Reviewed by Rodger Kelly
 

HyperScale is proudly sponsored by Squadron

Thoroughbred Mustangs 48-117 is Custom Aeronautical Miniatures (Cam Decals) newest sheet in their series covering the P-51D Mustang in 1/48 scale.  The sheet provides markings for four UK based 8th Air Force machines. 

The first option is 44-63259, 'Cherraine' flown LT Donald V. Galer of the 354^th Fighter Squadron, 355^th Fighter flying from Steeple Morden, Cambridgeshire in 1944. 

Like most of the European Theatre Mustangs, 'Cherraine' is in overall natural metal finish with an olive drab anti-glare panel.  Her spinner is white and her nose and rudder are red. 

Markings include:

• A full set of national insignia.

• Black WR squadron codes and individual aircraft in squadron letter Q.

• Black and yellow serial numbers for the fin and rudder - the yellow is applied over the red of the rudder.

• The name 'Cherraine' in red for the left hand side of the nose.

• A scoreboard of five German swastika flags.  This doesn’t look right to me as the Nazi flag was red and not black.  A study of available colour photographs of this squadron show similar markings and they are red and not black.

• A data block which displays the correct serial number.

Next is 44-13779 an unnamed Mustang as flown by Colonel Donald M. Blakeslee from Debden, Essex in 1945.  The aircraft was not named nor did it bear a scoreboard of any kind as Colonel Blakeslee believed that it this sort of thing 'was for the kids'.  The machine is in natural metal finish with the 4^th red nose Group identification marking, a set of lower fuselage D-Day markings, black theatre bands on the wings and horizontal stabilizers, as well as the fin and rudder. 

Markings include:

• A full set of national insignia.

• Black WD 336^th Fighter Squadron codes and individual aircraft in squadron letter C.

• Black serial numbers for the fin and rudder.

• A data block which displays the correct serial number.

Should you choose to model this option, be aware that it lacks the fin strake. 

The third option is 44-15102 'Skeeter’s Scooter' which was flown by Lt John F. McAlevy of the 370^th Fighter Squadron, 359^th Fighter Group whilst it was based at East Wretham, Norfolk in 1944. 

The aircraft is in overall natural metal finish and it bears green nose worn by all of the 359^th Fighter Group’s aircraft, and a blue rudder denoting that it was an aircraft of the 370^th Fighter Squadron.  The aircraft originally wore the black band theatre markings on its wings and horizontal stabilizers but these had been removed leaving a lighter shade of aluminium- no doubt as the result of the removal process. 

The markings consist of: 

·        The 370ths “CS” squadron codes with the individual “T” aircraft code for the fuselage. 

·        A set of national insignia. 

·        The aircraft serial number for the vertical stabilizer/rudder. 

·        The 'Skeeter’s Scooter' name for the nose (left side only). 

·        The pilot’s name for the canopy rail. 

·        A data block that has the correct serial number.

The final option is 'Look Homeward Angel' 44-15384 flown by Captain Capt. Arthur B McCormick of the 385^th Fighter Squadron, 364^th Fighter Group out of Honington, Sussex in 1944. 

The aircraft is in overall natural metal finish with an olive drab anti-glare panel. Her spinner is white and her nose bears the 364^th Fighter Group's identification markings of blue and white stripes. 

Markings include:

• A full set of national insignia,

• Black 5E squadron codes and individual aircraft in squadron letter I in a Black triangle on the fin and rudder. Black serial numbers for the fin and rudder.

• The name Look Homeward Angel is supplied as a two part decal of red over a black outline to address any register problems that may arise.

• A scoreboard of six German swastikas on a red circle background. The blue and white Group markings are supplied in three parts - left and right hand sides with a smaller blue wedge-like piece for the intake.  A further decal in the same colour is provided in case you need to adjust these markings to fit the kit of your choosing.

• A data block which displays the correct serial number.

The decal placement guide is the standard fare from Cam Decals - an A-4 sized sheet with black and white profiles of both sides of the fuselage and a plan view of the top surfaces of the wings and the bottom surfaces of the wings for the first three options.  The front page shows full-colour left hand side profiles of each aircraft whilst the rear page shows colour profiles of both sides of the fuselage, a plan view of the top surfaces of the wings and scrap views of the bottom surfaces of the wings for 'Look Homeward Angel'. 

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

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

The recommended kits are the Tamiya and Hasegawa ones. 

This really is a good sheet from Cam Decals.   Complete marking are provided for each option.  The only thing missing is the stencil data but to be truthful, there really isn't any spare room to fit it into. 

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 © 2004 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 21 January, 2004
Last updated 20 January, 2004

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Reviews Page