I don’t know about you, but I
enjoy building unique subjects. I don’t mean obscure aircraft, I love the F-4 Phantom
II and the Su-27 Flanker (amongst others). I just want my aircraft to look different. That
is why I look to the aftermarket decal makers for help. I was recently sent the following
decals from Aztec Modeling Techs & Detail. They are a group out of Mexico that
specializes in Latin American aircraft markings. After looking over these samples, I only
have one word of warning – look out Aeromaster!
The first set (48-001) has markings for 80 (that is not a typo – eighty!)
different T-33A and AT-33A Shooting Star aircraft from the Mexican Air Force (Fuerza Aerea
Mexincana), the pre-Castro Cuban Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ejercito de Cuba), and the United
States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE). The enclosed booklet has beautiful diagrams that not
only lay out decal placement, but also identify antenna placements and other details that
are unique to each group of aircraft. The booklet also has tables that identify markings,
colors and other information for the multitude of squadron decals provided on this sheet.
The booklet has text in Spanish and English.
This decal set also includes a second sheet with T-33 data stencils.
As you can see in the above photos, this is one of the most densely printed decal sheets
that I can recall! The registry is spot on, and the white backgrounds on the sharkmouths and national markings appear to be opaque enough to handle any
color background they’re placed on. This is truly an amazing piece of work!
The second set (48-002) has markings for 24 T-33A and AT-33A
Shooting Star aircraft from the Mexican Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Mexincana), Bolivian Air
Force (Fuerza Aerea Boliviana), Brazilian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Brasileira) and USAF
T-Birds stationed in Libya. Like the first set above, the enclosed booklet also includes a
wealth of information to mark that unique aircraft. Instructions are in Spanish and
English.
As with the first decal set, this set also includes a T-33 data
stencil sheet. Again, the registry is perfect and the subject matter quite impressive. I
believe I am going to find a dozen or so Hobbycraft T-33 kits and build some of these
beautiful aircraft!
The third set (48-003A) has markings for four McDonnell Douglas
MD-530 helicopters of the Mexican Air Force and Mexican Navy. (You’ll recall that the MD-530 is the outgrowth of the Hughes
500/OH-6A Cayuse). The six-page guide enclosed has nice marking guides, an operational
history of the MD-530 in Mexican service and close-up photos of the subject aircraft.
Unlike the two offerings above, this guide is printed in Spanish only. What are really
interesting about this sheet are the stencils to represent the sliding windows inset in
the aircraft doors on certain aircraft.
These decals, especially the T-33 sets, rival the best sets
I’ve ever seen out of Aeromaster, Superscale, Repliscale, or anyone else for that
matter! This is a very impressive start from this company and I am looking forward to
their future offerings! Perhaps a series on Latin American F-5s in 1/48? Please?