Question re unit markings AV-8B Harrier VMA-513 Flying Nightmares

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
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Hi all,

I’m a bit embarassed to ask this question as I have minimal knowldege of modern USAF aircraft but have been bitten by the jet bug of late. I haven’t built a modern jet model for atleast a decade so I’m making up for lost time!

I am about to embark on the 1/48 Hasegawa AV-8B Harrier in the livery of VMA-513 Flying Nightmares . The tail of the aircraft is painted blue. I believe this unit may have been deployed as part of Operating Iraqi Freedom. Once the aircraft is in a combat zone, are the colorful blue and yellow tail markings painted over or left as is?

Cheers,

Steven

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VMA-513, like most Marine/Navy Squadrons have a “Show Bird”. It’s usually the aircraft with a 00 modex number and is painted in a colorful scheme and has the COs name on the rail. As far as I know the paint schemes on those aircraft are not toned down on deployment. But remember only one plane in the squadron is painted like that, all of the others are grey.