Reviewed by Rodger Kelly
 

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FirstLook

CED48228 is the second of three new sheets covering F/A-18C Hornets of the Atlantic Fleet.  This sheet covers two of CVW-7’s CAG birds from VFA-131 and VFA-136 when they were shore-based at NAS Oceana during the winter of 2002-2003. 

BuNo 164212 of VFA-131

First is Bureau number 164212 of VFA-131.  The aircraft is finished in the TPS of FS 36320 over FS 36375.  The vast majority of the markings worn by this aircraft are in colour, predominately red.  The use of red paint even extended to the stencil data!

The markings comprise:

·        Four pair of 400 modex, three red and two black.  You only need a set for the nose and set for the tops of the wing flaps so I guess that the other two are spares. 

·        Red white and blue squadron insignia for the vertical stabilizers. 

·        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. 

·        Nose-art consisting of three figures raising a US flag for either side of the nose. 

·        A pair of full-colour national insignia for the nose of larger than normal size. 

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

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

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

BuNo 164221 of VFA-136

The other aircraft is Bureau number 164221 of VFA-136.  Again, the aircraft is in TPS but the coloured CAG markings do brighten it up a bit. 

The markings for this option are made up of:

·        Five pairs of 300 modex, three blue and two black.  The same comments apply as for the VFA-131 option with regard to placement and spares. 

·        A false canopy for the underside of the nose. 

·        VFA-136 titles for the spine. 

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

·        Nose-art consisting of an eagles head with a silhouette of the World Trade Centre and a plan view of the Pentagon surrounded by the words OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. 

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

·        A pair of squadron zaps and a pair of KNIGHTHAWKS titles for a single drop tank. 

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

·        CPO of the Year name for the nose gear door. 

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

·        Black AG airwing identifiers for the rudders. 

A further set of grey stencil data is supplied for this aircraft. 

Speaking of stencil data, some of it is shared between the two aircraft.  They both sport various items of red data and only a single set is supplied.   The same applies to the single set of black NAVY titles and position lights. 

The decal placement guide follows Cutting Edge’s normal fashion of a full colour double-sided a-4 sized sheet.  It shows left hand side views of both aircraft on the front and a single top and bottom generic view on the back.  As with Hornet’s revenge Part 1 the side profiles show the radomes of both aircraft to be grey.  I’m not convinced that this is correct as the normal practice for F/A-18s is that the extreme tip of the nose has a small stainless steel tip and a tan coloured vinyl/rubber covering over the first third of the radome. 

Again, as with Part 1 of Hornet’s Revenge, there is no identification on the decal sheet as to who printed it but my bet is that it was Microscale such is the quality of the printing.  The decal sheet and placement guide come packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag. 

CVW-7 passed through Perth Western Australia in July 1998 whilst it was aboard the USS John C. Stennis and I was able to photograph both aircraft.  As you can see by the photos the markings and details have changed a little since then but Cutting Edge have done a good job in reproducing the squadron insignias in 1/48 scale. 

This is a great sheet from Cutting Edge that enables you to produce two right-up-to-date F/A-18s of the Atlantic Fleet. 

Recommended.

Thanks to Cutting Edge Modelworks for the review samples..

Review Copyright © 2003 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 26 March, 2003
Last updated 14 August, 2003

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