LTV A-7B Corsair II

U.S. Air National Guard
 

1/72, 1/48 & 1/32 scales

AirDOC

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

AirDOC Decals and books are available online from Meteor Productions

ADM 72016 is the fourth sheet covering the Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 Corsair II in produced by AirDOC.  Whilst the three previous sheets provide markings for A-7s of the U.S. Navy, this one provides markings for A-7Ds of the Air National Guard. 

This is a busy sheet indeed, offering markings for 13 different machines in a wide variety of camouflage schemes.  

Details of the individual options as follows: 

• Serial number 72-0996 “Speed Well” of the Colorado Air National Guard’s 120^th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 140^th Tactical Fighter Wing based at Buckley Air National Guard Base, Aurora, Colorado in 1978.  The machine is in the South East Asia camouflage scheme of FS30219 tan, FS34102 green and FS34079 dark green over FS36622 light grey and sports colourful squadron tiger’s head insignia, Colorado Air National Guard tail insignia, Air National Guard shields as well as the name “Speed Well” to lift its appearance.

• Serial number 72-0237 of the New Mexico Air National Guard’s 150th Tactical Fighter Wing’s 188^th Tactical Fighter Squadron based at Kirtland Air Force Base New Mexico, in southeast Albuquerque, circa 1979.  The machine is in South East Asia scheme.  A fairly drab option, its only colour is the Mexico Air National Guard insignia on the vertical stabilizer and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award ribbon bar on the nose.

• Serial number 70-1039 of the Oklahoma Air National Guard’s 138 Tactical Fighter Group’s 125^th Tactical Fighter Squadron.  The machine is in South East Asia scheme and colour is provided by the Air National Guard shields and, red and white Oklahoma Air National Guard flash on the vertical stabiliser as well as the 125^th’s squadron insignia on the side of the fuselage.

• Serial number 74-1742 of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard’s 112th Tactical Fighter Group’s 146^th Tactical Fighter Squadron.  This machine too is in South East Asia scheme and colour is provided by the Black and yellow Pennsylvania Air National Guard flash on the vertical stabiliser as well as the 146^th’s squadron insignia and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award ribbon bar on the side of the fuselage.

• Serial number 72-0244 of the Colorado Air National Guard’s 120^th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 140^th Tactical Fighter Wing.  Camouflage finish is the South East Asia scheme and the provided markings depict her when the squadron was competing in the 1981 ‘Gunsmoke’ competition at Nellis Air Force base, Nevada.  Colour is provided via the squadron tiger’s head insignia surrounded by the words “World Champs” on the nose and the Colorado Air National Guard tail insignia on the vertical stabiliser.

• Serial number 71-0324 of the New Mexico Air National Guard’s 150th Tactical Fighter Wing’s 188^th Tactical Fighter Squadron based at Kirtland Air Force Base.  The machine is in overall Euro 1 scheme and bears the Mexico Air National Guard insignia on the vertical stabilizer and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award ribbon bar on the nose.

• Serial number 70-1028 of the Oklahoma Air National Guard’s 138 Tactical Fighter Group’s 125^th Tactical Fighter Squadron.  Camouflage is via a Euro1 scheme with colour being provided by white outline Air National Guard shields and, red and white Oklahoma Air National Guard flash on the vertical stabiliser as well as the 125^th’s squadron insignia on the side of the fuselage.

• Serial number 70-1049 of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard’s 112th Tactical Fighter Group’s 146^th Tactical Fighter Squadron from 1983.  Finish is Euro 1 scheme with the only colour coming from the Black and yellow Pennsylvania Air National Guard flash on the vertical stabiliser.

• Serial number 71-0341 of the Colorado Air National Guard’s 120^th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 140^th Tactical Fighter Wing at Buckley Air National Guard Base in 1990.  Camouflage finish is an overall two-tone grey one consisting of FS26118 gunship grey and FS26270 medium grey.  Colour is provided via the Colorado Air National Guard tail insignia on the vertical stabiliser and squadron tiger’s head insignia on the side of the fuselage.

• Serial number 69-6222 “Scrappy” of the Ohio Air National Guard’s 178^th Tactical Fighter Group’s 162^nd Fighter Squadron based at the Springfield Municipal Airport in 1991.  Camouflage finish is the overall two-tone grey one and colour is provided by the red and yellow Ohio Air National Guard flash on the top of the vertical stabiliser, the squadron insignia, wing shields and the word “Scrappy” on the nose.

• Serial number 72-0225 of the New Mexico Air National Guard’s 150th Tactical Fighter Wing’s 188^th Tactical Fighter Squadron whilst it was deployed to Cairo West in Egypt for Exercise Bright Star during 1981.  This bird is in overall South East Asia camouflage and colour is provided by the Mexico Air National Guard insignia and the words “New Mexico in yellow on the vertical stabilizer and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award ribbon bar on the nose.

• Serial number 72-0243 of the Colorado Air National Guard’s 120^th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 140^th Tactical Fighter Wing.  Camouflage finish is overall Euro 1 and the markings depict her when the squadron was competing in the 1981 ‘Gunsmoke’ competition at Nellis Air Force base, Nevada.  Colour is provided via the squadron tiger’s head insignia surrounded by the words “World Champs” on the nose and the Colorado Air National Guard tail insignia on the vertical stabiliser.

• Serial number 75-0388 of the New Mexico Air National Guard’s 150th Tactical Fighter Wing’s 188^th Tactical Fighter Squadron.  The markings depict it when it was competing in the 1991 “Gunsmoke” competition.   Camouflage is via an overall two-tone grey scheme and colour is provided by the Mexico Air National Guard insignia on the vertical stabilizer and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award ribbon bar on the nose.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

Support material is quite comprehensive.  It consists of four A-4 sized sheets printed on glossy paper that show full colour, clear and well drawn side profiles of each option as well as an upper and lower plan views.  Each of the different schemes is provided with left and right and upper and lower diagrams to show camouflage pattern and demarcation.  A list of suggested kits, references and available after market accessories is also included, as are detailed instructions on how to apply the decals. 

The decals themselves have been printed by Cartograf.  Everything on my sample sheet is in perfect register.  Two sets of stencil data and, national insignia markings are provided on a separate and smaller sheet.  The stencil data items are confined to the larger more visible items such as ejector seat triangle warnings and rescue markings. 

The support sheets/placement guide and decal sheets (there are two – the main sheet and the stencil data/national insignia sheet) come packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag. 

A very comprehensive product from the guys at AirDOC.  It provides markings for thirteen different machines in a variety of camouflage schemes with all-inclusive and well produced support material. 

The sheet is also available in 1/48 scale as ADM 48016 and in 1/32 scale as ADM3210. 

Recommended.

Thanks to AirDOC for the review sample

Review Copyright © 2007 by Rodger Kelly
Page Created 06 November, 2007
Last updated 24 December, 2007

Back to HyperScale Main Page