Max Decals 4822; Antarctic Helicopters Pt.I
Units: See review

Price

12 Euros from www.maxdecals.com Includes postage

Reviewer:

Scott Van Aken

Notes:  

Max Decals does not produce sheets with the frequency that we see from some others, but every release is well worth the wait. Their decals are generally full of fascinating subjects, and this most recent one is no exception.

There are 10 different options on this one and I'm sure that any aircraft modeler will find something that will piqué his interest, especially if one is into da-glo or international orange. I should point out that this is a 1/48 scale sheet.

First subject is are a  a Bo.105 as operated by the Uruguayan Navy during 2010. This is an ex-German Army helo and so is in a base color of olive drab and black, but with orange doors and upper fuselage. I believe the Revell/ESCI kit is the one to use for this.

Next, a Bell 47 from the Chilean Navy from 1957, which had to be a cold ride. The Italeri kit on this option.

A brace of Aloutette IIs are next with markings designed for the Heller 1/50 kit. First up is a Belgian version from the 1965 season. This is followed by three French versions. Two have civil markings while only the third option has any orange bits. First one is from the 1960s; second is from the support vessel Thala Dan, while the final option has small roundels on the horizontal stabs.

I'll cover the UH-1s next as there are a few of them. First is a UH-1B with the US Army during Operation Deep Freeze in 1965. It is glossy olive drab with dayglo orange on the nose and boom. An overall dayglo orange version from 1962 can also be modeled. Revell-Monogram for these options. A UH-1D, also with the Army in gloss olive drab and dayglo orange panels is from the 1969 season. Finally a lone US Navy UH-1D with VXE 6 during 1970. This is overall International orange. Kits are from Italeri/ESCI.

Staying with Bell, there is a Bell 212 as operated by the Uruguayan Navy during the 1990s. It appears they took a standard white over grey aircraft and painted large areas on the nose and tail with bright red. Heller/Italeri for the kit.

The decals themselves are superbly printed and aside from a teeny off on the center of the Belgian roundel, they are in perfect register.

I had hoped to get this article to you about six or seven weeks ago, but the International Mails decided it was best to delay things a bit...........

Review sheet courtesy of Max Decals. Please visit them at www.maxdecals.com.

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