This new decal
sheet from Zotz
Decals includes markings for 6
different AC-47D Spooky Gunships in Vietnam and Central America, some with nose
art.
The first
aircraft is a AC-47D "Casper"
Serial #43-49211 stationed at Danang AB, RNV with the 4th SOS in 1969.
Reference photos of the tail are unavailable, so the code letters could be
"EL" or "EN"....both are included. The
paint scheme for this aircraft is a 3 color Green/Brown/Green camo on the
topside with black on the underside. On the nose is noseart of the cartoon
character "Casper" the friendly ghost with angry eyes holding a red
lightning bolt.
The
second aircraft is
a AC-47D "Puff
the Magic Dragon" Serial
#43-48579, one of the original FC-47D operatedby the 1st ACS. Armed with 3
x 7.62mm Miniguns, 2 on modified rear window openings with a third in the open
cargo door. The
paint scheme for this aircraft is white on top with Gull Gray/Natural
Metal/Silver Dope on the sides and underside of the aircraft. On the nose
is noseart of the character "Puff the
Magic Dragon" made
famous in the childrens song called "Puff
the Magic Dragon".
The noseart features a green dragon breathing fire with the word
"PUFF" above in red lettering.
The
third aircraft is
a AC-47D "GIT-EM
BULLET" Serial #43-48491
stationed at Bien Hoa AB in 1965. This aircraft was armed with ten 0.3
machine guns. The
paint scheme for this aircraft is overall Gull Gray. On the nose is
noseart of the cartoon artwork of a hunter with a hunting rifle and the text "GIT-EM
BULLET".
Click on
images below to see larger images
The fourth
aircraft is a AC-47D "Spooky 71", Serial
#43-49770, Medal of Honor Mission on Feb 24
1969 with the 3rd SOS out of Bien Hoa AB flying over Long Binh Army Post. The
paint scheme for this aircraft is a 3 color Green/Brown/Green camo with black on
the underside. On the nose is noseart of the cartoon character
"SPOOKY", a ghost character with red eyes and holding a red
lightning bolt.
The
fifth aircraft is
a AC-47D "OS"
Spooky Serial #43-49010
stationed at Udorn AB, 432nd TRW, Flying base defense, Lima Site support and
Trial Interdiction missions. This Spooky has a scoreboard
painted on the side of 100 troops KIA, five AAA guns destroyed and 3 trucks
destroyed. The
paint scheme for this aircraft is a 3 color Green/Brown/Green with black on the
underside. On the nose is noseart of the cartoon character
"SPOOKY", a ghost character with red eyes and holding a red
lightning bolt.
The
sixth aircraft is
a AC-47D "FAES"
(Fuerza Aerea Ejercito El Salvador), used by El Salvador during 100 hours Honduran
War. These AC-47's proved to be the most effective aircraft in service
with the FAES and later FAS, providing heavy fire support by day and
night. The
paint scheme for this aircraft is overall faded Light Compass Gray.
The instructions are clear and
include multiple views of each aircraft as well as painting instruction s and
help with other details such as extra antennas etc. The decals are beautifully printed on
2 decal sheets and include national insignia and stencils.
Zotz
Decals is famous
for providing a variety of markings for a unique selection of aircraft past and
present often with noseart or historical significance and this decal sheet if no
exception. This sheet follows that Zotz
tradition.
Steve
I would like to
thank Zotz
Decals for
providing me with this review sample.
|