Rocketeer Decals 1/32 Me 163B "Komet"
By Matt Bittner
Rocketeer Decals out of Japan has an excellent decal sheet if you're looking for variety for a 1/32 Me 163. There are 17 different aircraft covered on this release:
- C1+11, BV7, EKdo16, Bad Zwischenahm, 1944
- GH+1N, BV35, EKdo16, Bad Zwischenahm, 1944
- VD+EW, BV14, EKdo16, Bad Zwischenahm, 1944
- PK+QP, BV7, EKdo16, Bad Zwischenahm, 1944
- VA+SP, BV16, EKdo16, Bad Zwischenahm, 1944
- PK+QL, BV41, EKdo16, Bad Zwischenahm, 1944
- PK+QL, BV41, EKdo16, Bad Zwischenahm, 1944 (overall red)
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"Yellow 1", BV52, Lt. Reinhard Opitz, Husum, 7/JB400, 1945 - "Yellow 2", Husum, 7/JB400, 1945
- "White 05", (=PK+QP), BV45, transferred with EDko16 to Brandis, later used to test "Jagerfaust"
- "White 06", (=PK+QR), BV47, EKdo16, 1944
- "Yellow 11", 7/JG400, Nordholtz, 1945
- "White 9", BV53, Uffs. Kurt Schiebeler, 1/JG400, Brandis, 1944
- "White 10", Lt. Hans-Ludwig Loscher, 1/JG400, Brandis, 1945
- "White 14", Ofw. Wilhelm Josef, "Jupp" Muhlstoroh, 1/JG400, Brandis, 1944
- "White 15", 14/JG400, Brandis, 1944
- "Yellow 15", II/JG400
- "Avions Lestrade", F-WLEG, civil-registered in France (overall white and red)
The instructions are top-notch. The first page has profiles showing the common schemes throughout the release. There are four basic camouflage schemes: overall RLM 63, a splinter scheme of RLM 82 and RLM 81 on the entire upper surface over RLM 76 undersurfaces; RLM 82/RLM 81 on the wings with "different" camo on the fuselage; and RLM 74 and RLM 75 (again over RLM 76 on the bottom) on the wings with "different" camo on the fuselage (based on whichever scheme is chosen). From there each aircraft is given its own section and profiles.
There are also separate profiles showing the placement of the common markings and stencils. As I mentioned, the instructions are top-notch.
The decals are really well printed and appear to be in register.
If you're looking for newer decals for your 1/32 Me 163 build, then by all means pick up this release. You'll be glad you did.
Many thanks to Rocketeer Decals for supplying the review decal set.