Scale 1/72
Manufacturer Print Scale
Decal Sheet ID 72-102
Decal Sheet Title A-10 Thunderbolt II - Desert Storm
Types Featured A-10A

Sheet 72-102 from Print Scale provides markings for 15 different A-10s. These are mostly from the Desert Storm time period, but some experimental camouflage schemes are also provided. Airframes featured are:-

  • 76-0531 "Stephanie Anne Bayou Babe" from the 706th TFS, 926th TFG based at King Fahd Airport, Saudi Arabia. Red fin tip and black "NO" tailcode with artwork on the right hand side of the nose;
  • 77-0272 "Desert Doc" from the 706th TFS, 926th TFG based at King Fahd Airport, Saudi Arabia. Red fin tip and black "NO" tailcode with artwork on the right hand side of the nose;
  • 78-0599 from the 355th TFS, 354th TFW based at King Fahd Airport, Saudi Arabia. Blue fin tip and black "NO" tailcode with artwork on the left hand side of the nose;
  • 79-0112 "Here Comes The Judge" from the 355th TFS, 354th TFW based at King Fahd Airport, Saudi Arabia. Blue fin tip with black "MB" tailcode with artwork on the left hand side of the nose;
  • 79-0096 "Honey Buns / Wicked Sensation" from the 353rd TFS, 354th TFW based at King Fahd Airport, Saudi Arabia. Red fin tip with black "MB" tailcode with artwork on both sides of the nose;
  • 78-0582 from the 46th TFTS but leased to the 706th TFS, 926th TFG and based at King Fahd Airport, Saudi Arabia. Blue fin with yellow stripe, black "BD" tailcode and "hog" nose art;
  • 81-0964 from the 511th TFS, 10th TFW during 1991, with black "AR" tailcode and nose art on the right hand side of the nose;
  • 80-0219 from the 509th TFS, 10th TFW. Black "AR" tailcode with white/grey/black tail stripe and nose art on both sides of the nose;
  • 77-0271 from the 706th TFS, 926th TFG during 1992, with red fin tip, black "NO" tail code and camel art on the right hand side of the nose.

The aircraft all carried the standard A-10A "Euro 1" scheme of FS36081, FS34092 and FS34102)

  • 79-0179 from the 74th EFS, 332d AEG based at Jacobabad, Pakistan during March 2002. Blue fin tip containing a white lightning stripe, black "FT" tailcode and full color shark-mouth on the nose;
  • 81-0954 of the 81st EFS, 455th AEW based at Bagram AB, Afghanistan during June 2003. Black fin tip with black "SP" tail code and wolf's head on the engine nacelles;
  • 80-0252 from the 75th EFS, 455th AEW based at Bagram AB, Afghanistan during February 2005. Black/white chequered fin tip with bladk "FT" tail code and full colour shark-mouth on the nose.

These aircraft carry the two tone grey scheme of FS36320 and FS36375 with a false FS36118 canopy on the underside (incorrectly stated in the instructions as FS36559 and FS36270)

  • 76-0552 from the 349th Wing, AFRES during 1995. This aircraft carried an experimental "Peanut" scheme comprising FS33303, FS33245 and FS33105 (the instructions incorrectly state FS24092, FS30118 and FS30227 as well as showing the serial number as 74-552);
  • 75-0258 from the 57th TTW painted for the JAWS exercise during 1978. Overall FS 30227 with irregular soft-edged patches of FS24092, FS34102 and FS30118, with black "WA" tailcodes and a black/yellow chequered fin stripe;
  • 75-0260 from the 57th TTW painted for the JAWS exercise. Overall FS30227 with irregular sharp-edged patches of FS24092, FS34102 and FS30118, with black "WA" tailcodes and a black/yellow chequered fin stripe.

Instructions comprise two sides of A4 and two sides of A5, both being color photocopies. A single side view is provided for each aircraft with a photograph of the real aircraft in each case. Upper, left and right camouflage schemes are provided for the Euro 1 aircraft, but there is no undersurface drawing. Review of the schemes show the upper scheme to be broadly correct but there are errors in the side views. There is no set of drawings for the grey scheme.

The decals are on a single sheet and are in good register. The individual aircraft markings are well printed; howver there are problems with the tail codes and serials. A-10's carry 12" tail codes, 6" "last three digits" as part of the serial number, and the "AF XX" is 2 1/2", but the markings provided on the sheet are a mixtiure of various sizes, some of which may be usable, and some of which will need replacing.

Overall, this sheet is useful for the individual aircraft markings, but is let down by the lack of proper camouflage scheme drawings and inconsistent tail markings.

Review and images by Chris St Clair