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Desert Storm Vipers

Bullseye Model Aviation, 1/48 scale

S u m m a r y
Catalogue Number: Bullseye Model Aviation Item No. 48004 – Desert Storm Vipers: 388th TFW Al Minhad
Scale: 1/48
Contents and Media: Waterslide decal sheets and colour instructions
Price:

USD$15.99 plus shipping available exclusively from Sprue Brothers
Review Type: FirstLook
Advantages: Markings for ten different aircraft. Excellent decals. Instruction artwork is detailed and precise; colour density, and registration are excellent; data stencils are sharp; printed by Cartograf.
Disadvantages: None noted.
Conclusion: Highly Recommended.

 

Reviewed by David Harmer


Eagle Cals Spitfire Decals are available online from Squadron.com

 

B a c k g r o u n d

 

Bullseye Model Aviation’s fourth release offers you the opportunity to model Vipers of 388th Fighter Wing as deployed to Al Minhad AB in the United Arab Emirates during Desert Shield/Storm.

Collectively the aircraft of the wing dropped approximately 3 million pounds of ordinance in Kuwait and Iraq in 3800 sorties. All the decals included are for line jets, so the colour choices aren’t as diverse as Bullseye’s remarkable Aggressor Vipers set, but reference images abound, giving you the chance to model a battle tested bombed up Viper.

 

 

F i r s t   L o o k

 

Markings for 10 Block 40 F-16CG deployed with the 388th TFW during Desert Shield/Storm are included.  The decals are sized to fit the Tamiya family of F-16 kits. However, Bullseye recommends using the Aggressor boxing as any C model block can be made out of the box.  The Wide Angle Raster (WAR) HUD, bulged gear doors, heavyweight gear and nose gear landing lights necessary to model an early Block 40 F-16 are all included in that kit.

 

 

As with Bullsye’s F/A-18C Hornets of VFA-81 Sunliners decals and its other releases, these are excellent decals. The colour density, and registration are spot on.

 

 

The number of marking options and inclusion of data stencils for two separate aircraft make excellent value for money.


Markings

Markings are provided for the following F-16CG Block 40 Falcons:

  1. F-16CG Block 40, 88-0449, 421 TFS/388 TFW, Al Minhad AB, UAE, 1990/91, Wing CC Aircraft

  2. F-16CG Block 40, 88-0421, 421 TFS/388 TFW, Al Minhad AB, UAE, 1990/91, Sqn CC Aircraft

  3. F-16CG Block 40, 88-0416, 421 TFS/388 TFW, Al Minhad AB, UAE, 1990/91

  4. F-16CG Block 40, 88-0454, 421 TFS/388 TFW, Al Minhad AB, UAE, 1990/91

  5. F-16CG Block 40, 88-0480, 4 TFS/388 TFW, Al Minhad AB, UAE, 1990/91, Sqn CC Aircraft

  6. F-16CG Block 40, 88-0506, 4 TFS/388 TFW, Al Minhad AB, UAE, 1990/91, Wing CC Aircraft

  7. F-16CG Block 40, 88-0474, 4 TFS/388 TFW, Al Minhad AB, UAE, 1990/91

  8. F-16CG Block 40, 88-0468, 69 TFS/347 TFW, King Fahd IAP, Saudi Arabia, 1991, Sqn CC Aircraft

  9. F-16CG Block 40, 88-0525, 69 TFS/347 TFW, King Fahd IAP, Saudi Arabia, 1991

  10. F-16CG Block 40, 88-0515, 69 TFS/347 TFW, King Fahd IAP, Saudi Arabia, 1991

The instructions include details of typical aircraft loadouts.

 

 

The opportunity to add a convincing weapons load is always appreciated and, in my view, is what will make your build stand out from the rest. I always find it hard to go past Mk 82s fitted to triple ejector racks but five different weapons configurations are described in the instructions.

 

 

C o n c l u s i o n

 

Excellent decals that will allow you to model a convincing Desert Shield/Storm F-16CG.  

Sample provided by Bullseye Model Aviation

Text Copyright © 2017 by David Harmer
This Page Created on 20 August, 2017
Last updated 21 August, 2017

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