Caracal Models 1/48 AV-8A/C Harrier USMC Decal First Look
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | March 2013 | Manufacturer | Caracal Models |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | AV-8A/C Harrier USMC | Scale | 1/48 |
| Set Number | 48027 | Pros | Twelve nice subjects |
| Cons | No AV-8Cs included | Skill Level | Basic |
| MSRP (USD) | $15.99 |
First Look
Here is the latest release from Caracal Models, this time rendering some nice markings of the AV-8A Harrier in 1/48 scale. The title indicates that there are AV-8Cs in the set, but none are included with this release. This set is targeted for the Monogram kit, and you'll need to fabricate some ventral strakes and air dams to update the Monogram kit to an AV-8C. This set provides a really nice mixture of subjects including a flight test bird, one in winter camo, and a nice selection of high and low visibility camouflage schemes to span the operational life of the original Marine jump-jet.
The aircraft covered include:
- AV-8A, 158703, NAS Patuxent River
- AV-8A, 158702, VMA-231,winter camouflage
- AV-8A, 159248, VMA-231, USS Roosevelt
- AV-8A, 159256, VMA-231
- AV-8A, 159248, VMA-231
- AV-8A, 158967, VMA-542
- AV-8A, 158950, VMA-542
- AV-8A, 158976, VMA-513
- AV-8A, 159368, VMAT-203
- AV-8A, 159252, VMAT-203
- AV-8A, 158975, VMA-513 Det. A
- AV-8A, 158966, VMA-513 Det. B
The markings are nicely printed (by Cartograf) and provide national markings, distinctive markings, as well as a nice set of airframe stencils. The decals are all single-layer - none of them require you to stack one decal atop another to recreate complex art as with some other decal manufacturers.
For more information about this set and the other releases from Caracal Models, visit their website at http://caracalmodels.com.
My sincere thanks to Caracal Models for this review sample!