Reviewed by Rodger Kelly
 

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48-092 - Hog Wild is Custom Aeronautical Miniatures (Cam Decals) first sheet in a two-part coverage of the Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II 'Warthog' in 1/48 scale. 

Three A-10A aircraft are covered.

70-01447 of the 917^th Tactical Fighter Wing out of Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana in 1988.  The aircraft is in overall 'European 1' camouflage scheme of FS 34092 (dark green), FS 34102 (medium green), and 36081 (dark grey).

If any markings typify the A-10 then these are it.  The nose is painted up to resemble the snout of warthog with huge tusks.  These markings are supplied as a four-part decal to ease placement.  The other markings are sparse and in lo-viz stencil form.  They include:

• Air Force Reserve titles for the engine pods,

• Barksdale 'BD' codes and aircraft serial number for the vertical stabilizers.

77-0205 of the 23rd Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional).  The markings depict the aircraft when it was based in Saudi Arabia participating in Operation Desert Storm.  This machine is also finished in the 'two 'greens and a grey' European 1 camouflage scheme.  Again, individual markings are sparse but include:

• Nose art in the form of a red lobster with a white lightning bolt in one claw and what appears to be some form of helicopter in the other and the name "Chopper Popper".

• Green rectangles with the pilot and crew chiefs names in white for the nose.

• NO (New Orleans) codes and aircraft serial number for the vertical stabilizers.

• A small Iraqi flag (kill marking?) for the nose.

82-0656 of the 52nd Fighter Wing, based at Spangdahlem Germany in 1993.  A change of scheme this time with '0656' being finished in FS 3632 dark ghost grey upper surfaces, FS 36375 light ghost grey lower surfaces and rudders and black fin caps.  Individual markings are the low-viz stencil style and include: 

• Spangdahlem 'SP' codes and aircraft serial number for the vertical stabilizers.

• White lightning bolts for the fin caps.

A full set of national markings are provided for each aircraft as is a comprehensive set of stencil data.  A full set is included for each aircraft.  Stencil data is also supplied for the A/NALQ-119L ECM pods that these aircraft sometimes carry.  A set of slime lights are provided for the last option.  CAM gives you two different sets of theses.  The first set is in plain yellow/green.  The second set has an irregular grey surround to simulate the 'shadow' thrown by the irregular surface of the panels – your choice and a nice inclusion by CAM. 

The decals themselves are printed by Microscale – enough said – you know they will work as advertised. 

The placement guide is a double-sided A-4 sheet that carries left hand side profiles of each aircraft as well as a top view of the third option and top and bottom views of the first two.  The drawings are nice and clear but it is a pity that no right hand side profile is given for the European 1 options.  The stiff cardboard header also carries the same three left hand side profiles in colour. 

The decals, placement guide and header card are all packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag. 

Sufficient decals are provided to enable you to produce each option without recourse to other sheets – great value as far as I'm concerned. 

A good sheet from CAM Decals.  A minor niggle is the lack of guidance for the camouflage pattern on the right hand side of the fuselage but this is far outweighed by the inclusion of three complete sets of airframe and A/NALQ-119L ECM pod stencils. 

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  23 October, 2003
Last updated 22 October, 2003

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