what makes the decals so hard to find and why are they so exspensive is this a very rare subject or can anyone tell the reason behind this
From what I understand, it’s a result of basic economics. The decals haven’t been manufactured in years, so as time goes by fewer and fewer are available and as the demand for these few increases, so does the price. Hopefully, they will be reintroduced soon.
Mark
The battles fought in the Alutians are all but forgotten. Until recently this part of the war in the Pacific was barely mentioned in publications or documentaries. Consequently there is little interest in the men and equipment that suffered the cold, wet, foggy, weather all the time, in addition to the enemy bombardment and threat of invasion.
There were no big time aces, but the pilots had to be good to take the fight to the enemy and get back to base without getting lost in the fog, or being brought down by ice.
Anyways, the lack of popularity or notoriety makes decals for the aircraft, such as the P-40, P38, P39, B-17, B-26, B-25,and B24s, a small production number item. As such, it has to be expensive to be worth creating. rangerj
The rebirth of interest in 1/32 scale will likely result in more AM decals becoming available. But lack of consumer interest & new kits over the last couple of decades caused the supply to dry up. Those still around demand a higher price simply because they are scarce.
Regards, Rick
I had the great luck to fly over, around and yes actually land on many of the Aleutian islands in June of 1992. . .Fifty years from the time Dutch Harbor was bombed in the fient designed to make the Allies think that was the main attack instead of that little island, what was it called? Oh yea Midway.
Kiska is eerie and Attu is almost more so. We got to really explore Attu, but were restricted on Kiska.
John Huston made a documentary about the Aleutian Warriors, which is pure propaganda but has some really neat scenes (in color!)of P-38’s and B-24s up to the tops of the main wheels in water. Kodiak Island is full of bunkers and gun emplacements and “hidden” air fields. I have a piece of Marsden matting I took from Fischer Field and some old .50 and 20mm shells for a dio I am planning to make with a P38. . .some day.
Remember the muskeg gave us the first intact Zero. And the Japanese on Kiska and Attu called the bombing through the clouds by the bombers the most demoralizing they had experienced.
Don