Hellenic Air Force Vipers
Part 1

Zeus Projects, 1/48 scale

S u m m a r y
Catalogue Number, Description and Price:	Zeus Projects Item No. 4801 - Hellenic Air Force Vipers Part 1 €20.90 (€24.87 incl. VAT 19% - applies to EU customers only) plus shipping available online from the48ers.com
Scale:	1/48 scale
Contents and Media:	One decal sheets; 20 page instruction and reference booklet.
Review Type:	FirstLook
Advantages:	Excellent reference and instruction booklet; luxrious Cartograf printed decals with thin carrier film, good colours and registration; includes new condition and faded national markings; incudes full stencil markings with perfect registration.
Disadvantages:	None noted
Conclusion:	The reference and instruction booklet is worth the price of admission alone. This is a comprehensive and attractive package that will allow you to finish your F-16C or F-16D as any late Block Viper in Greek service. I personally think that these Hellenic F-16s wear the most interesting schemes of any in service.

Reviewed by Brett Green

Zeus Projects has released an ambitious decal set covering 1/48 scale F-16C/D Block 52+ and Block 52Ms in Greek service.

The decals are accompanied by a high quality booklet printed on 20 pages of glossy paper with a heavyweight cover.

The first ten pages of the booklet supplies large and beautifully reproduced reference photos of single seater and two seater Hellenic Vipers on the ground, in the air and in detail. Some of the wear and tear apparent on the paintwork is simply breathtaking - there is no way you could go overboard with these weatherbeaten subjects!

There is a series of detail photos of front and rear cockpits and avionics.

External details are not fogotten either, with photos of undercarriage legs and bays, canopies, weapons, conformal fuel tanks, burner cans and more.

The remaining nine pages provide side views, upper and lower views, scrap views and tails with bands, artwork and numbers. The illustrations are supported by helpful captions.

The full A4-sized decal sheet includes national markings and numbers as well as a number of interesting and unique markings, right down to a Spartan inverted V symbol on the headrest of one ejection seat. The attention to detail here is admirable.

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To quote Zeus Projects themselves regarding the contents of this set:

"F-16C/D Hellenic Air Force Vipers - Part I decal set includes markings and full stencils in 1/48 for up to 4 F-16C/D Block 52+ and 16C/D Block 52 Advanced in service with Hellenic (Greek) Air Force (HAF).

This magnificent, printed by Cartograf Italy, A4 size (approx.. 210mm x 297mm or 8-1/4 x 11-3/4 in.) decal sheet allows the modeller to build a model depicting one of the following HAF squadrons: 337 “Ghost” Sq., 340 “Fox” Sq., 343 “Star” Sq. (operating F-16C/D Block 52+) as well as the 335 “Tiger” Sq. and 336 “Olympos” Sq. (operating F-16C/D Block 52 Advanced Vipers).

Full stencils and markings are provided to model the “1045” frame, a previously F-16C block 50 Viper upgraded to the Advanced specifications and the only one with a GE engine!

Key items included:

1. Standard as well as “worn” markings

2. Canopy frame stencils (x2) 

3. Full cockpit and wheel bay stencils

4. Squadrons’ tail badges 

5. Exhaust nozzle & ring stencils (2 versions)"

The set is designed to be used with the Tamiya kits but it may be used for any other late block F-16 kit - Kinetic and Hasegawa come to mind - with only minor modifications.

This is quite a luxurious decal set. The reference and instruction booklet is worth the price of admission alone.

Zeus Projects' Hellenic Air Force Vipers Part 1 is a comprehensive and attractive package that will allow you to finish your F-16C or F-16D as any late Block Viper in Greek service.

I personally think that these Hellenic F-16s wear the most interesting schemes of any Vipers in current service.

Text and Images Copyright © 2021 by Brett Green
Page Created 22 March, 2021
Last updated 23 March, 2021

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