Another fine sheet from our friends at Yellow Wings is this one on the SOC-3 Seagull. As one would expect, these Microscale printed sheets are superbly done and include enough markings to do all six options. These planes were painted light grey on the metal bits and aluminum on the fabric sections, so keep that in mind when painting. The sheet also includes prop warning stripes for the blade tips and for the float. The only easily found kit on this in 1/72 (actually, I don't think anyone else has kitted this plane in this scale), is Hasegawa. While one of their oldest kits, it is still quite nice and reissued from time to time. I should also mention that there are two addendum sheets. One with ship names and the other with some horizontal stab stripes.

So, taking them in roughly the order shown on the sheet, here is what is provided:

VO-1 is for the USS Arizona and Pennsylvannia. These planes all had Insignia Red tail sections

VO-2  was with the USS Oklahoma and California and has a White tail section.

VO-3 was aboard the USS Idaho, MIssissippi, and New Mexico and has a True Blue tail color

VO-4 was deployed with the USS West Virginia, Colorado, and Maryland with Black as the tail color.

VMS-2 is a wheeled version based at San Diego. It has blue for the section colors and so the cowling, as in all the other options, needs to be painted to match. This particular one is a wheeled version.

Finally, VCS-9, aboard the USS Honolulu. This aircraft has green stripes on the fin and horizontal tail planes. This one is from 1940/41 while all the other options are from the 1937/39 time period.

The instructions are first rate and give a step by step application sequence in case you are new to aftermarket sheets. The sheet indicates that the colors are matched to ModelMaster enamels and gives the pertinent information so that one has no problems when it comes to painting the tail surfaces and cowlings. As the main instruction sheet is used with all their decals, you'll find a few items discussed, like LSO stripes, that are not germane to this particular set.

Overall an excellent set of decals with superb instructions. If your local shop doesn't carry them, ask them to start!

September 2008

Thanks to Yellow Wings for the review samples. You can get these at your local shop or order them direct from the link.

If you would like your product reviewed fairly and fairly quickly, please contact the editor or see other details in the Note to Contributors.