The Big 22

&

52nd Fighter Wing Viper History

1/48 scale

Afterburner Decals

Reviewed by Ken Bowes

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I first encountered the last of the red hot fighter squadrons when deployed to the Middle East in 2003 for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Their F-16CJs were at that time forward deployed from their base in Spangdahlem Germany, where it has been based since 1948, to provide “Wild Weasel” SEAD support for Coalition air operations against Iraq. At that time it appeared that Iraq possessed one of the densest integrated air defence systems in the world and that the SEAD jets would be worth their weight in gold. Whilst not quite panning out that way they certainly earned their keep during the initial air war. 48-023 is Afterburner Decals latest foray in modern USAF subjects and again have done an exceptional job providing decals for three iterations of the Squadron Commanders jet and four other line jets from the period between 2001 and 2007.

The decal options are provided on one A5 size sheet and include complete stenciling for two jets.

The subjects are:

• F-16CJ AF90-0829 CCIP, Commanders jet from Feb 2007.

• F-16CJ AF90-0829, Commanders jet as deployed to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar during OIF in March/April 2003. This jet has “The Big 22” in the red tail flash vice the more common “Stingers” title.

• F-16CJ AF91-0339, Commanders jet in 2001, with HARM mission marks from Operation Northern Watch

• F-16CJ AF90-0828 CCIP September 2005, with notes on how the jet looked in Fall 2007 at Balad AB Iraq in the new Have Glass finish.

• F-16CJ AF91-0342 CCIP March 2005.

• F-16CJ AF91-0833 CCIP March 2007, in Have Glass finish.

• F-16DJ AF91-0464 CCIP Fall 2006, in Have Glass finish.

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 and weapons carriage configurations for the various conflicts the 22^nd has deployed to. Also included are sources of conversions for these modifications. All prove very useful for getting a model spot-on. If the instructions are not enough there is a 44 image reference photo library linked off the Afterburner Decals page for the aircraft depicted.

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Parent Wing of the 22^nd FS is the 52^nd Wing is also based at Spangdalhem in Germany, having stood-up there in 1971. A long standing tradition of USAF Combat Wings is to have a number of jets marked up in the colours of all units of the Wing for the use of the Wing Commander and Executives. Afterburner sheet 48-024 documents the 52nd Wing King jet (AF91-0352) from the period of Operation Allied Force in 1999 through to 2006. Over that time the distinctive markings on this jet have changed, with the colour flashes denoting the 22^nd, 23^rd and 81^st fighter squadrons ranging from a simple tail band to plunging lightning bolts. Perhaps the highlight is the 2003 Operation Iraqi Freedom phase where the lightning bolts are accompanied by the Wing Shield.

As with 43-023 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 and weapons carriage configurations. Also included are sources of conversions for these modifications. If the instructions are not enough there is a 92 image reference photo library linked off the Afterburner Decals page for the aircraft depicted.

Like all new Afterburner sheets, the printing has been done by Italian company Catrograf. The quality looks extremely good with registration spot on. Unlike earlier releases these sheets are sized for the Tamiya F-16CJ kit which happens to include the CCIP mods out of the box thus negating the need for an aftermarket upgrade for some of the options.

Overall these two sheets represent good value for money and reflect Afterburners commitment to a high quality product.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Afterburner Decals for the review sample.

Review Copyright © 2008 by Ken Bowes
This Page Created on 17January, 2008
Last updated 17 January, 2008

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