Caracal Models CD 72020: ANG A-10C

Units: See Review

Price

$14.99 which includes US shipping

Reviewer:

Scott Van Aken

Continuing on with their superb ANG sheets is this one for that A-10C. After deciding not to scrap the plane back after Desert Storm, it was only logical that the airframe get some upgrades. This mostly focused on the cockpit and avionics systems where the instrument panel got a full fitting of MPDs (Multi-Purpose Displays) to replace a lot of the discrete indicators in the older aircraft.

These are mostly issued to ANG units and those units were lucky enough not to be disbanded are shown here. The sheet offers a total of seven different markings options, mostly serial numbers and tail markings.

First is the 163 FS, Indiana ANG, which used to fly F-4Es and later F-16s and was initially slated for disbanding but managed to hold on and keep flying real planes instead of drones like many ANG units. This unit is called the Black Snakes and so has a rather complex snake nose motif.

Next is the 190 FS, Idaho ANG. This unit was one of the last F-4 ANG units initially flying RF-4Cs but later flying the F-4G. This unit also has two serial options, but does have different colored tail bands for the different flights.

Third is the 184 FS, Arkansas ANG. These guys flew F-16s prior to this and before that were one of the last ANG units to fly the F-4C Phantom II. I guess they are lucky not to be doing drones. One of the real draws to this unit is the razorback hog nose artwork. These are quite individual so you do have to match all the bits to the aircraft you are modeling.

Finally is the 107 FS, Michigan ANG, another unit that used to fly F-16s and before that they had A-7D/K Corsair IIs. These folks don't exactly have the most flamboyant markings and really, they never have.

The sheet itself is superbly printed by Cartograf and provides enough data markings and insignia for one option, though you can always glean this for other options from the kit decal sheet. The recommended kit for this is the Hasegawa version, though there are newer ones out there, apparently it is the most accurate.  Instructions are in full color and provide web references to help your build. It also includes a comprehensive data placement diagram.

Regardless of which one you pick, it is great to see a new sheet for this aircraft.

You can get this sheet direct from http://www.caracalmodels.com/cd72020.html.  As Caracal sheets tend to sell out rather quickly, I suggest picking one up soon.

November 2014

Thanks to http://www.caracalmodels.com for the review sheet. Get yours today from the link or have your local shop order it for you.

If you would like your product reviewed fairly and fairly quickly, please contact the editor or see other details in the Note to Contributors.

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