Review of FCM 1/48TH Scale
EMB-312 Tucano Decal Set.
No. 48055
By Ray Mehlberger
Available at Sprue Bros for probably $18.49 marked down from $21.50 once its in stock.
By Ray Mehlberger
Available at Sprue Bros for probably $18.49 marked down from $21.50 once its in stock.
HISTORY:
The Embraer EMB 312 Tucano (pronunciation) is a low-wing, tandem-seat, single-turboprop, basic trainer with counter-insurgency capability developed in Brazil. The Brazilian Air Force sponsored the EMB-312 project at the end of 1978. Design and development work began in 1979 on a low-cost, relatively simple new basic trainer with innovative features which eventually became the international standard for basic training aircraft.
The prototype first flew in 1980, and initial production units were delivered in 1983. Production was initially supported by a local order for 118 aircraft, with options for an additional 50 units in October 1980. It was later matched by an Egyptian licence-produced purchase in 1993 and subsequently by an improved variant known as the Short Tucano, which was licence-produced in the United Kingdom.
The Tucano made inroads into the military trainer arena and became one of Embraer's first international marketing successes. A total of 664 units were produced (504 by Embraer and 160 by Short Brothers), flying in 16 air forces over five continents.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Trainer aircraft, with small light attack capabilities
National origin: Brazil
Manufacturer: Embraer
First flight:16 August 1980
Introduction to service: September 1983
Status: Active
Primary users: Brazilian Air Force, Egyptian Air Force, Argentine Air Force
Produced: 1980–1996
Number built: 624
Unit cost: T-27: U.S. $900,000 (1981)
Variants: Short Tucano
Developed into: Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano
The Embraer EMB 312 Tucano (pronunciation) is a low-wing, tandem-seat, single-turboprop, basic trainer with counter-insurgency capability developed in Brazil. The Brazilian Air Force sponsored the EMB-312 project at the end of 1978. Design and development work began in 1979 on a low-cost, relatively simple new basic trainer with innovative features which eventually became the international standard for basic training aircraft.
The prototype first flew in 1980, and initial production units were delivered in 1983. Production was initially supported by a local order for 118 aircraft, with options for an additional 50 units in October 1980. It was later matched by an Egyptian licence-produced purchase in 1993 and subsequently by an improved variant known as the Short Tucano, which was licence-produced in the United Kingdom.
The Tucano made inroads into the military trainer arena and became one of Embraer's first international marketing successes. A total of 664 units were produced (504 by Embraer and 160 by Short Brothers), flying in 16 air forces over five continents.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Trainer aircraft, with small light attack capabilities
National origin: Brazil
Manufacturer: Embraer
First flight:16 August 1980
Introduction to service: September 1983
Status: Active
Primary users: Brazilian Air Force, Egyptian Air Force, Argentine Air Force
Produced: 1980–1996
Number built: 624
Unit cost: T-27: U.S. $900,000 (1981)
Variants: Short Tucano
Developed into: Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano
HE SET:
FCM is the initials of the company’s owner Felipe C. Mirada. The company is based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The set comes in a self-locking clear envelope.
It contains the 2 decal sheets and the instructions.
FCM is the initials of the company’s owner Felipe C. Mirada. The company is based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The set comes in a self-locking clear envelope.
It contains the 2 decal sheets and the instructions.
The instructions consists of a single-sheet printed on both sides in color on slick-coated paper in 16 ½” x 7 ¾” format.
The face side has 11 color profiles and a 4-view line drawing to use for stencil markings placement.
The 1st profile is of a EMB-312 Tucano, with Academia de Força Aérea Pirassununga, Brazilian Air Force – 2006.
It is gloss white with a bright red undercarriage that extends to half-way behind the cockpit and then goes up at a slant and continues over the rudder leading edge and top. It has a black spinner and anti-glare panel in front of the cockpit. There are small vertical green and yellow stripes on the rudder, over a logo of a white circle with “100 ANNOS” on it celebrating 100 years. Under the elevators is black serial no, T-27 over FAB 13 95. Under the cockpit there is another logo of a dark blue square with an eagle on it and “ACADEMIA DA FORCA AEREA” above the eagle.
The 2nd profile is a EMB-12 Tucano, with 2° E.L.O. S. Pedro D’ Aldeia, Brazilian Air Force – 1995.
It is in a wave pattern of tan and two shades of green over a light-grey undercarriage. It has a white no. 2 that has a propeller at its top on the rudder flap, small vertical yellow and green bars over black serial no. AT-27 over FAB 1414, It has a small black 14 low on its nose. The Brazilian Air Force star insignia is on the side of the fuselage. Under the cockpit there is a logo of a circle with a gold winged-sword and white anchor over a dark blue ocean and white “2 ELO”.
The 3rd profile is a EMB-312 Tucano, with E.D.A. Esquadrilha da Fumaça Pirassununga, Brazilian Air Force – 2005.
It is overall dark-blue, with a large orange lightning-flash, outlined in yellow, down the length of the fuselage. It has small vertical yellow and green bars on the rudder, a small gold winged-sword high on the rudder flap, over a white outline of a number 1. Below the bars there is a small rectangle with the Brazilian flag on its left and some writing on the right in white.
Below the lightning-flash there is white “FORCA AEREA BRASILEIRA”, followed by white serial no. FAB 1371 over T-27 under the elevators. It has a logo on the side of its nose of a blue circle that is celebrating 100 years, followed by another circle under the cockpit that is a blue circle with a red border. It says “FAB ESQUADRILHA DA FUMACA” on the border and ha eagle and red lightning bolt over a white cloud behind a black pillar on it.
The face side has 11 color profiles and a 4-view line drawing to use for stencil markings placement.
The 1st profile is of a EMB-312 Tucano, with Academia de Força Aérea Pirassununga, Brazilian Air Force – 2006.
It is gloss white with a bright red undercarriage that extends to half-way behind the cockpit and then goes up at a slant and continues over the rudder leading edge and top. It has a black spinner and anti-glare panel in front of the cockpit. There are small vertical green and yellow stripes on the rudder, over a logo of a white circle with “100 ANNOS” on it celebrating 100 years. Under the elevators is black serial no, T-27 over FAB 13 95. Under the cockpit there is another logo of a dark blue square with an eagle on it and “ACADEMIA DA FORCA AEREA” above the eagle.
The 2nd profile is a EMB-12 Tucano, with 2° E.L.O. S. Pedro D’ Aldeia, Brazilian Air Force – 1995.
It is in a wave pattern of tan and two shades of green over a light-grey undercarriage. It has a white no. 2 that has a propeller at its top on the rudder flap, small vertical yellow and green bars over black serial no. AT-27 over FAB 1414, It has a small black 14 low on its nose. The Brazilian Air Force star insignia is on the side of the fuselage. Under the cockpit there is a logo of a circle with a gold winged-sword and white anchor over a dark blue ocean and white “2 ELO”.
The 3rd profile is a EMB-312 Tucano, with E.D.A. Esquadrilha da Fumaça Pirassununga, Brazilian Air Force – 2005.
It is overall dark-blue, with a large orange lightning-flash, outlined in yellow, down the length of the fuselage. It has small vertical yellow and green bars on the rudder, a small gold winged-sword high on the rudder flap, over a white outline of a number 1. Below the bars there is a small rectangle with the Brazilian flag on its left and some writing on the right in white.
Below the lightning-flash there is white “FORCA AEREA BRASILEIRA”, followed by white serial no. FAB 1371 over T-27 under the elevators. It has a logo on the side of its nose of a blue circle that is celebrating 100 years, followed by another circle under the cockpit that is a blue circle with a red border. It says “FAB ESQUADRILHA DA FUMACA” on the border and ha eagle and red lightning bolt over a white cloud behind a black pillar on it.
The 4th profile is of a EMB-12 Tucano, with 1°/3° G.Av. – Esq. Escorpião Boa Vista, Brazilian Air Force -2001.
It is mid bluish-grey over light bluish-grey undercarriage. It has a black spinner, small vertical yellow and green bars on the rudder, Brazilian Air Force star on side of the fuselage, black letters BV below the bars on the rudder. a logo of a small black scorpion high on the rudder flap, black serial no. T-27 over FAB 13 76 below int elevators, small black 76 low on its nose and black “FORCA AEREA BRASILEIRA” on its fuselage side under the cockpit.
It is mid bluish-grey over light bluish-grey undercarriage. It has a black spinner, small vertical yellow and green bars on the rudder, Brazilian Air Force star on side of the fuselage, black letters BV below the bars on the rudder. a logo of a small black scorpion high on the rudder flap, black serial no. T-27 over FAB 13 76 below int elevators, small black 76 low on its nose and black “FORCA AEREA BRASILEIRA” on its fuselage side under the cockpit.
The 5th profile is of a EMB-12 Tucano, with 1°/14° G.Av. –Esq. Pampa Canoas,, Brazilian Air Force – 2001.
It is in a wave pattern of tan and two shades of green over a light-grey undercarriage. Across the top of its rudder it has a light blue bar with a row of white stars on it, over small vertical bars of yellow and green above large black letters CO. Below the elevators is black serial no. T-27 over FAB 13 40. A small black 40 is low on its nose. It has the Brazilian Air Force star insignia on the side of the fuselage. Low on the fuselage sides is “FORCA AEREA BRASILEIRA”.
There is a illustration of just the other side of the nose of this Tucano that shows a shield that is blue with a black ball and white pitchfork on it, with a red upper left corner with a gold winged-sword and III on it.
The 6th profile is of a EMB-12 Tucano, with 1° G.D.A., Anapolis/GO, Brazilian Air Force -1995.
It is in the same color scheme as no. 5 profile above. It has a white band across the rudder tip with a running black panther on it, over small vertical green and yellow bars and large black letters AN. Below the elevators is black serial no. T-27 over FAB 13 37. It has a small black 37 on the nose wheel door. The Brazilian Air Force star insignia is on the side of the fuselage and black “FORCA AEREA BRASILEIRA” is low on the fuselage, a logo of a square with a top in blue and a red bottom, outlined in yellow is under the cockpit . The upper blue area has 5 small white stars on it over both colors there is a black panther’s face with yellow gun crosshairs over it sides.
It is in a wave pattern of tan and two shades of green over a light-grey undercarriage. Across the top of its rudder it has a light blue bar with a row of white stars on it, over small vertical bars of yellow and green above large black letters CO. Below the elevators is black serial no. T-27 over FAB 13 40. A small black 40 is low on its nose. It has the Brazilian Air Force star insignia on the side of the fuselage. Low on the fuselage sides is “FORCA AEREA BRASILEIRA”.
There is a illustration of just the other side of the nose of this Tucano that shows a shield that is blue with a black ball and white pitchfork on it, with a red upper left corner with a gold winged-sword and III on it.
The 6th profile is of a EMB-12 Tucano, with 1° G.D.A., Anapolis/GO, Brazilian Air Force -1995.
It is in the same color scheme as no. 5 profile above. It has a white band across the rudder tip with a running black panther on it, over small vertical green and yellow bars and large black letters AN. Below the elevators is black serial no. T-27 over FAB 13 37. It has a small black 37 on the nose wheel door. The Brazilian Air Force star insignia is on the side of the fuselage and black “FORCA AEREA BRASILEIRA” is low on the fuselage, a logo of a square with a top in blue and a red bottom, outlined in yellow is under the cockpit . The upper blue area has 5 small white stars on it over both colors there is a black panther’s face with yellow gun crosshairs over it sides.
The 7th profile is a EMB-312 Tucano, with 1°/5° G.Av. Esq. Rumba Natal – RN, Brazilian Air Force – 2001. It is mid bluish-grey over light bluish-grey. It has small yellow and green vertical bars on the rudder, over large black letters NT. The black serial no. T-27 over FAB 13 41 is under the elevators. It has the Brazilian Air Force star logo on the side of the fuselage. Black “FORCA AEREA BRASILEIRA” is low on the fuselage sides. It has a black spinner. There is a logo on the side of its nose of a circle that is blue with a yellow and red outline. It has a parrot on it that is wearing a pilot’s uniform and helmet. He is reclining on a black bomb and has a machine gun on his lap. On the white cloud below him it says “JA TE ATENDO TCHE!”.
The 8th profile is a EMB-12 Tucano, with 2°/3° G.Av. – Esq. Grifo Porto Velho, Brazilian Air Force – 1999.
It is in the same color pattern as no. 7 above. It has a black spinner. High on the rudder is a logo of a black eagle in flight, over vertical yellow and green bars and large black letters PV. Black serial no. T-27 over FAB 13 28 is below the elevators. It has the Brazilian Air Force star logo on the fuselage side and “FORCA AEREA BRASILEIRA” low on the fuselage sides.
The 8th profile is a EMB-12 Tucano, with 2°/3° G.Av. – Esq. Grifo Porto Velho, Brazilian Air Force – 1999.
It is in the same color pattern as no. 7 above. It has a black spinner. High on the rudder is a logo of a black eagle in flight, over vertical yellow and green bars and large black letters PV. Black serial no. T-27 over FAB 13 28 is below the elevators. It has the Brazilian Air Force star logo on the fuselage side and “FORCA AEREA BRASILEIRA” low on the fuselage sides.
The instructions for versions 4, 7 and 8 state that the top color of the profiles is letter I, which is YELLOW but it is printed as gray on the instructions. An errata by Mr. Miranda is included in the decal set.
The 9th profile is a EMB-12 Tucano, with E.D.A.- Esquadrilha da Fumaça Pirassununga, Brazilian Air Force – 2006.
It is in the same color scheme with the same logos as the no. 3 profile above. However, it has a large outline of a number 4 on the rudder flap, white serial no. FAB 1308 over T-27 below its elevators and a small white 08 low on its nose.
The 10th profile is a EMB-12 Tucano, with the same squadron as no. 3 and 9 profiles and in the same color scheme as them. It has a white outline of a number 1 on its rudder flap and just the circle with the pillar etc. on it on the side of the nose and a logo on the lightning flash behind the cockpit of circle with the map of Brazil on it with a white 60 over it. The white serial no. below the elevators is FAB 1371 over T-27. It has a small white 71 low on its nose.
The 11th profile is a EMB-12 Tucano, again with the same squadron as profiles no. 3, 9 & 10. It has the same logos as the no. 10 profile. The white serial no. under the elevators is FAB 1436. A small white 36 is low on the side of the nose.
It is in the same color scheme with the same logos as the no. 3 profile above. However, it has a large outline of a number 4 on the rudder flap, white serial no. FAB 1308 over T-27 below its elevators and a small white 08 low on its nose.
The 10th profile is a EMB-12 Tucano, with the same squadron as no. 3 and 9 profiles and in the same color scheme as them. It has a white outline of a number 1 on its rudder flap and just the circle with the pillar etc. on it on the side of the nose and a logo on the lightning flash behind the cockpit of circle with the map of Brazil on it with a white 60 over it. The white serial no. below the elevators is FAB 1371 over T-27. It has a small white 71 low on its nose.
The 11th profile is a EMB-12 Tucano, again with the same squadron as profiles no. 3, 9 & 10. It has the same logos as the no. 10 profile. The white serial no. under the elevators is FAB 1436. A small white 36 is low on the side of the nose.
On the 4-view line drawing on this side of the instruction sheet to use for stencil marking placing there are 3 illustrations of stencil placement variants. Labeled as A, B & C.
The A variant goes on profiles no. 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8.
The B variant goes on profile no. 1.
The C variant goes on profiles no. 3, 9, 10 & 11.
However, I must say here that these stencils on the decal sheet are super tiny and very close together. I think they would be very difficult to cut off the sheet to begin with and then handle them without a needle-nosed tweezers to place them on a model.
A suggested color listing is on this side of the instructions with FS (Federal Standard) numbers provided. However, it says these numbers are conjectural.
The A variant goes on profiles no. 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8.
The B variant goes on profile no. 1.
The C variant goes on profiles no. 3, 9, 10 & 11.
However, I must say here that these stencils on the decal sheet are super tiny and very close together. I think they would be very difficult to cut off the sheet to begin with and then handle them without a needle-nosed tweezers to place them on a model.
A suggested color listing is on this side of the instructions with FS (Federal Standard) numbers provided. However, it says these numbers are conjectural.
Special thanks is given to friends of Mr.Miranda that helped him develop this decal sheet.
The reverse side of the instructions shows top and bottom views of the Tucanos on the other side of the sheet and large enlargements of all the logos.
The top view of no. 1 profile shows the upper wings and elevators divided diagonally into half gloss-white and bright red, with the wings having red leading edges and tips and the elevators having red tips. Underneath the wings is large black FAB under the right wing and AFA under the left. Brazilian Air Force star logos above and below the wings.
The reverse side of the instructions shows top and bottom views of the Tucanos on the other side of the sheet and large enlargements of all the logos.
The top view of no. 1 profile shows the upper wings and elevators divided diagonally into half gloss-white and bright red, with the wings having red leading edges and tips and the elevators having red tips. Underneath the wings is large black FAB under the right wing and AFA under the left. Brazilian Air Force star logos above and below the wings.
There is a top, bottom and side view of profiles no. 2, 5, & 6 that are in the pattern of tan and 2 shades of green. The top view just shows the Brazilian Air Force star on each wing, the bottom and side view just show the colors.
The top and bottom view of profiles no. 3, 9, 10 & 11 show the wings and elevators divided diagonally into dark blue and yellow, Brazilian Air Force stars above the wings and the star just on the right lower wing, with black FAB below the left wing.
A 2-view of profiles 4, 7 & 8 just shows the colors and the Brazilian Air Force stars only on top of the wings.
The color cover art of Hobby Boss kit no. 81763 is shown and the cover of a suggested book to get for reference.
The small decal sheet has just the white outlines of numbers and black tail code letters and serial no’s on it.
This is neat decal set. Highly recommended.
The sheet was manufactured in Brazil and printed by Micro Scale.
I want to thank Mr. Felipe C. Miranda owner of FCM for this review sample. All FCM products can be viewed on their website at:
A 2-view of profiles 4, 7 & 8 just shows the colors and the Brazilian Air Force stars only on top of the wings.
The color cover art of Hobby Boss kit no. 81763 is shown and the cover of a suggested book to get for reference.
The small decal sheet has just the white outlines of numbers and black tail code letters and serial no’s on it.
This is neat decal set. Highly recommended.
The sheet was manufactured in Brazil and printed by Micro Scale.
I want to thank Mr. Felipe C. Miranda owner of FCM for this review sample. All FCM products can be viewed on their website at: