Viper East

F-16 Demo Team

1/48 scale

Afterburner Decals

Reviewed by Ken Bowes

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US Air Force Air Combat Command (ACC) has a number of single aircraft demonstration teams that each year display their major combat types at airshows throughout America and some foreign locales. Teams are drawn from operational wings and fly types such as the F-15C and E Eagle, A-10 Thunderbolt and the F-16 Fighting Falcon. This most recent decal release from Afterburner Decals provides makings for three F-16s that have been part of the Viper East team from the 20^th Fighter Wing since 2000. More information on the Viper East Team can be found on their official US Air Force website.

The decal options are provided on three sheets, one being A5 size, one half A5 with crew names and white backing for the decals from the third sheet which are complex badges and designs that have been Alps printed.

The principal subjects are:

• F-16CJ CCIP AF940048 from the 2006 season.

• F-16CJ CCIP AF923904 from the 2005 season.

• F-16CJ AF910353 from the 2004 season. This aircraft was credited with a MiG kill during Operation Allied Force over Yugoslavia in 1999 which is indicated by a green star under the cockpit.

• F-16CJ AF930534 from the 2000 season. This subject is provided as a tribute to MAJ Brison Phillips who was killed in an airshow crash in this aircraft in March 2000.

It is worth noting though that crew names and serial numbers are also provided for the secondary jets for the 2004, 05, and 06 seasons bringing the total possible options to seven, with stenciling for two complete aircraft included.

Click the thumbnails below to view images full-sized:

All subjects have large clear instructions associated with them including full colour profiles of both sides. In addition there are notes which highlight the appropriate modifications required for the later aircraft such as the CCIP mods to the nose. Also included are sources of conversions for these modifications. All prove very useful for getting a model spot-on. A nice touch is the inclusion of the complex artwork carried on the centerline luggage pod, including variations between the 2004, 05 and 06 pods. If the instructions are not enough there is an 88 image reference photo library linked of the Afterburner Decals page for the aircraft depicted.

It is not clear who printed these sheets for Afterburner (Microscale or Catrograf) but the quality looks extremely good with registration spot on. Whilst the instructions cite the 1/48 Hasegawa F-16CJ Block 50 kit as being appropriate I can see no reason whilst they would not work equally as well with the forthcoming Tamiya F-16CJ kit which includes the CCIP mods out of the box thus negating the need for an aftermarket upgrade.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Afterburner Decals for the review sample.

Review Copyright © 2007 by Ken Bowes
This Page Created on 26 February, 2007
Last updated 24 December, 2007

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