Air National Guard
Viper Wing Kings II

Afterburner Decals, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Ken Bowes

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Following on from their first epic ANG F-16 Sheet, Afterburner has released another batch of colourful and intriguing subjects covering twelve Wing Commanders aircraft from nine states in a range of timeframes and sub-types. Like the earlier sheet, this release takes advantage of Cartograf’s ability to print large format sheets in perfect register to pack in another great set of subjects.

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Notwithstanding the ANG subject matter, there really is something for everyone here from F-16A Block 10 aircraft to F-16 Block 42s. The subjects on part two include:

• AF-79-0403 F-16A Block 10 174th TFW NY ANG deployed to Al Kharj (later Prince Sultan Airbase) Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm. These aircraft used the GPU-5 Pave Claw 30mm gun pod included in the early Hasegawa weapons set and finally gives the modeler a reason to use it. 

• AF81-0702  F-16ADF Block 15 107th FIG NY ANG

• AF82-0951 F-16ADF Block 15 119th FW North Dakota ANG.

• AF83-1148 F-16C Block 25 177th FW New Jersey ANG

• AF83-1155 F-16C Block 25 148th FW Minnesota ANG

• AF85-1552 F-16C Block 30 113th FS Indiana ANG

• AF87-0230 F-16C Block 30 132nd FW Iowa ANG

• AF88-0401 F-16C Block 30 140th FW Colorado ANG

• AF89-2019 F-16C Block 42 132nd FW Iowa ANG . Interestingly this aircraft carries mission marks on the nose but the conflict it earned these in is not noted and some research will have to be carried out to identify it.

• AF89-2098 F-16C Block 42 180th FW Ohio ANG

• AF89-2100 F-16C Block 42 162nd FW Arizona ANG

• AF84-1264 F-16C Block 25 122nd FW Indiana ANG in a retro D-D scheme with orange tail surfaces and D-Day aircraft recognition stripes around the wings and rear fuselage.

The subjects of this sheet unsurprisingly range from the original standard production three colour camouflage scheme to the later two colour scheme, most with the addition of large colourful tail art denoting Wing ownership and traditional ANG pride. Unfortunately due to the BRAC program in the US, many of these units have either disbanded, changed mission or been reequipped with new aircraft types making some of them more of a tribute. In addition to the specific airframe markings including crew names, Afterburner provides stenciling for two complete airframes. Given the wide range of subjects, these stencils address some of the changes seen on USAF and ANG F-16s including orange, outline and gray style ejection seat warning triangles and other model unique variations.

Afterburner always provides detailed instructions and the range of subjects depicted demand more than the usual. They come printed on no less than 15 A4 pages and include stencil placement diagrams and very useful sheets of diagrams and text describing the various small differences applicable to the various F-16 sub-types from Block 10 A models to Block 42 C Models. The Indiana Block 25 gets its own full page leaving no doubt how the colour scheme and decals need to be applied to this unusual aircraft. Also included are standard stores configuration diagrams for Operations Desert Storm, Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom in which these units have seen action. Overall this is a quality set of decals which cover another collection of highly colourful ANG F-16 operators from the last twenty odd years and certainly different from the more generic regular USAF units.

This sheet is mandatory for any fan and modeler of the ANG F-16 in its various guises and great follow-on to ANG Wing Kings One (Sheet 48-030).

Thanks to Afterburner Decals for the sample

Review Copyright © 2010 by Ken Bowes
This Page Created on 27 May, 2010
Last updated 27 May, 2010

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