Aeromaster 48-561 is the first sheet of a two part issue covering the fighter/attack squadrons of CVW-2 based aboard the USS Constellation in 2001. 

This sheet covers two of the F/A-18C squadrons, VFA-151 “Vigilantes”, and VFA-137 “Kestrels” (or as they are irreverently termed by rival squadrons - “The Flying Butt Cheeks”.  A close examination of their tail markings reveals why!) 

All three aircraft are painted in the standard F/A-18 Tactical Paint Scheme (TPS) of FS 36320 dark ghost grey over FS 36375 light ghost grey with the radome being tan with a bare metal tip. 

The first option is Bureau number 164703 the aircraft “owned” by VFA-151’s CO.  This aircraft bears a variation of the Vigilantes markings that hark back to the days when they flew the F-4.  The markings are unusual in that they are all grey.  Normally, the CO’s aircraft has its markings in colour.  Nonetheless, it is still quite striking.  The markings consist of: 

• A stylized jet with three triangular stripes that incorporate CVW-2’s NE airwing identifier for the outer surfaces of the vertical stabilizers.

• The squadron insignia of a skull surrounded by neutrons with a bayonet between its teeth for the inner surfaces of the vertical stabilizers.

• “CO” scripts for the fin caps.

• USS Constellation and NAVY titles as well as the Bureau number for the rear fuselage.

• VF-151 titles for the spine.

• Vigilante titles for the strake/fence on the LEX.

• 301 modex for the nose, tops of flaps and the inner sides of the fin caps.

The VFA-137 aircraft is Bureau number 164693, modex 405.   This jet bears pretty well standard markings for a VFA-137 machine (Reference photo is not of this specific aircraft). They consist of: 

• The stylized kestrel marking and NE airwing identifiers for the outer surfaces of the vertical stabilizers.

• USS Constellation and NAVY titles as well as the Bureau number for the rear fuselage.

• VF-137 titles for the spine.

• 405 modex for the nose, tops of flaps and the outer sides of the fin caps.

• Pilot’s name for the fuselage and Plane Captain’s name for the inner surface of the nose undercarriage door.

The final aircraft is another VFA-151 bird, Bureau number 164740.  This aircraft is marked in the way that Vigilantes Hornets were first marked when the squadron transitioned to the F/A-18A and were based at Atsugi NAS in Japan. 

Markings consist of:

• The squadron insignia of a skull surrounded by neutrons with a bayonet between its teeth, this time they are on the outer surfaces of the vertical stabilizers.

• NE airwing identifiers for the outer surfaces of the vertical stabilizers.

• USS Constellation and NAVY titles as well as the Bureau number for the rear fuselage.

• VF-151 titles for the spine, this time in dark grey.

• Vigilante titles for the strake/fence on the LEX again, this time in dark grey.

• 312 modex for the nose, tops of flaps and the outer sides of the fin caps.

• Pilot’s name for the fuselage and Plane Captain’s name for the inner surface of the nose undercarriage door.

Stencil data is confined to a pair of intake warnings and a set of national insignia for each aircraft. 

The placement guide is a little different from Aeromaster’s normal format.  It is still a full-colour affair and it shows left-hand side profiles of each aircraft as well as a top and bottom view of a generic Hornet.  Where it differs is that the rear page contains complete and exhaustive instructions on the art of applying decals. 

The decals have been printed in Italy by Cartograf.  The colours are all correct if a little dark representing freshly applied markings – not a criticism!   Everything is sharply printed and in perfect register. 

The decal sheet and placement guide come packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag. 

This is a nice set of markings from Aeromaster. 

Recommended

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

Thanks to AeroMaster / Eagle Strike Products for the review sets

On-line sales are available from the AeroMaster Products / Eagle Strike Productions web site.

Review TextCopyright © 2003 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 09 May, 2003
Last updated 14 August, 2003

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