rd Wing, 22nd Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command and based at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi.  The machine is in overall Federal Standard (FS) 36173 Air Mobility Command grey -camouflage finish.  The markings on this bird are a little different in that she does not wear United States Air Force titles as she was delivered before completion of the operational test and evaluation of the J model.

• C-130J-30 02-8159, another Flying Jennies aircraft  As with the previous option, she is in overall FS 36173 camouflage finish but wears full U.S. Air Force titles.

• B-24D Liberator 42- 63980 belonging to the 8th Air Force’s 801st Bomb Group “Carpetbaggers” based at Harrington, Northamptonshire in the United Kingdom during World War Two.  An unusual bird to say the least, she was heavily modified to suit her role of inserting and supplying agents into occupied Europe and the accompanying modelling notes will guide you through the conversion process.  Camouflage was overall flat black.

• 54-466 an EB-66C belonging to the 42nd Tactical Electronic Combat Squadron, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing and based at Korat Air Force Base in Thailand.  54-466 is the famous ‘Bat 21” from which Colonel Iceal E. "Gene" Hambleton parachuted when it was shot down near the North Vietnamese city of Vinh on 2 April 1972 and evaded capture for 11 and a half days before being rescued.  The machine was finished in the standard South East Asia (SEA) scheme of FS 34102 medium green, FS 34079 dark green and FS 30219 tan upper surfaces over FS 36622 light grey undersides.  The recommended kit is the old Italeri one with an Airwaves RB-66C conversion.

• “Ghost”, a “Misty FAC” F-100F of the 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 37th Tactical Fighter Wing, based at Phu Cat in South Vietnam.  In standard SEA camouflage finish with a black nose wheel door that sports a chess piece knight marking.

Support information/decal placement guide is provided via two A-4 sized sheets that are printed on both sides.  The first sheet has single side black and white profiles (with coloured markings) of each option (the C-130s has a single profile) is provided as well as what looks to be reproductions and modifications of the appropriate pages of the USAF Technical Manual TO 1-1-4 to show the applicable camouflage pattern for the EA-66B and the F-100F.options on the back  The other sheet carries detailed notes for each option as well as a list of recommended kits and aftermarket accessories on the front whilst the back carries two black and white photos of a B-24D and a single photograph of the first C-130J option.

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As with their first sheet, the decals themselves are beautifully printed without any register problems.

The decals and the two supporting sheets come packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag.

Again, this is what I would consider a “no frills” product.  Great choice of subject, excellent research, comprehensive notes but the whole package is let down by the barely adequate support material.

It’s a choice thing really but to me, the only subjects worth buying the sheet for are the C-130J options.  I say that as you can readily make up the markings for the other options from generic national insignia and code letter sheets (bar the F-100F nose wheel door “knight” marking.)

Recommended for C-130J options

Thanks to Wolfpak Decals for the review sample.

Review Copyright © 2008 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 6 February, 2008
Last updated 6 February, 2008

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