Reviewed by Rodger Kelly
 

HyperScale is proudly sponsored by Squadron

Custom Aeronautical Miniatures (Cam Decals) continue their Thoroughbred Mustangs series with sheet number 32-148 which provides markings for two P-51Bs. 

First is 43-6523 'Leaki'n Liz' a P-51B flown by LT Charles Blair of the 358^th Fighter Squadron, 355^th Fighter Group out of Steeple Morden, UK in 1944. 

'Leaki'n Liz' is in faded olive drab over neutral grey with D-Day markings on her fuselage and wings.  The spinner and nose are white and there is a band of freshly painted olive drab on her fin and rudder covering the white theatre band that she previously wore. 

The provided markings include:

• A full set of national insignia,
• White YF squadron codes and individual aircraft in squadron letter E.
• Yellow serial numbers for the fin and rudder.
• The name 'Leaki'n Liz' in white.
• A scoreboard consisting of yellow and orange bombs as well as brooms, the latter probably indicating fighter sweeps.   This decal is applied to the cowling cover below the exhaust.
• A single kill marking consisting of a two-piece swastika.
• A black nameplate that shows both the pilot's and the crew chief's names.
• A reasonably complete set of stencil data in black, yellow, red and white is also provided. Unfortunately, they missed the data block.

Neither the D-Day markings nor the white theatre are supplied so you will have to paint them yourself. 

The other option is 43-6437, an unnamed aircraft as flown by the Commanding Officer of the 4th Fighter Group, Colonel Donald Blakeslee out of Debden, Essex in 1944.  The aircraft bears the WD squadron code letters of the 336th Fighter Squadron and is in olive drab over neutral grey with white theatre markings.  

For an 8th Air Force machine, it is surprisingly drab and bears no nose art or scoreboard.  The markings consist of: 

• White WD squadron codes and individual aircraft in squadron letter C.
• A full set of national insignia,
• A reasonably complete set of stencil data in black, yellow, red and white is also provided. As with the first option, no data block provided.
• Yellow serial numbers for the fin and rudder.

Cam Decals have changed their placement guides.  Whilst they are still A-4 in size they now bear colour profiles of both sides of each aircraft as well as full top-side plan and scrap views of the wing bottoms, also in colour.   Unfortunately, the previously seen header card is now no longer included.  I for one liked the header cards as it protected the decal from creasing. 

The decals are still printed by Microscale and are well up to their high standards.  They are all sharply printed and in perfect register. 

The placement guide and, decal sheet come packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag.  

The recommended kit is the ancient Revell one. 

It covers each of the fighter squadrons that made up the 8th Air Force. It gives a very detailed history of each squadron and it also contains a wealth of images, many in colour. 

Nice stuff from Cam Decals.  Sufficient decals are provided on the sheet to produce both options. 

Recommended. 

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 © 2004 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 25 January, 2004
Last updated 24 January, 2004

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