Night Hawks History

and
 

Leatherneck Feather Weights

Two New Releases

1/48 scale

MAW Decals

Reviewed by Ken Bowes

HyperScale is proudly supported by Squadron

The latest releases from Creighton Henthorn’s MAW Decals provides decals for a number of historic and contemporary Marine Corps aircraft and helicopters. 48-MAW-004 covers variously a VMA-533 A-4B Skyhawk, VMA(AW)-533 A-6E Intruder and VMFA(AW)-533 F/A-18D Hornet. Each of the subjects includes comprehensive four view instructions for colour and decal placement.

The A-4B dates from 1964 and no specific combat history is noted, whilst the A-6 served in Desert Storm and the Hornet in OIF. The Hornet, 164959, is the squadron colour bird as deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF 1), which was previously available on 32-MAW-001. The A-6, 158041, sports an impressive bomb log which the instructions helpfully note should be left off for an operational aircraft as it was only added after the ceasefire.  

The decals cover two A5 sheets and are printed in perfect register by Microscale. Instructions are printed in full colour on card and leave now doubt on the many subtleties of the subjects, with callouts for CIT bird slicers, GPS dome, new centerline pylon, ejection seat, gun vents and tail stiffeners as appropriate for the D model Hornet.  48-MAW-004 retails for US$13.50

MAW’s most recent 1/48 sheet departs from their trademark previous fast jet subjects. 48-MAW-005 “Leatherneck Featherweights” provides decals for three USMC Helicopters. Two UH-1Ns and one AH-1W Cobra are covered. The UH-1Ns are from HMM-263 “Thunderchickens” (24^th MEU May 2004) and HML/A-167 “The Warriors” from April 2005. The AH-1W is again from HML/A-167 “The Warriors” this time in February 2006. All three are in two tone lo-vis grey schemes. MAW Decals again provides clear colour and placement instructions for this sheet which comes as a single A5 size sheet. 48-MAW-005 retails for US$11.00

MAW’s sheets are very well printed, being very thin and with minimal carrier film. The complex designs themselves are in perfect register. The decals are easy to use and respond well to the usual solutions without damage. Being thin they conform well to details over which they are laid. With clear and concise instructions, including colour call outs, as well as reference photos and recommend weapons configurations there is little more that a modeler could wish for from these decals.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to MAW Decals for the review sample.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

Review Copyright © 2006 by Ken Bowes
This Page Created on 26 December, 2006
Last updated 25 December, 2006

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Reviews Page