Sheet: |
EagleCals 64 - 67 (Graf and Grislawski) |
Units: | See review |
Price |
See review |
Reviewer: |
Floyd Werner Jr IPMS USA 26266 |
People often ask why do people build so many 109s? These sheets are indicative as to why, they are colorful and the camouflage is never boring. The latest set of decals from noted aviation historians Jerry and Judy Crandall at Eagle Editions covers aircraft depicted in the book “Graf & Grislawski, A Pair of Aces” by Christer Bergstrom and Claes Sundin (ISBN 0972106049). If you are a Luftwaffe or Bf-109 fan than these decals are a must. These decals, like the rest of Eagle Editions offerings are well researched and accurate. I had a question as why one aircraft (Tulip nosed Red or Black 2) in the book wasn’t offered and Jerry told me it was because they couldn’t be sure of the whole aircraft camo pattern and markings. That is the level of accuracy and attention to detail you get from Eagle Editions.
The decals are very thin, opaque and in perfect
register. The aircraft are colorful and cover variants from the E-1 to the
G-5/6. The evolution on the 109s flown by these two pilots is perfect
example of the camouflage evolution in the Luftwaffe fighter arm. There is
something here for everybody from RLM 65/02/70 to an all RLM 76 airplane.
If you like yellow noses than you will have to look no further as there are
plenty of them. These aircraft have to rank up there in the gaudy
category. Yellow noses, rudders, wing stripes, wing tips and large yellow
numbers it makes you wonder why they bothered with camouflage at all.
EC#64 covers four Bf-109F-4 aircraft. All the
machines are in the standard RLM 74/75/76 color scheme. Two machines by
each ace are covered. I particularly liked Graf’s “Yellow 1” with the 100
kill markings on the tail and the Karaya Staffel emblem below the cockpit
from May 1942. Graf’s “Yellow 1” is also covered for March 1942
timeframe. Grislawski’s “Yellow 4” and “Yellow 5” are covered.
EC#65 is the next offering and covers the transitions from the Friedrich to the Gustav. There are two G-2s and two F-4s with three machines belonging to Grislawski. The coolest looking aircraft on this sheet is Grislawski’s F-4 with a heavy over spray of RLM 70 making it look very green. The remaining aircraft Grislawski’s “Yellow 9” features weird looking squared off numbers and an all yellow cowling. Another “Yellow 9” this time with the more traditional numbers, but includes the Karaya heart. Graf’s “Yellow 11” is very similar to Grislawski’s machine.
EC#66 features a couple of early 109s. The aircraft
that catches my eye here is “Yellow 9” with it’s large sized squared off
number and yellow bands on the wings. There are two versions of this
airplane available. One before the cowling and tail are painted yellow and
one after. For those of you who like unit markings “Black 17” has a unique
marking for 2./Erg JGr. on a RLM 65/02/70 style of camouflage. The last
machine is a G-2 from Graf with heavy mottling and a victory tally on the
tail of over 150. This aircraft also has the Karaya heart with Inge
through it.
EC#67 contains two aircraft per ace and is it
beautiful. The first aircraft to standout is a G-5/6 in an all RLM 76,
which is heavily overstayed on most of the markings as well as the previous
camouflage. A G-4 “White 9” of Grislawski is perfect for those looking for
some variation on the Hasegawa G-4 boxing. It has the Stammkennzeichen on
the wings and fuselage and a unique 105 victory markings on the tail.
“Yellow 10” of Grislawski is provided and it is a colorful G-2. The final
aircraft is a traditional G-6 with Gruppen Kommodore markings for either
Graf or Deiter Hrabak.
There are plenty of gems on these sheets. I highly recommend all of them. Each 1/72nd and 1/48th scale sheet is priced at $9.00. 1/32nd decals cost $10.50 each.
Thanks goes to Eagle Editions for the review copies.
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