Lakenheath Eagles 1999-2006

493rd Fighter Squadron

1/48 scale

Afterburner Decals

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

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Fans of the F-15 Eagle will be delighted with AD 48-005, the latest release from the guys at Afterburner Decals.  It provides markings for no less than nine Eagles, eight –Cs and a single –D. 

As the title states, the sheet spans the years between 1999 and 2006 and provides the various marking differences worn by the 493^rds machines during that era. 

The individual machines are: 

• F-15C 86-164, flown by Lieutenant Colonel William MacLure, the Commanding Officer of Operation Allied Force in March 1999.

• F-15C 86-0156, a double Mig killer flown by Captain Jeff Hwang during Operation Allied Force on 26 March 1999.

• F-15C 86-0159, also a Mig killer flown by Captain Mike Shower during Operation Allied Force on 24 March 1999.

• F-15C 84-014, a line jet during Operation Allied Force in March, 1999 flown by Captain Robert McMurray.  It also wears an Iraqi flag “kill marking” from Operation Desert Storm in 1991 where it shot down an SU-22 whilst being piloted by Captain John Doneski.

• F-15C 86-0169, flown by Lieutenant Colonel Cesar Rodriguez, during Operation Allied Force on 24 March 1999. It wears a Serbian flag “kill marking” signifying the Mig-29 shot down by Colonel Rodriguez during the conflict.

• F-15C 84-027, flown by, Lieutenant Colonel Brian Denholm during the period 2003 – 2006 whilst he was 493^rd’s Commanding Officer.

• F-15C 94-019, A line jet, it wears two Iraqi flag “kill markings” to signify the two SU-25s shot down by Lieutenant Robert Hehemann during Operation Desert Storm on 6 February 1991 (the machine was assigned to the 53^rd Tactical Fighter Squadron at this time).

• F-15C 86-165, two sets of markings are provided for this option.  Firstly, when it served as the Commanding Officers aircraft during the period 2003 – 2004 and when it served as a line jet in 2005.  It wears subtle but different markings from the other machines on the sheet.

• F-15D 84-044, the sole –D on the sheet, its markings indicate it was flown by Major Joe Bermel.

What really makes Afterburner Decals stand out from the others is the support material they provide with their sheets.  AD 48-005 is no exception. 

Apart from an A-4 sized decal sheet, you get three A-4 sized glossy sheets that are printed in full colour.  One sheet contain profiles of each machine (mostly left hand side ones but you do get two right hand side ones to show the camouflage pattern) A “marking guide” that shows each of the variations in the different shields worn by the aircraft (48^th Tactical Fighter Wing, United States Air Force Europe, the old 493^rd Fighter Squadron shield and the newer versions), the “kill markings”, and the pilot/ground crew name boarders.  Another sheet carries upper and lower plan views, weapons and stores load out keys for Operation Allied Force and those used during 2006, and a full page stencil data placement guide.  The final sheet is single-sided and carries comprehensive notes on each of the aircraft on the sheet (bar the final –D option). 

Click the thumbnails below to view images full-sized:

As stated above, the main decal sheet is A-4 sized with two smaller sheets that contain the individual markings for 86-0169 and the “kill marking” flags.  The latter is very small so be careful when you are opening the bag! 

The decals themselves are printed by Microscale (apart from the tiny “kill markings” sheet – more on this below!).  Several of the individual decals have been provided as two-part designs to get around register and curvature problems.  An example of the latter are the tail flashes.   

Now for the “kill markings” sheet!  This looks to be an Alps printed effort to me and they just don’t measure up to the other markings.  They appear to be “blurred” and slightly out of register to me.  To be fair to the guys at Afterburner though, trying to produce tiny Iraqi flags would not be all that easy and some deft attention with a scalpel will improve them no end. 

There is stencil data a plenty too with what looks to be enough for four machines in all.  There is also a pair of yellow outline squadron badges for the intake covers should you decide to shell out for the Steel Beach intake cover set. 

The decals and the supporting information/placement guides come packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag. 

Afterburner advises that the decals are designed for the (beautiful!) Hasegawa kit. 

All up, a well researched and well presented product.  It provides you with markings for nine machines as well as individual histories for each option and a background on the evolution of the markings worn by the Eagles of the 345^th Fighter Squadron.  Definitely value for money as far as I am concerned. 

Recommended!

Thanks to Afterburner Decals for the review sample.

Review Copyright © 2007 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 23 April, 2007
Last updated 24 December, 2007

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