1:144 Draw Decals. Frontier 'Stu' Rabbit A318

[Viking]

Frontier 'Stu' Rabbit A318

1:144 Draw Decal

Frontier Airlines based in Denver, Colorado currently operates a fleet of Airbus A319 and A320's on services around the USA, Mexico, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic. Aside from the big 'Frontier' billboard logo down the fuselage sides, their main distinguishing feature is the series of wildlife photographs displayed on the tail fins. Each aircraft features a different animal and has its own unique name, and they make quite interesting line ups if you ever get to see them at a US airport.

The Airbus A318 is the smallest of the Airbus family and proved to have poor operating economics compared with it's larger brothers, as it simply can't offer the same seat/mile costs. Very few are still in service, and it is said they they are worth more as scrap and spare parts. Frontier operated several A318's for a fairly short period, and as I wanted to add one to my Airbus collection I was really pleased to see that Draw Decal recently added a couple to their range.

'Sheldon' the Sea Turtle and 'Stu' the Rabbit are both now available (as well as others for A319's and Embraer 190's), and whilst a this years Telford I picked up a set for 'Stu'.

There are a couple of options for building an A318, either the Eastern Express kit (although I have not seen one, opinions vary on its buildablity), or the Revell kit of the A319 can be converted. I will convert my own kit by shortening the fuselage & raising the fin, but if you don't like doing this there is an A318 fuselage for the Revell kit available from Contrails.

Draw Decals are produced by their own 'Digital Silk' process on a sheet of constant decal film, meaning that you need to cut around each decal as you remove it from the sheet. Supplied here are the 'Frontier' billboards including cabin windows, 'Stu' the rabbit for the tail fin, static ports for the nose, 'Stars & Stripes', registration, fleet numbers, engine markings, and cockpit windows. The printing is razor sharp with perfect colour and Stu himself looks like a high quality photograph.

The instructions clearly show where everything goes, with profile views for each side, and a some written instructions about the use of Digital Silk decals. Having used several of Draw's sheets I would only point out that these written instructions are good advice and there is nothing difficult or unusual in using them. In fact they give a lovely result and the carrier film all but disappears.

I look forward to using these on my A318 conversion, and have already built one of Revell's A319s using Draw Decals set for 'Chloe' the fawn, and can vouch for the lovely result they give.

If you are not into sawing up and converting fuselages, then you can use a Revell A319 straight from the box and apply one of several Frontier options Draw offer for it. Their service from the US to here in Europe is top notch, so don't have any doubts about ordering from them, I speak from personal experience and can say they are among the best!

Highly Recommended.

Review sample courtesy of

[Skodadriver]

There are a couple of options for building an A318, either the Eastern Express kit (although I have not seen one, opinions vary on its buildablity), or the Revell kit of the A319 can be converted. I will convert my own kit by shortening the fuselage & raising the fin, but if you don't like doing this there is an A318 fuselage for the Revell kit available from Contrails.

I've tried the EE kit and consider it unbuildable.

More importantly, don't forget the Welsh Models kit which is available in British Airways, Air France and Mexicana colours