Iliad Design have commemorated the Berlin Airlift with their latest 1:72 decal sheet. Set 72016 offers a very attractive selection of four Douglas C-47s, with a nice variety of finishes from extreme-weathered Olive Drab/Neutral Gray through to overall n/m.
The featured aircraft are:
1. s/n 315208, "The Fassberg Flyer"
2. s/n 315672 "Yellow 52"
3. s/n 293708 of the European Air Transport Service
4. G-AGIZ of British Overseas Airways Corporation
The decals look to be excellent quality, with the thin glossy items printed in perfect registration on the sample sheet. The colours look good, with a deep Insignia Red for the US national markings and a brighter red for the BOAC Union Flags which are correctly "handed" .
Backing up the decals is a useful colour-printed set of instructions, with high quality profiles and plan views. The heavily weather and repainted "Fassberg Flyer" is shown in both left and right views and will offer a really enjoyable challenge. A nice touch is a partially scrubbed-off former unit marking is provided and should look very effective.
Conclusion
Berlin Airlift C-47s is another excellent release from Iliad Design that makes a very interesting change from the usual wartime schemes. Recommended.
Please remember, when contacting retailers or manufacturers, to mention that you saw their products highlighted here - on AEROSCALE.
SUMMARY
Highs: Excellent quality decals accompanied by informative instructions.Lows: None that I've noted.Verdict: Iliad's "Berlin Airlift" decals are beautifully produced and offer a very attractive to the C-47 schemes usually offered in kits.
Our Thanks to Iliad Design! This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.
About Rowan Baylis (Merlin) FROM: NO REGIONAL SELECTED, UNITED KINGDOM
I've been modelling for about 40 years, on and off. While I'm happy to build anything, my interests lie primarily in 1/48 scale aircraft. I mostly concentrate on WW2 subjects, although I'm also interested in WW1, Golden Age aviation and the early Jet Age - and have even been known to build the occas...
I'm very much interested in the Berlin history and "Luftbrücke".
(Thank's to all the allies involved in the Berlin Airlift who saved the lifes of the people and health of my hometown !!!)
As for the Fassberg-Flyer:
"The "Fassberg Flyer" was originally built for the US Army Air Force by Douglas Aircraft in 1943 and carried the USAAF serial no. 43-15208. From 1950 until 1974, the aircraft served with the Royal Norwegian Air Force with the markings TA-M and BW-M. In 1974 it returned to the USA and under the civilian registration N62102 was operated by Shawnee Airlines of Sarasota, Florida. The aircraft's US registration was cancelled in July 1977. Apparently sometime after this the aircraft entered service with the Guatemalan Air Force. In February 1993 it was converted to turboprop power as a Basler BT-67 (conversion no. 19) by Basler Turbo Conversions of Oshkosh, WI, for use as a tactical transport by the Guatemalan AF. On return to active service the aircraft crashed in Guatemala on 6 February 1994. It appears to have been written off.
Currently there is a Berlin Airlift Memorial Museum which is part of the Luftwaffe School of Engineering 3 located at the former Fassberg airbase. Since 1999 one of the featured attractions has been a C-47A in "Fassburg Flyer" colours with the USAF serial 315208 on its tail. This aircraft is actually a former Turkish Air Force C-47A, ex-USAF 43-30729, donated in 1998 to the museum by the Turkish government. It was transported to Germany courtesy of Airbus Industrie in one of its Beluga transports."
Thomas
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