Scale 1/72
Manufacturer Print Scale
Decal Sheet ID 72-223
Decal Sheet Title F-117 Nighthawk
Types Featured F-117A

DISCLAIMER: USAF SIG does not vouch for the accuracy or otherwise of any item - we review what we see so that you, the modeller, can make up your own mind! However, where we are aware of errors or omissions, we will note this in our review.

Print Scale sheet 72-223 provides markings for 17 different F-117s during Desert Storm in 1991. The airframes are:

  • 81-10796 (see note below) 'Fatal Attraction' from the 415th TFS, flown by Captain Dan DeCamp and marked with 29 missions;
  • 81-10798 (see note below) 'Aces and Eights' from the 415th TFS and assigned to Major Joe Bowley and marked with 34 missions. The artwork is incorrect as "ACES AND EIGHTS" is depicted as red but should be black;
  • 82-0803 'Unexpected Guest' from the 416th TFS assigned to Captain Scott Stimpert with 33 missions depicted. The artwork is not quite correct as the bomb should be green but is depicted as blue;
  • 84-0812 'Axel' frpm the 415th TFS and assigned to Captain Brian Foley, marked with 42 missions;
  • 85-0813 (incorrectly identified as 84-0813) 'The Toxic Avenger' from the 416th TFS, marked with 35 missions and assigned to Colonel Al Whitley;
  • 85-0814 (incorrectly identified as 84-0814) 'Final Verdict' from the 416th TFS, assigned to Captain Kenneth Huff and marked for 34 missions;
  • 85-0816 (incorrectly identified as 84-0816) 'Lone Wolf' from the 415th TFS, assigned to Captain Greg Feest and marked with 39 missions;
  • 85-0818 (incorrectly identified as 84-0818) 'The Overachiever' from the 415th TFS, marked for 38 missions and assigned to Lieutenant Colonel Barry Horne;
  • 85-0821 'Sneak Attack' from the 415th TFS, assigned to Major Wesley Wyrick and marked for 32 missions;
  • 85-0830 'Black Assassin' from the 416th TFS, assigned to Major Bob Eskridge and marked with 31 missions. The artwork is wrong as the sun is depicted as orange but should be yellow;
  • 85-0834 'Necromancer' from the 416th TFS, marked with 34 missions and assigned to Maj Jammer Moore;
  • 86-0825 (incorrectly identified as 85-0825) 'Mad Max' from the 415th TFS, assigned to Squadron Leader Graham Wardell and marked with 33 missions. The artwork is shown as medium blue but should be dark blue;
  • 86-0826 (incorrectly identified as 85-0826) 'Nachtfalke' from the 415th TFS, marked with 29 missions and assigned to Captain Rob Donaldson;
  • 86-0837 (incorrectly identified as 85-0837) 'Habu II' from the 416th TFS, assigned to Captain Matthew Byrd and marked for 31 missions. The artwork is incorrect as the snake should be brown and yellow but the artwork provided is blue;
  • 86-0839 'Midnight Reaper' from the 415th TFS with 32 missions flown and assigned to Major Joe Salata. The artwork is shown as medium blue but should be dark blue;
  • 88-0841 'Mystic Warrior' from the 416th TFS with 18 missions and assigned to Major Rod Shrader;
  • 88-0842 'It's Hammertime' from the 416th TFS, assigned to Captain Richard Cline and with 33 missions flown.

Note: The batch of F-117s from 81-10792 to -10798 were originally serialled as 81-0792 to -0798 until it was realised that this conflicted with a batch of F-16s.

Print Scale have made a basic, and fundamental, error with this sheet, rendering the majority of it unusable. F-117s markings were predominantly light grey, but Print Scale have depicted them as white. As a result, this sheet cannot be used for any markings other than the artwork applied to the weapons bay doors of each aircraft.

The instructions comprise a side view of each aircraft and an additional view of the artwork, plus a three view showing stencilling. The instructions incorrectly call out the 415th and 416th TFS as the 415th and 416th TFW.

The decals themselves are in good register and are extremely thin. Stencilling is provided for two aircraft but again is white when it should be grey.

Overall, this sheet is extremely disappointing, given that there are extensive references available both online and in book format.

Review and images by Chris St Clair