Decal Sheet Review: Fighters, Part IV

    In our forthcoming decal sheet review series, we'll seek to highlight and critique some of the currently available-- and long past issue-- VVS decal sheets. In this next of a series of installments, we'll take a look at more fighter decal sheets.
 
Update:
This article has been updated with newer artwork and research. The original text has been replaced by current work, and has not been retained (in part due to the sheer size).

[ All decal sheet scans have been deliberately skewed and distorted at random angles to dissuade illegal reproduction or Copyright infringement by any such parties. The precise line and measurement of any specific marking, therefore, should not be taken literally from these illustrations. ]

AML (printed by PropagTeam)     Sheet No.72003     "Stalin's Eagles in Yaks I."
 



    All schemes are meant for the old Mykro Yak-1. Overall this is a well accomplished sheet. Registration is spot on and colors look good (minus the comments below). This is an extremely well done sheet, one worth looking out for. One important item to remember when looking at the instruction sheet provided: they make the statement "Colour shades are only approximate!" Indeed so....

Schemes
    Three schemes are provided on this sheet, including complete national markings for each aircraft.

  1. Yak-1 "White 1", Captain Baranov M. D., 183 IAP, Summer 1943.    Very well done.
  2. Yak-1b "Silver 5", Lieutenant Ulvilev P. M., 427 IAP, August 1943.    The silver numeral and star borders are very silly, and should be discarded. A colour profile of this aircraft is published on p. 124 of SAAFC.
  3. Yak-1b "White 47", Kutikhin Yakov N., 156 GIAP, August 1943:    Very well done.
       Overall, the sheet is very well done. Highly recommended.

AML (printed by PropagTeam)     Sheet No.72004     "Stalin's Eagles in Yaks II."
 
 


    All schemes are meant for any of the Yak-9 kits. Overall this is a well accomplished sheet. Registration is spot on and colors look good (minus the comments below). This is an extremely well done sheet, one worth looking out for.

Schemes
    Four sets of individual markings cover this sheet.

  1. Yak-9 "White 3", Denchik Nikkolay F., 64 GIAP, winter 1943:    A very well done example with white stripes on the rudder.
  2. Yak-9T "Red 04", Stepanenko Ivan N., 4 IAP, spring 1944:    These are not too bad, even in light of updated interpretations.
  3. Yak-9 "White 17", Stepanenko Ivan N., 4 KIAP, summer 1943:    The decals here look useable, but this aircraft will be shown to be a Yak-7B, not a Yak-9!! That article will follow on the site very soon.
  4. Yak-9T "White 85", Vetrov I. I., 66 GIAP, May 1944:    Useful decal set with a lion on the port fuselage side.
       Overall, the sheet is very well done. Highly recommended.