Linden Hill Decals

1/72 Tu-95MS Heraldic Bears decal sheet

Product # LHDS7201 for US$11.99

Product Article by Steve Bamford on Feb 11 2004

 

 

 

This new decal sheet from Linden Hill Decals is the first in a new series of Linden Hill Markings Special Editions. This series will concentrate on special nose and tail art. It will also offer corrected versions of markings offered as kit decals.

First release is "Heraldic Bears", a sheet offering options for two Russian ('City of Ryazan' and 'City of Saratov') and one Ukrainian Tu-95MS (correcting the Trumpeter decals). The sheet also features a bonus decal option for a Ukrainian Tu-160.

The first aircraft on this decal sheet is 'Red 10' Tu-95MS of 182nd Heavy Bomber Regiment (TBAP) out of Engels AB.  'Red 10' featured bare-metal prop spinners, a light blue vertical stabiliser leading edge, grey areas above the nose randome, white wing tips and overpainted main landing gear wheel hubs.  the nose wheel nubs are the usual green.  Fuselage artwork is a blue shield with a 3 bladed propeller in the centre.     

The second aircraft on this decal sheet is 'Red 8' is a Tu-95MS of 182nd Guards Heavy Bomber Regiment, Ukrainian Air Force, Uzin AB, South of Kiev in 1996.  'Red 8' was built in 1990 and was eventually transferred to the Russian air force in payment of a debt. Slightly faded red stars are supplied on this decal sheet to simulate the faded red starts on the full sized aircraft.  Artwork is a shield with a trident in the centre.  Two types of Tridents are provided as this plane wore both types at different times in it's career.  Also faded Tridents are provided to better simulate real life weathering conditions. 

The third aircraft on this decal sheet is 'Red 20' Tu-95MS of 43nd Combat and Conversion Training Center (TsBPiPLS), Dyagilevo AB.  'Red 20' featured black prop spinners with blue tips.

The fourth aircraft on this decal sheet is a bonus option....a Tu-160 'Red 18' with the Ukrainian Air Force.

The decals were beautifully printed and the clear carrier film is trimmed very close to the crisply printed colored areas.  The colours look good and will cover very well.  the more complicated decals come in more than one layer to ensure perfect registration.

The instructions are in black and white and provide extra info and general background about the aircraft types featured on this decal sheet.  Study the instructions carefully to make sure you get the decals correctly installed.

A very nice decal sheet and highly recommended for all the fans of Russian and Ukrainian heavy bombers.

I would like to thank Linden Hill Decals for providing me with this review sample.

Steve

Click on images below to see larger images of the instruction sheets

Photos and text © by Steve Bamford