Reviewed by Rodger Kelly
 

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CAM Decals 48-085 provides markings for two F-8E Crusaders of the United States Marine Corps (USMC). 

Ah, gull grey and white - you just can’t beat it! 

First is Bureau number 150675 of VMF (AW)-312 “Checkerboards” when she was the CO’s mount at Da Nang Air Base, Vietnam in 1966.  As with the majority of USMC and USN aircraft of this era this “Checkerboards” aircraft is bright! 

Specific squadron markings include:

• Nose intake warning triangles suitably filled with the black and white checkerboard.

• The black and white checkerboard that takes up the entire rudder as well as a fair portion of the base of the fin.  There is some careful artwork and printing here as the entire leading edge of this design is bordered with a thin red stripe that diminishes to nothing as it runs down the rudder towards the nose.

• The thin red and yellow stripes for the top of the fin.

• The thin red and yellow striping that ran around the edges of the ventral strakes (you will have to paint the strakes black first).

• The pilot’s name in red for the fuselage sides beneath the canopy

Other markings include: 

·        DR airwing identifiers for the fin.

·        Double O modex for the nose and 100s for the top of the wing flaps.

·        Marines titles, Bureau numbers and VMF(AW)-312 titles for the rear fuselage sides.

·        “Last four” of the Bureau number for the base of the fin.

·        Yellow rescue arrows.

·        Red and white ejection seat triangles.

·        A single piece black stripe decal for the arrestor hook..

·        Three piece stars and bars (supplied on a separate sheet).

·        Black walkways for the rear fuselage. 

Stencil data is at an absolute minimum with only the red and white exhaust warning placard, gross weight, and main gear “no step’ warning supplied. 

Next is Bureau number 150318 of VMF (AW)-235 “Death Angels” also depicted when she was based at Da Nang in 1966.  

Squadron markings comprise:

• A red triangle shaped design bordered in white with white stars.  This design covers the entire nose of the aircraft. 

• A red “bent triangle” with white stars for the fin.  Again, this design is bordered in white.  The artwork and printing of these designs is first class and faultless.

• White stars for the ventral strakes.  As with the previous subject, you will have to paint the strakes (red this time) before you apply the stars.

The remainder of the decals for this option are as for the previous subject with the obvious exceptions of the squadron titles, bureau numbers, airwing identifiers and modex numbers. 

Decal placement is guided by an A-4 sized black and white sheet that also provides painting notes for both aircraft.  The header card is made of still cardboard which protects the decal sheets (there are two of them) from creasing.  The header card also has plan views of both aircraft in colour.  The decals themselves are printed by Microscale. 

The instruction sheet states that the recommended kit is the Revell-Monogram F-8.  Will they fit the soon to be released Hasegawa F-8?  I guess that we will just have to wait and see. 

Recommended.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

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 © 2002 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 11 November, 2002
Last updated 14 August, 2003

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