Back in 1994, the US tried to intervene in the civil war in Somalia; with the expected results. During that time the USS Peleliu was off shore with its deployed Harrier II units. During these deployments, the AV-8 squadron will fall under the operational control of the ship's HMM unit and so all of these lanes were repainted with HMM-163 on the aft fuselage. To add to it, each aircraft had a different African animal head on the tail of the plane along with a small sharkmouth on the nose.

This makes for a rather distinctive set of markings and Superscale provides options for five of these planes along with enough insignia for all five. The aircraft are in the three tone grey scheme of FS36118, 36231 and 36320. The set also includes the slime lights for four.

Instructions provide the tie in with Modex/serial number/tail markings. All but one plane is the Night Attach version with the sensor on the nose. For tail markings, there is a rhino, gazelle, elephant, zebra and a big cat of some sort, either a tiger or cheetah. There are enough data markings for one aircraft and for kits you have a choice of either Hasegawa or Monogram in 1/48. Some Revell AG kits are actually Hasegawa molds inside, so pretty much whatever you buy, you can do at least one plane from this set.

 Cartograf is now Superscales default printer and the sheet is superbly done. There are insignia and data markings for one aircraft.

March 2010

Review copy courtesy of Squadron Products. Get yours at your local shop or on-line retailer. 

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