Accessory, Bison Decals BD-72014, Iwo Jima

BISON DECALS


BD-72014, Iwo Jima. 1/72nd-scale water-slide decals with instructions.





During the epic struggle for possession of Iwo Jima in February 1945, the US Marine Corps deployed no less than half of its available tank battalions, the 3rd, 4th and 5th Tank Battalions. Each M4A3-equipped unit fitted their tanks with various improvised armor arrays, while they also applied multi-colored camouflage schemes. The 3rd, which still fielded M4A2s, did not carry out these modifications and did not camouflage-paint their tanks.





What all of this adds up to is this: variety. Therefore, Bison provides complete markings for the following 15 vehicles (plus one variation):


M4A3 Flame Tank, 44 Crispy, C Co., 4th Tank Battalion.
M4A3 Flame Tank, 38 Comet, C Co., 4th Tank Battalion.
M4A3 Flame Tank, 40 Coed, C Co., 4th Tank Battalion.
M4A3, 17 Beelzebub, B Co., 4th Tank Battalion.
M4A3, 6 Applejack, A Co., 4th Tank Battalion.
M4A3, 50 Cleo, C Co., 4th Tank Battalion.
M4A3, King Cobra, 5th Tank Battalion.
M4A3, Hobo, 5th Tank Battalion.
M4A3, Davy Jones, 5th Tank Battalion.
M4A3, 41-diamond, 5th Tank Battalion.
M4A2 (Mid), 8 Apache, A Co., 3rd Tank Battalion.
M4A2 (Mid), 66, 3rd Tank Battalion.
M4A2 (Mid), 96 Demagog, 3rd Tank Battalion.
M4A2 (Mid), 14 Adder, A Co., 3rd Tank Battalion.
M4A2 (Mid), 7 Ann, A Co., 3rd Tank Battalion.
M32B2 TRV (based on an M4A2 Mid hull), Almighty, 3rd Tank Battalion.





As if that were not enough, Bison provides generic Tac numbers and letters for the Amtrac types used in the battle, as well as several small designs that can be used to make Danger, Mine and Cleared Lane signs for a diorama.


The instructions are nicely laid out as half-tone drawings; they often feature more than one full view, as well as some scrap views. Features seen on specific tanks are depicted and sub-types are properly designated; differences in track types as well as the variations seen in deep wading equipment are also shown. Camouflage patterns are shown, and references are listed. The modeler is also directed to Bisons web-site, where full-color instructions can be down-loaded and printed, as needed. Finally, a map is included that shows the designs as they appear on the sheet, with their superimposed alpha-numeric identifiers. These correspond to the call-outs for each tank in the instructions. This is quite handy and takes much of the guess-work out of the process.





The designs are printed by Begemot, Bisons usual supplier. The quality is excellent, with good color saturation, proper registration and crisply-detailed edges. The carrier film is matte and cut close to the edges of the designs.


Highly recommended.


Frank V. De Sisto


Bison products are available at retail and mail order shops. For more information, visit: www.angelfire.com/pro/bison.


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