F/A-18C/E/F; EA-18G
"Team Factory: CVW-8 at War"

Furball Aero Design, 1/72 scale
Reviewed by David Couche

HyperScale is proudly supported by Squadron.com
This set covers CVW-8’s Hornets, Super Hornets, and Growlers from their 2017 cruise in support of Operation Inherent Resolve aboard the USS George H.W.Bush (CVN-77) in July 2017. Operation Inherent Resolve is the US military’s operational name for the military intervention against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
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The USS George H.W.Bush operated Carrier Wing 8, with the majority of the aircraft being F-18’s of various versions.

This decal set is a comprehensive offering with 18 different aircraft depicted. There are also sufficient stencil and data decals are included to build 4 complete models. Options are included to build 5 F/A-18Fs, 8 F/A-18Es, 3 F/A-18Cs, & 2 EA-18Gs. Many of these aircraft have high-vis tail schemes as well as some interesting nose art and mission markings.

Here are the specifics on the jets that are included:
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VFA-31 F/A-18E 166776 (AJ 100) JULY 2017: Black-tailed Felix CAG with special “Colonial” markings for the USS Bush’s visit to the UK. This jet has 13 mission markings on the nose.
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VFA-31 F/A-18E 166776 (AJ 100) SEPT 2017: Black-tailed Felix CAG with standard squadron logos. This jet has 26 mission markings on the nose.
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VFA-31 F/A-18E 166783 (AJ 107) 2017: Low Visibility line jet with 56 mission marks on the nose
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VFA-31 F/A-18E 169120 (AJ 151) 2017: Low Visibility line jet borrowed from VFA-106 with unique “Gladiator Felix” insignia on the tails. This jet had 40 mission marks on the nose
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VFA-213 F/A-18F 166663 (AJ 200) 2017: Blue tailed tanker configured CAG with “Angry Bird” logo on the nose.
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VFA-213 F/A-18F 166674 (AJ 201) 2017: Lo-Viz CO jet with black markings and unique squadron insignia on the tail. 63 mission marks on the nose.
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VFA-213 F/A-18F 166682 (AJ 204) 2017: Lo-Viz line jet with medium gray markings. 110 mission marks on the nose.
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VFA-213 F/A-18F 166639 (AJ 213) 2017: Lo-Viz line jet with medium gray markings and unique squadron insignia on the tail. 17 mission marks on the nose.
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VFA-213 F/A-18F 166640 (AJ 214) 2017: Lo-Viz line jet with medium gray markings. 78 mission marks on the nose.
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VFA-87 F/A-18E 168910 (AJ 300) 2017: Golden Warriors’ retro-style CAG jet with markings similar to those worn when the unit flew A-7s. 77 mission marks on the nose.
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VFA-87 F/A-18E 168912 (AJ 302) 2017: SU-22 shooter with small Syrian flag and SU-22 silhouette under the front canopy. 50 mission marks on the nose.
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VFA-87 F/A-18E 168913 (AJ 303) 2017: Lo-Viz line jet with medium gray markings and 43 mission marks on the nose.
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VFA-87 F/A-18E 168915 (AJ 305) 2017: Wingman during SU-22 shootdown mission. Lo-Viz line jet with medium gray markings and 34 mission marks on the nose.
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VFA-37 F/A-18C 165187 (AJ 400) 2017: Blue tailed Bulls CAG jet with 40 mission marks under the left leading-edge extension. Tail interiors feature the names of fallen heroes lost during the fight against terror.
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VFA-37 F/A-18C 165221 (AJ 404) 2017: Blue and red tailed 50th Anniversary jet with 36 mission marks under the left leading-edge extension.
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VFA-37 F/A-18C 164632 (AJ 401) 2017: Lo-Viz CO jet with 18 mission marks under the left leading-edge extension.
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VAQ-131 EA-18G 168772 (AJ 500) 2017: Lo-Viz Lancers’ CAG jet with 66 mission marks on the nose.
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VAQ-131 EA-18G 168775 (AJ 503) 2017: Lo-Viz line jet with 57 mission marks on the nose.
All of these aircraft are provided as coloured profiles in the normal Furball thorough manner.

Also included, is a very useful load out chart so you may accurately match you ordinance to each units mission profiles.
This high quality set supply’s a great range of F-18 decals for the Carrier Wing 8 aircraft. Just this set would keep a US carrier aviation modeller going for a long time. If modelling time was unlimited, I would certainly be tempted to build a number of these schemes. This set is highly recommended.
Thanks to Furball Aero-Design for the sample.
Text and Images Copyright © 2018 by David Couche
This Page Created on 27 May, 2018
Last updated
28 May, 2018
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