Starfighter Decals 1/72 1st Pursuit Group USAAC Part 1 1922-1936
By Matt Bittner
Starfighter Decals continue their reign in between-the-war decal subjects ('tweeners) by releasing this set of decals for the 1st Pursuit Group from the time frame 1922-1936. It includes a lot of wonderful USAAC goodies meant for kits that one can still track down if you look. The subjects covered are:
- Curtiss P-1A, 17th Pursuit Squadron (PS), 1924
- Curtiss P-1B, AC 27-66, 94th PS on skis
- Curtiss P-1C, AC 27-84, 27th PS
- Curtiss P-6E, AC 31-241, 94th PS (red nose)
- Curtiss P-6E, AC 31-2?, 94th PS (Blue 23 fuselage and red cowl)
- Curtiss P-6E, AC 31-264, 17th PS (the famous Owls)
- Boeing P-12E, AC 32-47, 27th PS, 1933
- Boeing YP-12K, AC 32-36?, retrofitted as a P-12E
- Boeing P-12E, AC 32-44?, 27th PS, 1935 (lots of orange)
- Boeing P-12E, AC 32-37?, 27th PS, 1935 (lots of orange)
- Spad 13 C.1 (Late), AC 22-?, 17th PS, 1922-1923
- Boeing P-12C, AC 31-168, 17th PS
- Boeing P-12D, AC 31-260, 17th PS (red cowl and wheels)
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Starfighter Decals includes detailed model notes on the instruction sheets. For example, most know about the Monogram P-6E that still can be found on the secondary market, but might not know about the Olimp P-6E that was a little better detailed than the Monogram. The instructions also note the Matchbox P-12E, and the Pro Resin Curtiss P-1B and their Boeing P-12B/C/D, but leave off that LF Models released a Curtiss P-1C. They also mention the Rarebits vac conversion fuselages for the P-1s and early P-12s but you'll need the rest of the Monogram/Matchbox kits to finish those.
There is a printing problem with the 27th PS emblem for the P-1C and Starfighter Decals is aware of that. They will replace those decals when the decal manufacturer corrects them in the near future.
It's great that Starfighter Decals are still releasing 'tweener decals to help those of us that have a lot of these kits in our stash.