Starfighter Decals 1/72 USN at Midway 3-7 June 1942
By Matt Bittner
Starfighter Decals has released another in their "multiple aircraft" series, this time covering the United States Navy and Midway, 3 - 7 June 1942. The following aircraft are covered:
- SBD-3 Bu.No. 4687, Lt. R. Best/ACRM J. Murry, VB-6, Bomb hit Akagi
- SBD-3 Bu. No. 4618, CDR Wade McClusky, CAG Air Ground Six
- SBD-3 Bu. No. 4659, ENS L. Larson/AMR3c Gardner, VS-5
- SBD-3 Bu. No. 4665, VS-8
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The recommended kit for the SBD-3 is Hasegawa, and all aircraft are finished in USN Blue Gray on top and Lt. Gray 602 on the bottom
- TBD-1, Bu. No. 0279, ENS. Morris/ARM2c Butler, VT-6, June 1942
- TBD-1, Bu. No. 1506, LCDR J. Waldron/ACRM Dobbs, VT-8, 4 June 1942
- TBD-1, Bu. No. 0298 LCDR E. Lindsey/ACRM Grenat, VT-6, June 1942
- TBD-1, Bu. No, 0285, LCDR L. Massey/ACRM I. Perry, VT-3, 4 June 1942
The TBD-1 recommended kit is Airfix, and all aircraft are finished in USN Blue Gray on top and Lt. Gray 602 on the bottom
- PBY-5A, Bu. No. 04982, ENS. Jack Reid pilot, VP-44, 3 June 1942
Recommended kit for the PBY-5A is Minicraft and it is finished in USN Blue Gray and Lt. Gray
- F4F-4, Bu. No. 5174, Rad. Elec. Edward Bayers, VT-6, Shot down a Kate and a Zero, 4 June 1942
- F4F-4, Bu. No. 5174, LCDR Jimmy Thatch, CO VF-3, USS Yorktown, 4 June 1942
- F4F-4, Bu. No. 5149, LT(jg) Art Brassfield, VF-3, Shot down four Vals, 4 June 1942
- F4F-4, Bu. No. 5089, ENS. Steven Groves, VF-8, Shot down Val, KIA, 4 June 1942
Unusually the instructions don't mention a recommended Wildcat kit, but I would be surprised if it was anything other than Hasegawa. As with the other aircraft, all Wildcats are USN Blue Gray over Lt. Gray.
- SOC-1, Bu. No. 9891, LT(jg) Wilhelm/ARM1c Dyer, VCS-5, CA-33, 7 June 1942
Again, no SOC-1 kit mentioned but again, I would be surprised if it wasn't Hasegawa. And once again, this is finished in USN Blue Gray over Lt. Gray.
A quote directly from the instructions: "One set of Insignia and prop markings are provided for each aircraft type. Some of the markings provided are 'Best Guess' as no photos exits [sic] of the exact aircraft, but may exist of other aircraft from the squadron. The decals are designed to fit the kit that is recommended. They may or may not fit other kits."
The instructions are comprehensive and the decals are excellent, being they were printed by Cartograf. If you're looking for Midway markings for your 1/72 US Navy aircraft, then look no further than Starfighter Decals.
A definite "thank you" to Starfighter Decals for allowing us to review this excellent set of decals.