Afterburner Decals is a newcomer to the crowded world of aftermarket decals. Sheets 32-001 and 48-001 are their inaugural releases and it provides markings for four F-16CGs of the 388th Fighter Wing's 421st Fighter Squadron (the Black Widows) that took part in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).

The 421st Fighter Squadron twice deployed to the Middle East for OIF. Their first was in June 2003 to Al Udied, Qatar, with the second to Balad Air Base, Iraq in October/November of 2004. Afterburner Decals acknowledge both of these deployments and have supplied decals for aircraft involved in both deployments.

The individual machines are:

• First deployment - 88-0421 and 88-0512.

• Second deployment - 88-0471 and 88-0509.

The supplied markings are very comprehensive and complete. There is a fair bit of stencil data and even the squadron's spider insignia for the boarding ladder are included as well which is a good thing as it will be very visible in 1/32 scale. Enough markings are supplied to complete a single machine on the 1/32 scale sheet and two on the 1/48 scale sheet.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

The decals themselves are printed by Microscale. As expected from Microscale, the printing is first rate. The decals are very thin, in perfect register and there is an absolute minimum of carrier film surrounding each design.

Two A-4 sized placement sheets are included in the package. The first shows side profiles of each machine as well as painting instructions for the minor details like the wingtip missile rails.

The other sheet guides you with stencil data placement as well as supplying notes on what the aircraft carried during each deployment (two "loadout maps" also feature).

The sheet also advises work required to modify the Tamiya kit so as it accurately represents a 421st Fighter Squadron aircraft and of what aftermarket accessories are appropriate. The machines depicted by the decals also carry strengthening plates on their spines. Quaintly termed "scab plates",  a 1/32 scale die-cut set of these plates is available separately for any F-16 kits.

The placement guides, decal sheet and "scab plate" fret come packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag.

This is a quality debut from Afterburner decals, providing up to date markings for four machines as well as notes on their and the Squadron's deployment during OIF.

It is patently obvious that the guys who make up Afterburner Decals are modellers as they answered the questions to all of the "small stuff" that normally take you hours of research to realise.

Recommended.

Thanks to Afterburner Decals for the review sets

On-line sales are available from TwoBobs Decals web site.
 

Review Text Copyright © 2005 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 06 September, 2005
Last updated 06 September, 2005

Back to HyperScale Main Page