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First Responders – Pentagon 9-11 2001 (PV-002-48) UH-1H/V Iroquois “Huey” Helicopters 1:48 Paulus Victor Decals Only those too young to be aware first-hand of the horror of 9-11 won’t remember where they were on that day in 2001, and even 20 years later many of us are still incredulous that such a terrible thing could have happened. Very soon after the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre were hit, another aircraft ploughed into the outer ring of buildings of the nearby Pentagon, while another aircraft that had also been hijacked was brought down away from any built-up areas, sadly killing all those brave and innocent souls on board. DC’s National Guard Hueys were based at the nearby Davison airbase, and were heavily involved in rescue, command-and-control, and VIP transport duties that day and for the duration of the aftermath, sometimes working round the clock, swapping out pilots as they became too tired to fly safely. The Decals Paulus Victor are a new company to us, and have a unique aspect to their products that include a slew of background information and technical assistance to the modeller that often hasn’t been available before. They provide stories, not just decals in isolation. Their packaging is also unique, with a high-quality feel to everything, and attention to detail evident in every aspect of the set. They arrive in a thick Ziploc bag, with an envelope inside, printed in colour on both sides, with flaps folded-in to prevent excessive movement of the internals. On opening the envelope (which isn’t glued closed), you’ll find a small lined area for your own notes, plus details of the variations between airframes, a list of sources for additional information about the event, and a small box with special thanks to people that assisted with the creation of the set. Within the envelope is a set of folded instructions that are larger than A3 when unfolded, with the four subjects printed on two sides of A4 plus the fold-out half-sheet. The rest of the sheet is taken up with discussion of the olive drab-like colour that the aircraft are usually painted, which is called CARC – Chemical Agent Resistant Coating. It’s a coating that fades out at various rates depending on circumstances, and that is further evidenced by the photos accompanying the instructions. Two of the aircraft are what’s known as “White Top” Hueys, which are pristine, shiny and clean in contrast to the general issue, using a white painted roof to keep the cab cool, and with it the VIP passengers they often carry, which also generally includes upgrades to seating and sound insulation, as basic Hueys are not normally quiet workplaces. Additional information on the general variations between and amongst the two types are given, allowing you to make your model more accurate with the addition of a little research. Each of the examples that you are provided with decals for has a number of arrows picking out various unique aspects of that particular airframe, which is also quite educational on the type, and modern helicopters in general. All the paint colours are shown as circular swatches with the name and FS number next to it, together with a warning to avoid brands that have a yellowish tint to their white, as it is inappropriate for the white tops. Some advice on weathering or lack of weathering for the shiny VIP transports is provided for you to take or ignore at your whim, or by virtue of your own references of course. At the bottom of each decal option, a video link or two are provided, with time stamp details given to fast-forward you through the non-essential parts if you’re in a hurry. Weren’t there some decals in there somewhere? The decals themselves are printed on two square sheets of blue decal paper at a very high resolution that renders all of the stencils legible, providing you have good enough eyesight. They have good registration, sharpness and colour density, especially the white, which is especially evident on the red cross decals. Individual decals are even included for the fuel filler cap, with separate central and outer markers supplied to be applied one after another for maximum detail and minimal carrier film. On one of the envelope flaps, you are advised that there are bonus decals on the sheets that will permit the modeller to build alternative options based upon your own research, with the promise of more subjects on the way from Paulus Victor in due course if these do well. There is even a little information about detail upgrades and adaptations that are available commercially, and where to get them from. Obviously, links in a printed form are not the ideal format, but they’re by no means the longest URLs ever, and are well worth a look. Perhaps these could be added to the site at some point to help users with poor typing skills get there. Just in case you’re new to waterslide decals or would like to refresh your memory, there are a set of general decal handling and application instructions printed on the rear of the envelope, guiding you through the preparation of the surface, the decals and the application of setting solutions, plus how to seal them for posterity. Conclusion Decals sheets usually come with brief instructions, and some can be quite taciturn on the subject matter in hand, so this new outlook from Paulus Victor is a breath of fresh air, giving you plenty to read, plenty to help you make a more accurate model, and plenty of advice on how to make your painting and decaling process better and more realistic. There are lots more close-up pictures of the instructions etc. on their website, so if you're curious, click the "available here" link below. Very Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of