48-607 is the first sheet in a two-part coverage of the Atlantic Fleet's Carrier Air wing-7 fighter and fighter/attack aircraft whilst embarked aboard the USS John F Kennedy during Operation Iraqi Freedom.  The sheet provides markings for three F/A-18Cs, the CAG birds from VFA-131 and VFA-136 as well as a lo-viz machine of VFA-136. 

Bureau number 1644212 of VFA-131.  Camouflage is the standard F/A-18 tactical paint scheme (TPS) of FS 36320 over FS 36375.  Befitting a CAG aircraft, the vast majority of the markings are in colour, predominately red. 

The markings consist of: 

·        Two sets of 400 modex in red.  A set for the nose and set for the tops of the wing flaps.  

·        Coloured squadron insignia for the vertical stabilizers with a stylized red, white and blue jet exhaust coming from a white plan-view style F/A-18. 

·        Red AG airwing identifiers for the rudders. 

·        CAG titles for the fin caps. 

·        A red, white and blue sash and VFA-131 titles for the spine.  This is a two-part decal with the VFA-131 title applied over the sash. 

·        Nose-art consisting of three figures raising a US flag with the words "Still Flying Strong "for either side of the nose  

·        CAG and DGAG titles and names for either side of the nose beneath the windscreen 

·        A pair of full-colour national insignia for the nose.  

·        A single bomb marking that is placed on the side of the fuselage beneath the cockpit. 

·        FDNY and NYPD titles for the outer faces of the wing fences. 

·        Two pair of Red WILDCATS scripts for the drop tanks. 

·        John F Kennedy scripts in red for the rear fuselage. 

·        Sailor of the Year, Chief of the Year award winners for the nose gear doors. 

·        Red stencil data including the Bureau number block and arrestor warning for the rear fuselage as well as intake warnings.   

The other VFA-131 aircraft is Bureau number 164226, Modex 402.  Essentially, this aircraft carries the same markings as the CAG bird but they are all in lo-viz grey.  The differences include: 

·        Different pilot and ground crew names. 

·        The fin caps have 402 modex 

·        The squadron insignia lacks the stylized jet exhaust. 

The only colour that this option sports is the red of the cat's eyes. 

Bureau number 164221, the VFA-136 CAG.  Again, the jet is in standard F/A-18 TPS and the markings consist of: 

·        300 modex, in black for the nose and wing flaps. 

·        A false canopy for the underside of the nose.  The marking is in four parts and the sections that are applied to the nose gear doors carry the names of the Sailor and CPO of the year names in red. 

·        VFA-136 titles for the spine. 

·        Black CVW-7 titles for the outboard sides of the fin caps with red CV-67 (USS John F. Kennedy’s hull number) for the inboard sides. 

·        VFA-136’s squadron insignia of a clutching eagle for the outer surfaces of the vertical stabilizers. 

·        Two pair of squadron zaps and KNIGHTHAWKS titles for the drop tanks 

·        CAG and DGAG titles and names for either side of the nose beneath the windscreen. 

·        A pair of full-colour national insignia for the nose. 

·        Black AG airwing identifiers for the rudders. 

Aeromaster is fairly generous with the stencil data.  Each aircraft has its own set of NAVY titles as well as basic stencil data, however, no slime lights are provided.  Sufficient markings are provided to produce all three options. 

AeroMaster have improved the presentation of the decal placement guide.  Whilst it still carries the side the colour profiles it now sports colour photographs of each aircraft featured on the sheet.   Another innovation is that the reverse side of the header sheet carries a narrative on the employment of the F/A-18 during Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Included in this is the typical offensive load carried by the Hornet as well as the "Hose Multiplier" or air-to-air tanking role undertaken by the Super Hornet.  This issue provides two decal sheets.  The vast majority of markings are crammed onto the main sheet with a smaller sheet carrying the Bureau numbers, stencil data and national insignia of the lo-viz VFA-131 option.  The decal sheets and placement guide come packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag. 

The decals themselves have been "printed in Mexico" One of the drop tank WILDCATS titles on my sheet has not been printed correctly but I'm not sure that this is not deliberate. 

A nice sheet from AeroMaster and value for money.   

Recommended.

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 27 August, 2003
Last updated 27 August, 2003

Back to HyperScale Main Page