Crosswind Hobbies

1/72 Southeast Asia Decals

Sheet Number: nnnn

Reviewed by  Phil Peterson, IPMS# 8739

Web Site: www.crosswindhobbies.com Crosswind Hobbies of Australia has released several decal sets in 1/72nd scale depicting aircraft of Southeast Asia. The decals are in good register with good color and cover many subjects which have not been provided for in the past. Enough decals are provided on each sheet for 2-3 aircraft with additional markings provided for other aircraft (although you will need to find other decals such as numbers to complete these options). Colored drawings show each of the featured aircraft and some of the other suggestions with left side and upper views as well as some scrap views. National Insignia of North Vietnam 1955 to 1975 Sheet Number: 1; MSRP: AUD $11.00 Sheet 1 covers the Aero 45 and T-28 Trojan used by the VPAF in detail. Other suggestions include the Mig-15UTI, Mig-17, Mig-19, Mig-21, A-37, F-5, Il-28 and L-29 Delfin. National Insignia of North Vietnam for Li-2 'Cab' Sheet Number: 2; MSRP: AUD $9.00 Sheet 2 covers the Lisunov Li-2 which is the Soviet copy of the Douglas DC-3. The VPAF received several of these from China and the Soviet Union. The markings cover an Li-2 photographed at Gia Lam in 1959. Other suggestions cover O-1, T-41 and U-17. National Insignia of Cambodia (AVRK) 1954 to 1970 Sheet Number: 4; MSRP: AUD $10.00 Sheet 4 has markings for 3 Cambodian aircraft, the Mig-17, Fouga Magister and T-28. Other suggested aircraft include Alouette II and Mig-15UTI. National Insignia of South Vietnam and Loas of the 1950s Sheet Number: 5; MSRP: AUD $10.00 Sheet 5 has decals for the Morane Saulnier MS500 'Criquet' used by South Vietnam and Loas. This is the French version the the famous Storch observation aircraft. I have wanted to do the South Vietnamese version for a long time and now have the markings to make one. Other aircraft that can be modeled from the sheet include the T-28, UH-34 and U-17/C-185. Insignia for the Boeing Model 307 Stratoliner Sheet Number: 6; MSRP: AUD $8.00 Sheet 6 allows you to model any 1 of 3 Boeing Model 307 aircraft operated by the International Control Commission or 'CIC'. This is an unusual choice for a decal sheet as the only kit available is the Marquette kit or Airmodel vacuform conversion for the B-17. I will be adding several kits to my collection with these markings. They are planning to release several of these in 1/48th scale and I will be looking forward to any others in 72nd scale that they may come up with. Thanks to Crosswind Hobbies for the review items.

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