The Wildcat is a perennial modellers' favourite and has been given well-deserved time in the limelight by the release of the superb Arma Hobby 1:72 kits. This new Euro Decals set will be ideal to accompany them, as well as to replace the decals in older kits.

Designed and printed by Ray Horwell at Fantasy Printshop, the schemes offered and the layout of the decals on the sheet is identical to the original 1:48 set, and the flawless registration is the more impressive in 1:72. Nevertheless, to ensure perfect alignment, Ray has printed the dull red centres for Royal Navy as separate items.

Set #ED-72138 contains markings for a total of 9 aircraft in a nice mix of colour schemes (6 x FM-2s and 3 x Wildcat Mk.VIs), and it includes a couple of genuine surprises to catch the eye of any Wildcat enthusiast.  The decals are accompanied by full-colour 4-view drawings with colour matches for original paint names/codes and Humbrol, Xtracolour, Xtracrylix, Mr. Color Aqueous, MRP and Vallejo Model Air model paints.

1. General Motors FM-2 Wildcat, '7', Composite Squadron 4 (VC-4), USS White Plains, 1944

2. General Motors FM-2 Wildcat, '22', Composite Squadron 93 (VC-93), USS Petrof Bay, April 1945

3. General Motors Wildcat Mk. VI, s/n JV699 'F', HMS Trumpeter, December 1944

4. General Motors FM-2 Wildcat, '20', Composite Squadron 36 (VC-36), USS Core, April 1944

5. General Motors Wildcat Mk. VI, s/n JV140 'B-IS', 882 Naval Air Squadron, HMS Searcher, 1945

6. General Motors FM-2 Wildcat, 'G50', unknown training unit, USA, 1944

7. General Motors FM-2 Wildcat, 'A16', Composite Squadron 78 (VC-78), USS Matanikau, November 1944

8. General Motors Wildcat Mk. VI, s/n JV851 'J3-V', 794 Naval Air Squadron, RNAS Eglington, November 1944

9. General Motors FM-2 Wildcat, '3', Naval Aviation Modification Unit, Johnsville, Pennsylvania, 1944

Conclusion

Just as with its larger scale stablemate, this is an excellent release from Euro Decals. The beauty of 1:72 means you could quite conceivably build all the schemes for a compact shelf-full of eye-catching Wildcats, but of course the sheet also lends itself perfectly to club/group builds.

Item #ED-72138 is available now from Fantasy Printshop - Price: £8.95

Many thanks to Fantasy Printshop for the review sample.

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