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A-10 Thunderbolt II

Printscale Decals, 1/72 scale

S u m m a r y :

Catalogue Number:

Printscale Decals Item No. 72-102 - A-10 Thunderbolt II

Scale:

1/72

Contents & Media:

Decals for ten subjects with colour-printed painting & markings guide.

Price:

Available on-line from :

Click for currency conversion

Review Type:

First Look.

Advantages:

Attractive subjects, good print registration.

Disadvantages:

Reputation for fragility (although unconfirmed by personal use or testing).

(Editor's Note - I have just bought a set of Printscale Blenheim decals, and they performed perfectly. They were robust and laid down over a dark grey, semi-matte surface without any problem)

Conclusion:

This is a nicely printed set of decals providing an interesting selection of markings for A-10’s. However, Print Scale’s reputation means that I would proceed with caution, and test any Print Scale decals you purchases with a subject you do not plan to use from the sheet, before committing to finish your model in one of schemes offered.


Reviewed by Mark Davies


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F i r s t L o o k

 

The A-10 does not immediately spring to mind as the most colourful of subjects to model. However, the Print Scale decal set reviewed here offers variety of nose art and experimental schemes that add some variety to the usual combination of greys and greens associated with the type.  The sheet provides markings for fifteen such aircraft.

 

 

The decals come in a zip-lock plastic bag with a colour printed and folded A-4 sheet, plus another half-sheet, that are the colours and markings guide. This provides a single colour profile of each aircraft, plus one or two very small colour photos of the subject in most cases; except for the three experimental camo schemes, which have none. Colour call-outs include FS-numbers.   

 

 

The decals look to be very nicely printed, with excellent registration. Opacity is hard to judge without testing, but I have no reason to doubt these, as colour density looks good.

 

 

National insignia sufficient for one machine is included.
 
The set covers the following options:

  • 76-0531 ‘Stephanie Anne Bayou Babe’926 TFG/706 TFS "Cajuns", tail code "NO", NAS New Orleans, LA - King Fahd Airport, Saudi Arabia.

  • 77-0272 ‘Desert Doc’ 926 TFG/706 TFS "Cajuns", tail code "NO", NAS New Orleans, LA - King Fahd Airport, Saudi Arabia.

  • 355th TFS/354th TFW "Falcons", tail code "MB" - Myrtle Beach AFB, SC - King Fahd Airport, Saudi Arabia.

  • 79-0112 ‘Here Comes the Judge’ 355th TFS/354th TFW "Falcons", tail code "MB" - Myrtle Beach AFB, SC - King Fahd Airport, Saudi Arabia.

  • 79-0096 ‘Honey Buns’ - left ‘Wicked Sensation’ - right 61 missions 353rd TFS/354th TFW "Panthers", tail code "MB" - Myrtle Beach AFB, SC - King Fahd Airport, Saudi Arabia.

  • 78-0582 ‘Alligator’ Leased from 46th TFTS "BD" 926 TFG/706 TFS "Cajuns", tail code "NO", NAS New Orleans, LA - King Fahd Airport, Saudi Arabia.

  • 81-0964 was flown by Captain Todd "Shanghai" Sheehy of the 511th TFS in Jan 1991.

  • 80-0219 509th TFS, 10th TFW, USAF.

  • 77-0271 706TFS "Cajuns" / 926FG on display at Moody AFB, Georgia in 1992. Shortly afterward she was sent to the 309th AMARG "Boneyard" at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona.

  • 74-552, 349th Wing AFRES, 1995. 

  • 57th TTW, TAC, USAF Serial: 75-0258. Airplane pilot in camouflage during exercise JAWS 1978.

  • 75-260 flown by the 57th Tactical Training Wing in the “Jaws ll” exercise in November 1977.

  • 79-0179 of the 74th EFS/332nd AEG, Jacobabad, Pakistan, March 2002.

  • 81-0954 of the 81st EFS/455 th AEW,Bagram AB, Afghanistan, June 2003.

  • 80-0252 of the 75th EFS/455th AEW, Bagram AB, Afghanistan, February 2005.

 

Reportedly Variable Performance

I have no personal experience of using Print Scale’s decals, but I have recently read on HyperScale’s Plane Talking comments that suggest their performance varies from acceptable to poor; with the main problem being their fragility. A coat of Future or proprietary decal strengthening product apparently helped with this problem.

To balance this, I have recently had verbal reports from a couple of modellers that their Print Scale decals worked perfectly.

Print Scale prints some attractive subjects, but their reputation is less than stellar; with supporters and detractors about even in my limited experience of the brand. I wonder if it’s case of the product having changed for the better, as the verbal accounts I received were using recent purchases.

(Editor's Note - I have just bought a set of Printscale Blenheim decals, and they performed perfectly. They were robust and laid down over a dark grey, semi-matte surface without any problem)

 

 

C o n c l u s i o n

 

This is a nicely printed set of decals providing an interesting selection of markings for A-10’s. However, Print Scale’s reputation means that I would proceed with caution, and test any Print Scale decals you purchases with a subject you do not plan to use from the sheet, before committing to finish your model in one of schemes offered.

Thanks to Printscale Decals for the review sample.

Text and Images Copyright © 2014 by Mark Davies
This Page Created on 28 August, 2014
Last updated 28 August, 2014

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