FCM 7232: F-80s and T-33s

This next sheet from our friends at FCM is a very nice one for 1/72 F-80s and T-33s. Let me start by letting you know that there are quite a few kits of both of these aircraft around. FCM recommends the Airfix or Gran kit for the F-80C, though there is also a very nice one by Sword. These kits will require T-33 style tip tanks. For the T-33, FCM suggests the Hasegawa or Heller kit. Again, there are newer kits by both Sword and Platz that should work as well. I need to mention that the markings are probably sized for the recommended kits.

There are aircraft from four different nations included in this set. Let me start by the most numerous and that would be the Brazilian versions. There are four F-80Cs provided for on the sheet with one not shown. These are all with 1/4 G.Av from the late in50s into the mid 1960s. One is an all white one with lots of red bits as flown by the Esquadron commander. Next is one with a 'hearts' card on the nose and there is one not shown with a 'diamonds' card on the nose as well. The last one is one with the unit badge on the nose instead.

With this same unit are a pair of T-33s. One with a 'clubs' card from 1967 and another from 1974 that is with 1/14 G.AV that has a blue band with the southern cross on it. As you can see from the instructions, these have a lot of red bits on them. The scheme for all but the white F-80C is aluminum. There are some extra cards provided though no information regarding the serials of the aircraft.

Next is a shark mouth T-33 from Esq. Aereo 202 of the Mexican Air Force in 1967. This one is overall ADC grey

A Portuguese T-33 is next in aluminum with daglo orange bits. This is from 1968. These planes were flown well into the 1990s and had changes in the coloration to ADC grey with international orange bits. A google should turn up more modern photos if one is so interested.

The last plane on the sheet is a very nicely camouflaged Chilean Air Force F-80C from 1971. The only national insignia on it is the blue rudder with the white star.

Instructions are quite comprehensive and provide not only color information (generic) but also markings placement and an additional sheet that shows where all of the various stencils are to be applied. There appear to be enough insignia and unique markings to do all the options, but you'll have to glean data markings from the kit you are using. The decals themselves are superbly printed by Microscale and I saw no registration issues.

In all, it is an excellent sheet that should please 1/72 Shooting Star fans.

July 2013

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