USAF Armament Decal Sets
Parts 1 & 2

Afterburner Decals, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Ken Bowes

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One key element that to my mind completes a model of a modern combat aircraft is the installation of ordnance or things under the wings. However it is not as simple as just adding bombs, rockets, missiles or assorted ECM and targeting pods. After spending hours or days applying the hundreds of maintenance stencils to a complete model, why would the AMS afflicted modeler not want to ensure that the weapons hanging from the pylons are not also as complete as possible. Up until now the modeler has had to rely on the sometimes dubious decals supplied with the kit, except in the case of air to air missiles where at least the AIM-7, AIM-9 and AIM-120 families have received some well need attention from Two Bobs. With these releases Afterburner has also stepped up to the plate, filling some much needed gaps in modern weapons markings, suitable both for the recent Hasegawa Set D and some of the better releases from Academy and Kinetic amongst others.

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AD48-055 covers a range of modern air to air and air to ground missiles, jamming pods and the newest targeting pods being seen both on US and Allied aircraft that have seen action over Iraq and Afghanistan. Included are markings for the AIM-120C, AIM-9M and X, AGM-88 HARM, AGM-65D and G Maverick, ALQ-131 and 184 jamming pods and LANTIRN, LITENING and SNIPER navigation and targeting pods as well as the APX-95 ACMI pod. On top of this, Afterburner provides decals for USAF style square ALE-47 Chaff/Flare dispensers with full loads of 2x1 Flares and 1x1 Chaff cartridges loaded, a very nice touch indeed.
AD48-056 is dedicated to both guided and dumb bombs including the ubiquitos GBU-10 and 12, as well as more exotic weapons such as the GBU-27, GBU-24 and GBU-31 with the BLU-109 hard target penetrator 2000lb warhead and the GBU-31 with the Mark 84 GP warhead. To round off this sheet are markings for the Mark 82 500lb bomb in both dumb configuration and as the GBU-38 JDAM. Finally there are markings for the CBU-103 wind corrected munitions dispenser which was widely used by F-16CJs amongst other types during OIF.

Afterburner Decals has put together a slick package with detailed instructions on a full colour A4 page for each set. Instructions include suggestions for alternative weapons colour schemes as Olive Drab makes way for various grays on GBUs as well as suggestions for the best source of weapons for the most accurate replica. The majority are sized for Hasegawa Weapons Set D but others are designed for weapons in the new Tamiya F-16s and those from Shull24. The printer, Cartograph, continues to produce outstanding decals. Each design is crisp and in perfect register with the sheets literally crammed with artwork.

In conclusion then, if your interest is in modern American combat aircraft or those from Allied Nations, particularly those that have been used in recent conflicts then Afterburner Decals is an outstanding source for your needs.

Thanks to Afterburner Decals for the sample

Review Copyright © 2009 by Ken Bowes
This Page Created on 10 November, 2009
Last updated 10 November, 2009

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