MAW Decals

1/48 F-18D's of VMFA (AW) 332 "The Moonlighters"

Sheet Number: 48007

Reviewed by  Doug Hamilton, IPMS# 21985

MSRP: $11.99 You can obtain your copy of the decals by visiting their website at www.mawdecals.com or through your local hobby shop. This is the third sheet of markings from MAW Decals I have had the pleasure to review and I continue to be impressed. As MAW's latest offering to Air-dales everywhere, and others interested in Marine Corps aviation we find some very nice markings for three Moonlighters Hornets, tail code EA. VMFA (AW) 332 is another Marine squadron with a long and successful history reaching back to WW II as a torpedo bomber squadron. Having assumed an attack role, they followed the typical mission evolution path many Marine squadrons have taken during their lives. Known as the Moonlighters today, they were known as the Polka Dots when I was stationed next to them on the ramp at Cherry Point, circa 1973. Many elements of those unit markings are evident in latest versions of the units' markings. Transitioning from the venerable A-6E Intruder as the last Marine Corps unit to do so, into the F-18D and moving to MCAS Beaufort as part of MAG 31, the Moonlighters are currently in "Cadre Status" which means they have not been decommissioned, but are in a non-flying state, awaiting new aircraft types to arrive. The set contains four pieces of decal sheet, with markings for three complete airframes. (Proudly) printed by Microscale in their usual high quality manner all colors are in register, and look correct in terms of color. The markings for airframe #2, which is the most colorful of the three, utilize an overlay technique to produce the colorful tail and unit markings. This technique is easy to use, if allowing the previous decal to dry completely before adding the next one. For large markings with complex colors, this seems like a good solution to produce in register decals that also look good. Airframes #'s 1& 3 are also standard Hornet paint schemes, with #3 having the typical subdued markings. Bird #1 has a bit more color, but not nearly as much as #2's over the top, red and white beauty. The instructions are printed in color on four pages, which also contain typical weapons loads for the Hornet. All pertinent views of the airframes are shown, and are quite clear in identifying the sequences used to layering the markings. A crosshairs system is also used to aid in the alignment of subsequently applied decals. Assorted vents, EV lights, and chaff/flare faces complete the sheets. I like this sheet for a number of reasons, the most being the subject matter. I really enjoy Marine Corps subjects, and this sheet fits a hole nicely. The decals are thin and nicely printed. I would recommend this sheet, as well as all MAW sheets to anyone wishing to build Marine Corps aircraft. My thanks to Mr. Creighton Henthorn at MAW Decals and to IPMS for supplying this sample for review. Semper Fi.

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