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Death of the hobby? Those Macchi ‘smoke-ring’ decals

New P-51 decals released!

Due in October, P-51 Mustangs Part 1 (MG 48044) will

include markings for ‘Lil’ Margaret’, a Chinese AF P-51D and

the most accurate decals for ‘Ding Hao!’ yet released. Screen

printed.

Previously available as an ALPS-printed sheet,

‘Air America’ (MG 48034) will be available as a screen-print-

ed release. Although labelled as a 1/48 sheet, the various

sizes of unique ‘Air America’ lettering in black and white, and

tail-flag emblems, will be suitable for a variety of models in

various scales. October release.

Owners of the venerable Esci 1/48 Fi-156 Storch kit

(surely a prime candidate for an Italeri re-release?) have been

in need of after-market decals for some time. Fieseler Fi-156

Storch (M48008) has four Storch options, including a yellow

Swiss aircraft and a captured

desert RAF scheme. Screen-

printed, due in October.

Thanks for downloading this first issue of ‘Roundel’. It amazes me thateven 10 years ago, the idea of producing a specialist magazine like this,with the potential for literally worldwide distribution and almost instan-taneous delivery, would have been unthinkable.Thanks to technology andthe internet, it’s become feasible.

I apologise if the content of this first issue seems weighted with my ownmodels. Please send in material of your own, in the form of articles andpictures, and I’ll do my best to incorporate it into future issues. (Yourmodels don’t have to be finished with Mike Grant Decals to be included).Since ‘Roundel’ is being distributed freely I can’t pay for publishedmaterial, but I’ll be giving away decals as an incentive.You can contactme at: decals@mikegrantdesign.com

GROUNDGROUND

HEREHERE

GROUND

HERE

New

relea

ses

R O U N D E L · w w w . m i k e g r a n t d e c a l s . c o m · P A G E 2 R O U N D E L · w w w . m i k e g r a n t d e c a l s . c o m · P A G E 3

Polish perfection- Peter Gilding’sstunning 1/48 PZL-11c, built from theMirage kit. Peter used a mix ofModelmaster paints to achieve anaccurate representation of theunique Polish khaki. Finished usingAeromaster decals.

Hasegawa’s 1/48 F/A-18C built byMike Grant to depict an aircraft ofVMFA-115. The model was a commissioned build and the plane’smarkings were custom made. SOLresin armament and a Black Boxcockpit were some of the after-market items used.

Gallery

R O U N D E L · w w w . m i k e g r a n t d e c a l s . c o m · P A G E 4 R O U N D E L · w w w . m i k e g r a n t d e c a l s . c o m · P A G E 5

B-17G ‘2nd Patches’

It’s been around for years, but Revell/Monogram’s 1/48B-17G is still the only game in town in this scale- and it’sstill a great kit. Numerous rumours about a new-tool B-17out of Poland, and even from Tamiya, came to nothing, solast year I began an upgrade on the old kit.

The model was completely re-scribedusing a sewing needle in a pin-vise.Verlinden’s scribing-template came inhandy for the numerous access pan-els that cover the B-17’s airframe.The excessively thick trailing edgescame in for some heavy sanding withmy Dremel.

‘2nd Patches’ had a natural metaltailfin/rudder, and an outer wingpanel on the undersurface. The photos don't show the upper wing soI took artistic liberties and decidedto do a similar NMF section on thetop side, for which I used AlcladPolished Aluminum. I'd found anexcellent double-page wartimecolour photo of two heavily weathered B-17s in a Flight Journal'B-17 Special Issue', which showed avery faded OD colour and extensiveblackening around the engines andexhaust stains; I used this as a guidefor painting my model.

The gaping holes of the kit’s chin turret were filled with Milliput, painted to represent canvas, andthen had decals applied to representthe zippers. All the plane’s machineguns were replaced with metalKaraya items.

Most of the glass was replaced withSquadron vac-form parts. Decals were produced using theALPS printer.

Although I realised little would beseen inside the closed fuselage, Inevertheless added some extradetailing using Eduard and scratch-built parts. Wood-grain is achievedwith decals.

The seats were scratchbuilt to moreaccurately resemble the originals.Instrument panel is from Eduard.

By Mike Grant

R O U N D E L · w w w . m i k e g r a n t d e c a l s . c o m · P A G E 7R O U N D E L · w w w . m i k e g r a n t d e c a l s . c o m · P A G E 6

S h ow R e p ort: 2 0 0 5 i . p. m . s. Nat i ona l s, At l a n ta g a .

In July I had the opportunity to

travel to the IPMS Nats in

Atlanta. It was the first time

I’d attended the U.S. event,

and I was overwhelmed by the

sheer quantity and quality of

the entries. These are just a

few of the hundreds of photos

I took.

Whether you love or hate the idea of camouflage decals,

Mike Grant Decals smoke-rings (MG 48043, MG 72043)

have nevertheless proved to be very popular with

modellers of Italian WW2 aircraft. Although one internet

luminary announced the decals’ release as being ‘the

day the hobby died’, many other modellers have wel-

comed them as an alternative to a very daunting paint-

job (although they will require decalling skills!). They

have been especially welcomed by 1/72 modellers and

those who don’t use an airbrush.

I researched the shapes of the Macchi 202/205

‘squiggles’ using many WW2 photos, and the decals

retain the soft-edges of the actual camouflage. There

are enough rings on a sheet to complete one model

with plenty of spares.

Close attention to

Macchi references is advised

to ensure accurate spacing

and sizing, as these varied

from aircraft to aircraft.

The Hasegawa kit is

excellent and goes together

superbly. I used Polly-Scale Italian AF colours through-

out. The example I built below was finished in a week,

some kind of record for me!

Suggested references:-

ALI E COLORI 4: Macchi C.202

ALI E COLORI 5: Macchi C.202-205

AVIOLIBRI Pt. 1a and Pt. 2a: Macchi Mc 202 Folgore

REGIA AERONAUTICA CACCIA & ASSALTO Parte I & II: Fighter and

Ground Attack units

Macchi Smoke-rings

Although Hasegawa supply a decaloption for a smoke-ringed aircraft Idiscarded them in favour of anotherscheme, that of 356a Squadriglia, 21˚Gruppo Atonomo CT. I made all themarkings, including national insignia,on my ALPS printer.

All content © Mike Grant. No portion of this document (including but not limited to text, photographs and illustrations) may be used, copied or reproduced in any form without theexpress written permission of the publisher. Where published material has been submitted by a contributor, copyright remains with the contributor and their permission must also beobtained before use, copying or reproduction of that material.