Authentic Decals 1/72 Tu-22M2/M3 Backfire Decal First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

Authentic Decals is a nicely produced line from Olimp Models from Odessa, Ukraine. These markings are primarily oriented around contemporary Soviet-era and current Russian/Ukrainian subjects.

Ignore the title on the title image. While it says this set is for the Tu-22 Blinder and Tu-22M Backfire, this set is really for the two operational Backfire variants - the Trumpeter 1/72 Tu-22M3 Backfire C or Tu-22M2 Backfire B kits. These will also be fine on the earlier ESCI/ERTL kits if you still have one of those around.

This set provides markings for nine distinctive examples:

• Tu-22M3, Bort 58, Kamenniy Ruchey AB, Russian AF, 2007, Vasiliy Truskin
• Tu-22M3, Bort 07, Olenegorsk AB, Russian AF, 2008, Vasiliy Kapitanov
• Tu-22M3, Bort 57, Kamenniy Ruchey AB, Russian AF, 2008, Fedor Radus
• Tu-22M3, Bort 53, Olenegorsk AB, Russian AF, 2006, Olenegorskiy Gornyak
• Tu-22M3, Bort 80, Poltava AB, Ukrainian AF, 1998, Aleksandr Molodchiy
• Tu-22M3, Bort 20, Olenegorsk AB, Russian AF, 2006, Petr Bochin
• Tu-22M3, Bort 50, Poltava AB, Soviet AF, 1988
• Tu-22M2, Bort 48, Dyagilevo AB, Russian AF, 1996
• Tu-22M3, Bort 02, Kamenniy Ruchey AB, Russian AF, 1999

The printing is is nicely done and the markings are finely printed and in register. The set also includes an extensive set of maintenance stencils, so your Backfire will pop with lots of visual detail when completed. If you're looking at the profiles below and are looking for the sharkmouths, the third and last airframes have the sharkmouths on the intakes rather than on the nose.

For more information about this set and the other releases from Authentic Decals, visit their website at http://www.olimpmodelsgroup.com.

My sincere thanks to North American Hobbies for this review sample!