Golden Warriors

F/A-18A+ and F/A-18C
Operation Iraqi Freedom 2006-2007

Afterburner Decals, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

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The jets are a mixture of CAG, CO and ordinary old line birds so you pretty well get the whole cross section of both full colour and lo-viz markings that are currently seen aboard the carriers of the U.S. Navy all on the one sheet and they include two that were engaged in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM in 2003.

All of the machines featured are finished in the standard Tactical Paint Scheme (TPS) of Federal Standard 36320 dark ghost grey upper surfaces over Federal Standard 36375 light ghost grey with Federal Standard 36375 light ghost grey vertical stabilisers.

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The individual options provided on the sheet are:

• F/A-18C Bureau number 164687 the CAG bird from operation IRAQI FREEDOM in 2003 and allocated to (whilst each machine within a squadron carries the name of a squadron member, in practice it is flown by all of the squadron’s pilots).  Befitting a CAG bird, her squadron markings are all in full colour and these include the squadron’s title in black with yellow shadowing within a red and yellow arrow, CAG titles to both sides of the tops of the vertical stabilisers, 400 modex on the nose, NAVY titles on the rear fuselage, the words WAR PARTY and large stylised AJ airwing indicators on the inner surfaces of the vertical stabilisers all of which are black with yellow shadowing.  The squadrons’ Indian head unit marking on the vertical stabilisers are also in colour with yellow feathers with red and green tips to the feathers on the “war bonnet”.  Her national insignia are black.

• F/A-18C Bureau number 164647 modex 402 the XO’s aircraft, and the other operation IRAQI FREEDOM option.  Whilst this option does wear the same basic markings as the CAG bird all of the markings are black bar the AJ airwing indicator which is black with white shadowing.  Other differences include the names beneath the canopy and mission markings in the form of feather bedecked tomahawks to record missions undertaken during operation IRAQI FREEDOM.  The jet also differs in that it is fitted with IFF “bird slicer” blade antenna on the nose.  Her national insignia are also black.

• Moving forward to 2006 now, F/A-18C Bureau number 164687 again but depicted when it was assigned to the CAG of that time.  The jet’s markings have changed a fair bit since 2003.  The portside outer face of the vertical stabilizers now bear the insignia of Airwing 8 in full colour as well as the AJ airwing insignia which is black with yellow shadowing and the word “Factory” centred on a black arrow.  The starboard vertical stabiliser wears the Indian head insignia and the word “War Party” on the arrow as well as the AJ airwing indicator.  The inner faces of the vertical stabilisers wear the word “Estocin” on a ribbon indicating that the squadron was the winner of the Captain Michael J. Estocin award for meritorious achievement by a strike fighter squadron in 2003.  The spine still wears the full colour squadron titles centred on an arrow and the same yellow shadowing to the NAVY titles, 400 modex, WAR PARTY titles on the drop tanks and intake warnings and CAG titles.  New though are “Battle Es” and “Golden Spanner” award letters on the spine.  The jet also wears a unique marking too, the title “Carrier Airwing Eight CAPT “SIZE” SIZEMORE” above the NAVY title on the rear fuselage on the port side and CAPT JR HALEY on the starboard side markings that I have not seen on any F/A-18 before.  Her national insignia are in full colour.

• Next up is F/A-18C Bureau number 164675 modex 401, the Commanding Officer’s bird.  Her markings are pretty well the same as the previous option except that the squadron Indian head insignia replaces the Airwing 8 insignia and the CAG titles atop the vertical stabilisers are replaced with CO titles.  Other differences are that the Carrier Airwing Eight titles over the NAVY titles are replaced with the ship’s name, 400 modex is now 401 and the Estocin title on the inner face of the port vertical stabiliser is gone being replaced by the names of the winners of the “of the year” awards.  The name of the award and the winner’s names being central on a full colour squadron arrow insignia.  As per the previous option, her national insignia are also in full colour.

• 2007 now and first option is F/A-18A+ Bureau number 162886, the CAG bird of the time.  Markings are full colour Airwing insignia and AJ airwing designator on the port vertical stabiliser with full colour squadron Indian head insignia and AJ airwing indicator on the starboard side.  The insides of the vertical stabilisers bear no markings at all.  The CAG and DCAG names above the rear fuselage NAVY titles make a re-appearance and the standard yellow shadowing has been applied to the WAR PARTY, NAVY, 400 modex, Squadron titles, and intake warnings.  Other changes include “hash marks” to the Battle Es and Golden Spanner letters indicating that the squadron has won the awards twice and a set of full colour national insignia.

• F/A-18A+ 1 Bureau number 162902, modex 403, a Plain-Jane line bird.  Markings are the same as above less the Airwing Eight titles over the NAVY titles (replaced with the ship’s name) and the squadron’s Indian head insignia replacing the Airwing 8 insignia.  Her markings are all lo-viz including grey national insignia.

• F/A-18A+ Bureau number 162861, modex 411, another line bird with exactly the same markings bar the pilot’s and ground crew markings and with everything lo-viz.

Big is a good description of the main decal sheet!  It is 8" x 10¼" (205mm x 266mm) and is absolutely crammed full.  There is also a second smaller sheet provided.  The decals themselves are thin, in perfect register and there is an absolute minimum of film surrounding each design.  There appears to be two sets of stencil data provided with the appropriate differences – e.g. both black and dark grey walkway markings, grey, full colour and black national insignia.

The decals are accompanied by three A-4 sized pages.  These pages provide information on the placement of the squadron markings as well as the stencil data and the stores carried by the Hornet on the appropriate pylons.  All of these pages are good quality glossy paper and show full colour profiles of each option.

The support sheets and the two decal sheets are packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag.

The recommended kits are the appropriate Hasegawa offerings.

If you are a fan of U.S. Naval aviation and the F/A-18 this is a very good decal sheet.  It provides you with a range of markings indicative of modern-day practice in as much as it is a mixture of the lo-viz black, lo-viz grey and full-colour markings.  It also provides you with Bureau numbers in different fonts that seem to be making an appearance on the Atlantic Fleet Hornets.

Thoroughly Recommended.

Thanks to Afterburner Decals for the review sample.

Review Copyright © 2008 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 13 January, 2008
Last updated 13 January, 2008

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