Review – Iliad Design 1/72 “Stars in the Sky” (Set 72004a)

Famous-flown aircraft of Hollywood and TV icons

Iliad Design’s Stars in the Sky series has always been a standout among decal releases for its unusual subject matter, blending aviation history with Hollywood and pop-culture personalities. This newest release, catalogue number 72004a, is a reprint of the earlier sheet with an all-new option: Ed McMahon’s USMC OE-1 “WB.” The result is a thoroughly entertaining and well-researched decal collection covering a mix of legendary B-17s, a B-24, and a Korean War Cessna OE-1 flown by household names ranging from Jimmy Stewart to Gene Roddenberry.
For Star Trek fans, having Gene Roddenberry’s B-17F, “Yankee Doodle,” included is a genuine treat.

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Subject & Coverage

The sheet includes markings for five aircraft, all flown by notable film or television personalities:

• B-24H “Male Call” – Jimmy Stewart

• OD/Neutral Gray finish

• Pin-up nose art & mission markings

• Stewart flew this aircraft occasionally as part of the 453rd Bomb Group

• Includes fin serials printed for inside placement

• B-17F “Yankee Doodle” – Gene Roddenberry

• OD/Neutral Gray

• Crashed on takeoff in 1943

• Features lighter-shade fin panels and detailed nose art

• B-24L “Janie” – Sabu (Selar Shaik Sabu)

• Overall natural metal

• Red/black fin tip

• Includes the iconic “Janie” pin-up artwork (very clean printing on the decal sheet)

• B-17F “The 8 Ball” – Clark Gable

• OD/NG bomber film-star depiction

• Includes “The 8 Ball” markings and fin codes

• Features the unique 351st Bomb Group triangle marking on upper wing

• Gable’s gunnery footage was filmed using this aircraft

• OE-1 (L-19) No.3 – Ed McMahon (New addition in this reprint)

• Overall USMC Field Green (FS 34097)

• “WB” tail code and “MARINES” markings

• Flown by McMahon as a forward air controller during the Korean War

• A welcome addition that expands the sheet beyond WWII heavies

• Additional small unit and aircraft stencils

• Extra nose art

• Squadron codes

• Multiple styles of US national insignia

This is one of the most visually varied sheets Iliad has produced—bombers, natural-metal Liberators, Pacific-theatre Fortresses, and a Korean-War Cessna. The combination is eye-catching and offers modellers genuinely unusual aircraft for their display shelves.

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Decal Quality

Iliad’s printing quality is excellent:

• Sharp, crisp outlines with no visible pixellation

• Rich, saturated colours (important for nose art and group markings)

• Perfect registration on multi-colour roundels and insignia

• Thin, minimal carrier film that should settle nicely with setting solutions

• Nose art such as “Male Call,” “Janie,” “The 8 Ball,” and “Yankee Doodle” is especially well executed, with clean lines and excellent colour separation.

The sheet also includes several unique insignia variants, such as the small Cessna USMC stars and multiple USAF star-and-bar sizes.

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Instructions & Research

This is where Iliad always excels, and this sheet is no exception.
The instruction booklet includes:

• Clear, full-colour aircraft profiles

• Top-down plan views for markings

• Callouts for paint colours, fin shades, and camouflage variations

• Notes on anti-glare panels and fin serial placement

• Background biographies of each celebrity pilot, with wartime photos included

These historical notes elevate the sheet from “just decals” to an educational reference, adding context and personality to each scheme.

The photos of Jimmy Stewart, Sabu, Gable, Roddenberry, and McMahon are a wonderful touch, giving the modeller real faces behind the aircraft.

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Highlights

• Unique Hollywood and celebrity aviation subjects

• Includes Gene Roddenberry’s B-17—great for Star Trek fans

• Newly added Ed McMahon OE-1 adds Korean War and USMC variety

• Excellent print quality, strong nose art, and crisp insignia

• Thorough instructions with extra historical content

• Visually diverse aircraft: OD/NG, natural metal, Pacific and European theatres

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Areas for Improvement

As strong as the set is, a few enhancements could make it even better:

• No stencil data included for the B-17s or B-24; modellers must rely on kit stencils

• Colour notations could be expanded with FS or ANA equivalences for all panels

These are small considerations and don’t detract from the quality of the sheet overall.

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Summary & Verdict

Iliad Design’s Stars in the Sky (72004a) is an outstanding decal sheet for modellers who want something more than “just another bomber.”
With aircraft flown by Jimmy Stewart, Clark Gable, Sabu, and Gene Roddenberry—and now Ed McMahon—the set brings together Hollywood, aviation history, and even Star Trek fan appeal in one smartly researched package.

Verdict: Highly recommended.
A beautifully executed reprint with a valuable new addition, excellent artwork, and plenty of modelling inspiration.

You can purchase these decals directly from Iliad Design here.

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