Reviewed by Rodger Kelly
 

HyperScale is proudly sponsored by Squadron

Custom Aeronautical Miniatures (Cam Decals) seem to be taking a trip back into time and releasing more sheets covering WWII aircraft than their usual modern day subjects. 32-154 provides continues this trend and provides markings for two European theatre
P-51B Mustangs.

First is the well known 43-6315, DING HAO! of the 356th Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group as flown by James Howard out of Essex, England in 1944.

Finish is olive drab over neutral grey with white theatre markings consisting of bands over the wings and horizontal stabilizers (you will have to paint the bands yourself) as well as the nose and spinner.

The provided markings include a complete set of national insignia, yellow serial for the vertical stabilizer, two-part kill markings, white AJ A squadron codes and a yellow outlined DING HO! Stencil data is minimal and in white with the exception of the data block in black and a red no step area for the flaps.

Next is something a little more colourful!

42-106473 of the famous 362nd Fighter Squadron 357th Fighter Group as flown by John Pugh out of Leiston, England in 1944.

Finish is olive drab upper surfaces over natural metal lower surfaces and fuselage sides. The entire forward fuselage is in yellow with (very) large red checks. The checks are provided as red decals. You will have to paint the yellow yourself. The theatre bands remain but this time they are white over the olive drab and black over the natural metal. As with DING HAO! you will have to paint these yourself.

A further complete set of national insignia is provided but this time the white has been “greyed out”. The remainder of markings are the yellow serials for the vertical stabilizer, and the black G4 N squadron codes. A pretty comprehensive set of stencil data is provided for this option however, it is all in black with the exception of the red no step for the wing.

The decals themselves are provided on two sheets and have been printed by Microscale. They are sharp, clear and in perfect register. The decal sheets, header card and placement guide are all packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

The decal placement guide is by a single sided A-4 sized sheet that shows left hand side profiles and top views of each aircraft. The same side views are also shown on the header card but this time they are in colour. The placement guide also provides comprehensive painting notes for each aircraft as well as a list of references consulted in the research for this sheet. If you are keen on producing replicas of aircraft flown by the 357th Fighter Group add http://www.cebudanderson.com/357fg.htm to your list of references. A great site and well worth a visit.

The recommended kit is the ancient Revell one (although they will suit the full resin 1/32 scale P-51B kit from J. Rutman Productions very nicely too! Ed.).

A nice sheet from Cam Decals.

Recommended.

Thanks to Brookhurst Hobbies for the review sample.

CAM Decals are available online from their website at http://www.camdecals.com and from Brookhurst Hobbies

CAM Decals 59 page 2002 color catalog of decals and resin parts is also
now available through the CAM Decals website

Review Copyright © 2003 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 28 February, 2003
Last updated 14 August, 2003

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