AVG "Flying Tigers"

Hawk 81-A2

1/32 Decal Sheets

EagleCals Decals

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

Eagle Cals #68 and #69 are available online from Squadron.com

EagleCals sheets #68 (First Pursuit Squadron) and #69 (Second Pursuit Squadron) provide markings to model four different Curtis Hawk 81-A2 (the export version of the P-40 B/C Tomahawk) aircraft of the A.V.G. 

All four aircraft are in the DuPont paint shades 71-065 dark earth and 71-013 dark green upper surfaces over aircraft grey lower surfaces (no DuPont shade is advised for the grey and the placement guide advises FS 16473) with earth brown spinners.

EC#68 

Sheet #68 provides markings for two First Pursuit Squadron machines – signified by the white band around the tail.

Serial number P-8103 as flown by Dick Rossi.  The markings comprise:

• Plane-in-squadron number 3 in white - a pair of small ones for the nose and a larger pair for the rear fuselage.

• Shark mouth markings for the nose.  This is a two-part marking with a separate red tongue being applied over the "teeth" and black surround.  Thankfully, EagleCals have supplied the shark mouth markings as left and right hand markings so you don’t have to try and juggle both sides at once.

• A pair of red and black "eyes" on a white background.

• A score board comprising the pilot's name in white with six Japanese flags.  An early USAAC insignia also features on the scoreboard.  Perhaps the latter insignia identifies that the pilot is ex USAAC.  A further small Nationalist Chinese insignia is also supplied and the diagram on the placement guide points this marking to the same place as the USAAC insignia but does not advise which is to be used.

• Squadron insignia consisting of a pair of white stick figures on a green background with a black snake.  This marking has a thin white surround and an extra "handed" one is supplied for the right hand side of the fuselage – your choice!

• P-8103 Serial number in white.

• Nationalist Chinese insignia for the upper and lower surfaces of the wings.  Two sets are provided on the sheet (eight in all) a newly applied darker blue and a faded set to enable you to depict your model as newly painted or weathered.  The placement guide advises to apply the darker ones to the lower surfaces and the faded ones to the upper surfaces.

Serial Number P-8178 as flown by Greg "Pappy" Boyington. 

P-8178 is in the same finish as the first machine except that the camouflage pattern on the mid port fuselage forward of the cockpit differs.  Her markings comprise:

• Plane-in-squadron number 21, a pair of small ones for the nose and a larger pair for the rear fuselage.  A further set of grey ones are provided should you wish to finish the aircraft in a weathered and aged style.

• Shark mouth markings for the nose.  This marking is supplied in the same two-part way but it is of a completely different style to the previous option.

• A pair of red and black "eyes" on a white background.  Again, in a different style to the previous option.

• The same squadron insignia consisting of a pair of white stick figures on a green background with a black snake.  This time, the marking lacks the white surround.  An extra "handed" one is supplied for the right hand side of the fuselage.

• P-8182 Serial number in white.

• Nationalist Chinese insignia for the upper and lower surfaces of the wings.

EC #69 

Sheet #69 provides markings for two Second Pursuit Squadron machines – this time, the band around the tail is blue.

P-8127 flown by both John Petach and Bob Layher.  Her markings comprise:

• Plane-in-squadron number 47 in white.  Large ones for the rear fuselage and smaller ones for the nose.

• Shark mouth markings for the nose in yet another different style with a blue surround, however, the marking is still supplied in the same two-part way.

• A pair of black "eyes" on a white background.

• Squadron insignia or perhaps a personal insignia consisting of cartoon style pilot riding a bicycle.

• P-8127 Serial number in white.

• The blue rear fuselage band.

• Nationalist Chinese insignia for the upper and lower surfaces of the wings.  This sheet also provides the faded insignia as well as the "newly painted" ones.

P-8134 flown by David Lee "Tex" Hill.  Her markings comprise:

• Plane-in-squadron number 48 in white for the rear fuselage (this option doesn't wear the smaller nose ones).

• Shark mouth markings for the nose in yet another different style, however, the marking is still supplied in the same two-part way.

• A pair of red "eyes" on a white background.

• Squadron insignia or perhaps a personal insignia consisting of cartoon style Panda with a steer's skull.  Two different types are provided, one with grey boots and a grey stetson and the other with brown boots and stetson.  The placement guide advises that it could have been painted in either style so they have provided both.

• P-8134 Serial number in white.

• The blue rear fuselage band.

• Nationalist Chinese insignia for the upper and lower surfaces of the wings.

• A spare block of blue decal in case you need to patch the surround to the shark mouth marking if you encounter problems with getting the marking to settle under the nose.

Two complete sets of stencil data are provided on each sheet and there are enough markings provided to model all four aircraft if you have designs on producing every aircraft flown by the A.V.G. 

The decals themselves have been printed by Microscale.  They are well up to the standard you expect from this company.  Every thing is in perfect register and there is an absolute minimum of decal film surrounding each subject. 

The placement guides are A-3 in size and have been double folded.  The centre has beautiful Tom Tullis painted profiles of each option whilst the front show smaller versions of the same profiles with the rear having a full plan view of the upper surfaces and scrap views of the wing bottoms. 

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

The recommended kit is the new Trumpeter offering. 

A nice couple of sheets from EagleCals that will certainly make your new Trumpeter kit stand out. 

Recommended. 

Post Script 

EagleCals offer a third sheet in this A.V.G series.  EC#70 covers two further aircraft from the 3rd Squadron with red bands around their tails.

To round out the EagleCals A.V.G. experience they also offer EagleFiles EF#4 Tigers over China - The Aircraft of the A.V.G. by Thomas A. Tullis.  The book has 88 pages with eight full colour profiles as well as 125 rare period photographs, some of them in colour.

Thanks to Judy at Eagle Editions for the review samples

EagleCals decals are available from Eagle Editions Website
or Hobby Retailers including Squadron.com.   

Preview Text Copyright © 2004 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 12 March, 2004
Last updated 12 March, 2004

Back to HyperScale Main Page