East Coast Superbug CAGs
Part 1: F/A-18E/F

Afterburner Decals, 1/32 scale

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

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To date, it seems that the fellows at Afterburner Decals have been reluctant to release sheets in 1/32 scale.  However, it seems that they are now dipping a tentative toe into the 1/32 scale pool with the release of three sheets.

This sheet is the first that Afterburner decals have released in 1/32 scale featuring U.S. Navy aircraft.

The sheet features three aircraft, two brightly marked Boeing F/A-18Es and a single F/A-18E CAG birds of the United States Navy’s Atlantic Fleet which is on the East coast of the United States.

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Thumbnail panels:

The individual aircraft are as follows:

• F/A-18E Bureau number 166776, modex 100 from VFA-31 Tomcatters.  The machine is depicted when VF-31 was assigned to CVW-8 and embarked aboard the USS George H.W Bush in the September of 2010.  The machine wears the standard Tactical Paint Scheme (TPS) worn by the Super Hornet consisting of FS36320 dark ghost grey over FS36375 light ghost grey (as are all the options on the sheet).  The machine was especially marked to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of VFA-31.

• F/A-18E Bureau number 166650, modex 100 from VFA-105 Gunslingers.  Depicted from the June of 2010 when the Gunslingers were assigned to CVW-3, aboard the USS Harry S. Truman.

• F/A-18F Bureau number 166805, modex 200 belonging to VFA-211 Checkmates.  Assigned to CVW-1 aboard the USS Enterprise, in the September of 2010.

The decals themselves have been printed by Cartograf and they are well and truly up to their usual excellent quality.  The decals are all in perfect register, thinly printed and have an absolute minimum of carrier film surrounding each subject.  There are three sheets with this release.  One very large one that measures 8 and a half inches wide by 10 and a quarter inches high and two smaller ones, one of which is carrying a pair of VF-31 tomcat squadron insignia which look to be replacement ones for the two on the main sheet as they appear to be too light.  The other smaller sheet carries what looks to be those decals that just could not be fitted onto the main sheet.

There is a single set of stencil data and high visibility national insignia.  The stencil data is exhaustive and includes the items worn by the ejector seats as well as the wing pylons.  Given this, you can model just one of the machines from the sheet.

The decals have been “sized” to fit the new Trumpeter Super Hornet kits.

The supporting information and details that come with the decals is well up to Afterburner Decals high standards.  The placement guide comes in the form of two glossy A-4 sized pages that are printed on both sides.  Three of the pages are printed in full colour and feature left and right hand side profiles of each option as well as three smaller generic upper surface plan views to show the differing styles of the black painted dorsal schemes.  The third page is in black and white and carries upper and lower plan views as well as left and right hand side profiles that show the placement of the stencil data items.

The placement guides and the three decal sheets come packed in a clear plastic zip lock bag.

An excellent sheet from Afterburner Decals which I am sure will be welcomed by the fans of 1/32 scale as they now have access to excellent quality decals to finish their kits in markings other than the ones supplied in the kit.

Thanks to Afterburner Decals for the sample

Review Copyright © 2011 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 9 August, 2011
Last updated 9 August, 2011

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