Gotta love these sheets from Starfighter Decals. Where else can you get a decal sheet with multiple options for only $5 nowadays? This is their third Wildcat sheet in 1/72 and like most of their larger scale offerings, this one is superbly printed by Cartograf in Italy. The sheet contains markings for four early war aircraft in the blue-grey over light grey scheme.

First up is a pre-Midway aircraft from the USS Ranger in 1942. This one has the rudder stripes and red dot in the center of the insignia that was deleted after Coral Sea.

Next is Jimmy Thatch's VF-3 aircraft from the USS Yorktown on 4 June 1942

Third options is William Leonard's VF-11 plane while based on Guadalcanal in June of 1943. This and all the other options are F4F-4 variants.

The last one is Machinist Mate D.E. Runyon's plane from VF-6 aboard the USS Enterprise in August of 1942. He was one of the last cadre of enlisted fighter pilots as soon the Navy either promoted them to Ensign or put them into pretty much non-combat flight assignments. The Navy has always been very rank-conscious and just couldn't have scummy enlisted pukes flying fighters if it could help it.

There are enough insignia to do two full aircraft and using insignia from other sheets, you can easily do all four. You could probably use other Wildcat kits, though the rudder stripes may not fit properly.

Thanks to www.starfighter-decals.com for the review sample.

April 2009

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