For a bit of background, the C/KC-97 Stratocruiser was a development of the B-29/B-50 made into a transport/cargo/tanker aircraft. Basically the upper section of the fuselage was changed and the rest of the bits like wings, engines, tail, and stabilizers were brought over from the bombers. Makes things nice and simple as you are already using a proven airframe. It was such a success, that nearly 900 examples were built, most of them the tanker version.

The Academy kit does a lot of the same things that Boeing did and uses B-29 and B-50 parts for the C/KC-97 kit. This works pretty well, but misses a few minor things like differences in wheels and propellers as well as some differences in the engine cowlings. Not a huge problem, but one that most modelers will want to correct. Cobra Company will be releasing resin correction sets soon that will take care of these problems. For more details, see the section on this at the end of the review.

As with any kit, being able to do something different than what is on the decal sheet is always nice. This is especially true when it comes to Academy. As nice as their kits are, they seem to miss a bit with decals in terms of accuracy. Well, Airway Graphics has done something about this. When I first opened the package containing the sheet, all I could say was WOW! This is truly an inspiring decal sheet. Rather than go on and on with superlatives, you should know that not only the printing of the sheet, but the research that went into it is absolutely first rate.

After surviving the initial reaction to the decals, I took a good, close look at them. The one thing I noticed and was prepared for was that they appear a bit thick. Here is what Jennings Heilig, the sheet's designer has to say about that. "It's printed by Cartograf in Italy, and (as you'll see) the printing job is GORGEOUS. I was jumping around the living room with joy when we opened the boxes. They do appear a bit thick however. I've been in touch with Cartograf about this, and they're aware of it. They always use two coats of clear, one on the bottom and one on the top. He's not sure why, but they used their normal screens for the clears on this one instead of their normal finer mesh screens that they usually use for clears. This resulted in more clear film being deposited than is usual for them. While they do look thicker than normal, I've put some down on a model, and they work just fine. With a coat of Future over them they'll disappear just like any other decal." There, that takes care of that!

This is an incredible sheet. There are 12 aircraft on it. It needs two and a bit sheets to cover all the options that are available. Each of the sheets is a full size page as are the placement and history sheets. There is a short history and any mods needed for each of the schemes. There is also a section of general notes as well as a half page of stencil placement and airframe modifications needed for the KC-97L kit which is soon to be released. It is quite obvious that a LOT of work went into making this an extremely accurate decal sheet! I apologize for the slight fuzziness of the images. I want to make sure that no one can use the scans to make their own sheets!

Now, the markings page and the sheet shown beside it don't exactly line up, but I thought it would be the best way to show them. Not shown is a small additional sheet that is just aluminum rectangles and insignia outlines for the markings over metal patches on the tail and wings of those aircraft with Arctic Red wing and tail markings.

A is a KC-97L of the Ohio ANG from the 145 AREFS as she was in 1976 when retired. This particular aircraft is currently at the USAF museum at Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio.

B is a YC-97A of the Ist Strategic Support Squadron during the Berlin Airlift in 1948. This one is particularly colorful as it has very large Arctic Red areas in addition to some huge green striping on the forward section of the aircraft.

C is a C-97A from the 146 ATW  California Air National Guard at Van Nuys Airport in the early 1960s. This one is also quite colorful with Day-Glo nose, wing and tail bands and a white top.

Aircraft D is an HC-97G of the 36 ARS in Tachikawa Japan in 1969. This on is overall ADC grey FS 16473, so those of you who don't like using metal paints can do this one. It has yellow wing and tail bands.

The foreigner on this sheet is aircraft E. This KC-97L is one of several sent to support the Spanish Air Force's F-4C Phantoms during the 1970s. It is in standard USAF markings with an ADC grey underside to the wings and fuselage.

F is another C-97A from the 1501 ATW at Travis AFB in the early 1950s. This one has Arctic red areas as well as a white top to the fuselage. In addition, it has that lovely yellow MATS design on the forward section of the nose. 

Aircraft G is a C-97C, this time from the MATS Atlantic division. This one is of Korean War vintage and one of only 14 C-97Cs built

H is a KC-97F from the 305BW (M) at McDill AFB in 1953. This bird was supporting the B-47s based there and is rare in that it has a tail code. I was a small boy visiting my grandfather in Tampa around this time and can vaguely remember the KC-97s and B-47s that seemed to take off right over his house!

The lone KC-97G is aircraft J on the sheet (there is no 'I'). This one is from the late 1950s and is unique only in regards to the marking on the wing tank, typical of KC-97s of the time period.

K is a 108 AREFS Illinois ANG KC-130L, circa 1971 when they were based at O'Hare. It is typical of the ANG birds of the day and is devoid of any fancy markings other than the name of the state.

L is another KC-97L from the 126 AREFS, Wisconsin ANG from Milwaukee around 1977. Again, a rather unimpressive scheme. Now, you may notice from the decal sheet that there are a bunch of ANG markings on there, including Texas, Arizona, Georgia, New York, and Utah. Those are there so that you can do your favourite ANG unit. All you need is a photograph! 'But wait', you say, 'how about those from Missouri?' Well AG has provided a template for that state as well as Minnesota, Tennessee, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. Simply go to your favourite copier place with a piece of blank decal paper and copy it. I have done this method for markings in the past and it works just fine with no problems. 

Finally, scheme M is a MATS Pacific Division YC-97B, again, from the Korean War  time period. This bird is almost identical to the B. 377 civilian aircraft. You only need to move the left lower window behind the trailing edge of the wing forward about 4mm and there you have it.

Frankly, I doubt if there will ever be a better decal sheet out for this aircraft. There are oodles of stencils and other markings for your aircraft on the sheet, or you can use what comes with the Academy kit and save the AG ones for a later model. Airway Graphics should be commended on providing such a superb sheet. 

Here is information on upcoming Cobra Company resin update sets for the 1/72 and 1/144 C/KC-97 kits. We'll have reviews of them as soon as they are available.

"#44004 1/144 Boeing 377 STRATOCRUISER detail set for the Minicraft kit. Four complete replacement Engine Nacelles with a detailed engine face visible inside the cowling. The engine face is represented as far back as the second row
of cylinders for a satisfyingly "deep" look. This is SO much better than the plain flat wall of plastic that the kit supplies for engines. Additionally, all the cooling flaps have been flared open just a bit for a more natural appearance. To top it all off we've included four white metal propellers of the correct type and square-tipped shape- with properly proportioned spinners.

#44005 1/144 KC-97L Conversion and Detail Set to make the Jet-Equipped version. This set also includes four detailed replacement engines with features as described for the above kit. Four white metal propellers of the correct type for
the vast majority of KC-97s are included. These different props have a rounded tip and cuffs near a very nicely represented hub - another HUGE improvement over the kit. So the modeler can do the latest "L" version, we've included two jet
pods with their pylons, the large and small Radome for the top of the fuselage and a smaller antenna "dome" for the bottom found on many aircraft.

#44006 1/144 KC-97 Engines and Props only. This set contains just the high quality engines and props for all KC's. This is
just right for modelers who want to improve their (non-jet) C-97 and KC-97G kits.

72008 1/72 Boeing 377 STRATOCRUISER Detailing Set. This is a big set. It includes four complete replacement Engines and Nacelles with a detailed engine face visible inside the cowling. The engine face is represented as far back as the second row of cylinders for a satisfyingly "deep" look. We've corrected the profile of the engine cowlings and added the missing
exhaust fairing to the cooling flaps. But the really impressive improvement is four new Turbo-Superchargers for the engines replacing the hopeless kit parts. What a DIFFERENCE! This kit also gets a set of white metal propellers with the correct spinner and the square-tipped blades which were the most commonly used type.

That's not all. Throw out those inappropriate B-50 wheels and tires as we've included two new nose wheels and four new main wheels and tires with the proper early wheel patterns. Academy left out a very visible feature on the nose wheel
strut so we've included the hydraulic steering cylinders that go above the wheels.

72009 1/72 KC-97 Detailing Set Another big set. This one includes four complete Engines and Nacelles as described above along with those neat Turbo-superchargers. This set gets two replacement nose wheels and four main wheels with the correct "Late" wheel hub designs appropriate to the KC's. We haven't forgotten to include those necessary nose wheel steering cylinders too. Many KC's had a large antenna fairing on the bottom of the fuselage just behind the nose gear and the Academy kit overlooked it . We've included this fairing AND the two position-keeping "Strip lights" that go on the belly of the late aircraft."

Review copy courtesy Airway Graphics International . 

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