Mike Grant Decals 1/48 Convair B-58 Hustlers

By Robert Allen

The sleek Convair B-58 Hustler is remembered far more for its looks and technical innovation than either the length or breadth of its service. Only 116 examples, including pre-production and test aircraft, were made of the first operational Mach 2 bomber. They served with only two USAF Bomber Wings, for just ten years from 1960 to 1970. Perhaps because of this limited service, kits of the B-58 have not been plentiful; there are just three reasonably modern kits, thankfully in three different scales – in 1/144 by Academy, 1/72 by Italeri, and 1/48 by Monogram.

The 1/48 scale Monogram kit has been in and out of production for several years. It’s generally a fine kit that has suffered from substandard decals in each of its incarnations. For this reason, Mike Grant’s latest screen-printed decals are especially welcome. There are three separate sheets – one large sheet with national markings, USAF titles, and stenciling, and two smaller sheets with the necessary individual markings for two aircraft apiece. Both the stenciling sheet and one or the other of the individual sheets would be needed to complete an aircraft. Instructions are black and white profiles, but as with other Mike Grant Decals, the full color artwork is viewable on their web site.

“Convair B-58 Hustlers: Stencilling Sheet” includes national insignia, titles, and stenciling. Many of the decals are intended as direct replacements for the ones on the Monogram sheet. Only one wing insignia is included, as most B-58s had no underwing insignia. The stenciling is crisp and quite readable, and a full set of walkways is included, though the instructions don’t indicate where the walkways go.

“Convair B-58 Hustlers: 1” contains markings for two B-58As; 61-2053 from the 305th BW, and 58-1011 from the 43rd BW. Both are in the B-58’s standard natural metal scheme with SAC bands on the port nose and unit badges on the starboard - the long rumored “camouflaged B-58” has to be the Loch Ness Monster of aircraft markings! Both have distinctive touches – 12053 has a yellow “winged 2” on the fin, and 081011 has “The Pulaski Hustler” marked on the forward fuselage. If you have the Barnes & Noble book The Gatefold Book of American Combat Aircraft, 12053 is the B-58 featured in the four-foot long gatefold.

“Convair B-58 Hustlers: 2” includes two B-58A from non-SAC squadrons. “Super Sue” is 58-1007 from the 6592nd TS, while 55-662 is from the ARDC at Edwards AFB. The second aircraft is visually the most impressive of the four choices, with a white-bordered black flash, which includes the USAF Flight Test Center badge, on a red fin. If it looks familiar, it probably is; this is the aircraft featured (incorrectly marked, it turns out) on the cover of Kenneth Munson’s Bombers entry in the classic Pocket Encyclopedia of World Aircraft series.

As with all of the Mike Grant Decals I’ve so far seen, the artwork and printing is exemplary. Although the B-58 is handicapped by not having that many different schemes to choose from, these are all interesting examples, and if you’re planning to build the Monogram kit, the quality of these decals as compared to the kit decals makes them a must.

Thanks to Mike Grant Decals for the review copies.