Wolfpak Decals 1/144 Heavy Metal
By Matt Bittner
It is sometimes difficult to review decal sheets. Okay, maybe not "difficult", but the reviews usually end up the same way. "This decal sheet contains these markings of these aircraft and are printed (not) in register." That's about the gist of most decal reviews.However, when you review Wolfpak Decals, you have to mention something else. No one else has more comprehensive instructions than Wolfpak does. Aside from decals being in register and wonderfully printed (the subjects catered for on this decal sheet will be mentioned in a bit) you can spend quite a long review article about just their instruction sheet.
So, how does a Wolfpak Decals instruction sheet differ? Yes, they have the usual color side-view (along with top views if necessary, plus "the other side" if the markings differ) but when you go past the instruction sheet containing these side views, you are on to a lot more.
Quite a lot more. And this decal sheet - their first 1/144 decal sheet, titled "Heavy Metal" - is as detailed as all their others. Starting with page 3 (pages 1 and 2 contain marking and color information) you start with a description of the aircraft type. Following that is a description of the unit the aircraft flew with. After the unit information the instruction sheet mentions the specific aircraft the decal(s) are for. Then, the last thing you'll find, are specific directions for how to model those specific aircraft. For example, the descriptions for the B-47 is one-and-a-half pages (of two-column text in a very small font). Wow!So, you'll not only receive excellent decals for your money, but you'll also receive excellent history about the aircraft type, the unit, and the specific machine(s) catered for on the decal sheet.
Okay, on to what this 1/144 sheet contains:
- B-47E, 509th BW, Pease AFB, NH
- B-47E, 100th BW, Pease AFB, NH
- AC-130A, 53-3129, 415th SOTS, Hurlburt Field, 1972,
- B-58A, "Pulasaki Hustler", 43rd BW, 1964
- B-58A, "Greased Lightning", 305th BW, 1963
- B-29A, 581st ARSW
- EC-121T, 1972, Det 1., 552nd AEWCW, Korat RTAFB
- EC-121D, 1967, Det 1., 552nd AEWCW, Korat RTAFB
- C-123K, 606th SOS, 56th SOW, Nakom Phanom RTAB, 1967
- B-52H, 289th BW, Ellsworth AFB, SD, 1979
Finally! 1/144 "heavies" decals. Be sure to show Wolfpak to keep coming out with 1/144 decals by purchasing these at their site.