PMA 1/72 ROCAF E-2T Hawkeye
By Chris Banyai-Riepl
Overview
Taiwan is one of the smaller operators of the Grumman E-2 Hawkeye. In the mid-1990s, Taiwan picked up four E-2 Hawkeye aircraft, and those aircraft significantly increased the advance warning time of an attack from the mainland. These four aircraft were technically rebuilt E-2A/B Hawkeyes to appease mainland China, but while parts came from four older Hawkeyes, these aircraft were essentially E-2C Group II aircraft with advanced radar systems. Two new E-2C Hawkeye 2000 aircraft were commissioned in 2006, and the older E-2T aircraft were later upgraded to the same level.
The Decals
This decal sheet from PMA covers all six Taiwanese E-2 Hawkeye aircraft, although the instructions provide information on only four of them. The colors for these Hawkeyes are pretty minimal: overall gray with black antiglare panel and deicer boots. This makes painting the model very simple, and leaves all the detailing up to the decals. The sheet provides all the basic unit markings for both high vis and low vis schemes, as well as comprehensive stenciling. There are also individual aircraft serial numbers, with several aircraft having different styles. Check your references to see which one to use at what time.
For the individual aircraft, the front page has #2505, which features high visibility roundels and a colorful unit emblem on the nose. This is apparently for the ROC Centennial, and is in red, white and blue. This same emblem is provided in low vis colors as well, and aircraft #2506 wears this emblem (along with the corresponding low vis roundels). In addition to the individual aircraft number and the unit emblem on the fuselage sides, there is also a small emblem on the nose wheel door.
The second scheme has an eagle shield emblem on the right side and a diving eagle round emblem on the left side. Again, these are provided in both high vis and low vis examples, although the instructions only show the high vis example. Some searching online will undoubtedly turn up photos of which aircraft has which scheme (and they might all have transitioned to low vis by now). As the first four Taiwanese E-2s were delivered with the four-bladed propellers, markings are included for those in addition to the eight-bladed propellers used now. Other markings include lots of fuselage and engine stencils as well as one set of upper fuselage/wing walkways.
Conclusion
This is a simple decal sheet, but one of a relatively unknown air force. The quality of decals is excellent, and these will definitely make for something a bit different on the model shelf. My thanks to PMA for the review sample.