Groupe de Combat 12, Le Cigognes
Americal/Gryphon decal sheets #110 and #130, 1/72nd scale

Reviewed by Matt Bittner

WW1 French modeling subjects are rare, but with the release of these two decal sheets, Americal/Gryphon starts to redress the unbalance.

Groupe de Combat 12 was the combination of the best French Escadrilles during WW1 Esc (Escadrille) 3, Esc 63, Esc 73 and Esc 103. Each Escadrille had their start in different ways - for example Esc 103 starting out as a bombing squadron flying Voisin bombers - but they all ended up being the best Chasse squadrons flying for the French.

Starting with decal sheet #110, Americal/Gryphon supplies x schemes for Le Cigognes de Guynemer, or Esc 3. This sheet covers machines from Morane-Saulnier Type L's, through the Nieuport sesquiplanes, and ending with the SPAD single seat fighters. This sheet is my favorite, because most decals are crisp and in register. There are problems, though. The technique used in creating these decals - silk screening - unfortunately can not replicate small serial numbers crisply, so most of the serials suffer from a lack of 'crispness'. This is one area where an ALPS printer really shines. However, all of the decals of the Storks are extremely crisp and very well done.

Decal sheet #130 unfortunately suffers a bit more with the lack of crispness. While sheet #110's Storks are extremely crisp and well defined, the Storks on #130 are anything but crisp. In addition, the serials suffer from the same lack of crispness of sheet #110, and my sheet seems to have suffered a mishap while printing part of the decals on the left hand side did not come out as well as they could. However, sheet #130 is still an excellent sheet and one definitely helping the French WW1 modeling cause.

However, the big strength of Americal/Gryphon decals lies in the instruction booklets. Americal/Gryphon decals are extremely well researched and that research is brought out in the instructions. Not only will you be handed a detailed discussion of each machine contained within the decal sheets, but you will also be given a lesson on French markings and colors in general. If a particular scheme is not represented well in known photos, then the author will tell you so, and say that it is a conjectural scheme. If it is unknown weather a marking is black or red, Americal/Gryphon will provide you with the markings in both colors.

While I have some problems with the decals in terms of crispness - especially with sheet #130 - I believe 100% if you enjoy building French WW1 aircraft, then you can not do without these decals. If you don't build models but are into just the research of French WW1 aircraft, then you need to buy these decals for the instruction booklets alone. The instruction booklets are worth the price just by themselves.