DRAW Decal Set 20/44-MD11-2 World Airways “Retro” MD-11

Reviewed by Mike Egan

Earlier this year, World Airways repainted one of their MD-11 aircraft (former Delta Air Lines N803DE) in vintage 1970s colors to commemorate the 30th anniversary of “Operation Babylift”, the 1975 U.S. Government airlift of more than 3,000 Vietnamese orphans at the end of the Vietnam War. In June 2005, the aircraft flew 21 of the original Vietnamese evacuees (now adults) and other assorted dignitaries to Ho Chi Minh City for a ceremonial “homecoming.”

DRAW Decal has added this attractive scheme to its ever-increasing line of decal subjects. The decal is intended for either the 1/144 Welsh Models kit or 1/200 Hasegawa kit, with Pratt & Whitney engines. The instruction sheet contains a full color left side profile of the aircraft. Paint colors are gloss white, bare metal, and Douglas gray for the wings. All markings and windows (with bare metal outlines) are included on the decal sheet. To make life easy on the modeler, the windows and red door outlines are laid out on the decal sheet so as to be used as one complete piece, ensuring proper window and door spacing. This is the perfect time to point out one of the most important considerations when working with these ALPS-type decals. These decals are printed on one continuous layer of clear carrier film, and thus, each decal element MUST be cut individually from the sheet prior to soaking in water. Also, these decals are thinner than most silkscreen printed decals, and therefore, care must be exercised when working with them. The print quality of these decals is outstanding. Color saturation of the red fuselage stripes is excellent, and all logos and details are very sharp. The only hiccup to be seen is a misprinting of the shape of the white outline portion of the forward entry doors, which fall on the downward-curving portion of the red stripe. DRAW Decal has corrected this error on all production sheets subsequent to my sample. If you have an earlier sheet with the error, please contact DRAW Decal for an immediate and FREE correction.

I highly recommend this decal for anyone interested in modeling this unique World tri-jet. Review sample courtesy of DRAW Decal. Be sure to visit the DRAW Decal website (www.drawdecal.com) to see the entire line of outstanding decals.