S u m m a r y

FirstLook

Released in all three major scales -- 1/32^nd, 1/48^th (shown), and 1/72^nd scale -- this sheet provides all the markings needed to build any standard Candian Armed Forces CF-18 Hornet from any unit that flew the Hornet (including the test and evaluation unit). The sheet is very complete with multiple styles of aircraft numbering in multiple colors. Additionally, the sheet provides specific markings to build several of the "Balkan Rats" that participated in the NATO operations during operation "Allied Force". The "Balkan Rats" aircraft carried mission markings on the sides of the nose and a rat's head emblem on the tail tops.

The 1/48^th and 1/72^nd scale sheets have actually been out for some time now. The 1/32^nd scale sheet is relatively new, having been printed up to go with the recent Academy F/A-18 Hornet kit.

CAF CF-18 433 Squadron 50th Special
(48-029 and 72-029)

Released in both 1/48^th (shown) and 1/72^nd scale, this sheet provides decals for one aircraft, the 50^th anniversary 433 Squadron aircraft. Do not let the "single aircraft included" fool you, though. There are about a hundred "quill" decals printed in order to provide all the markings for the aircraft. The 1/48^th scale package takes two full decal sheets to provide all these markings.

CAF CF-18 439 Sqn Tiger Meet Special 1992
(48-037 and 72-037)

Also Released in both 1/48^th (shown) and 1/72^nd scale, this sheet provides decals for only one aircraft, the Tiger Meet Special scheme applied in 1992 to a 439 Squadron aircraft. Like the last sheet, do not let the "single aircraft included" fool you. Both packages come stuffed with multiple decal sheets in order to provide all the markings for the aircraft. The 1/72^nd scale package has two decal sheets, the 1/48^th scale package has four decal sheets.

The 1992 Tiger Meet Special is one of my more favored versions of the various Canadian tiger schemes. Take a basic one-color gray airframe (listed as Graish Blue, F.S.35237) and cover it in dark gray stripes (listed as Gunship Gray, F.S.36118) with L.Ghost Gray (F.S.36375) markings and there you have it. One interesting detail of the scheme is found on the outboard left vertical tail. Whether intentional of accidental, the outline of a well endowed female can be found in the tiger striping. It makes for an interesting touch.

One picky point I have on these decals is the stripe color. Assuming the colors listed in the directions are correct, then the decals in my sample seem to be printed in too dark of a color. The gray of the decal stripes looks to be more like European Gray (F.S.36081), not Gunship gray. I guess that without actually building the model and applying the decals, it will be difficult to tell if the extra darkness of the decals is just my imagination (due to being seen on a near-white background) or really true.

Also disappointing for me, "sheet 2 of 4" in my 1/48 scale decal set slipped past the quality checkers and has a significant scratch and smudge across the center of the sheet, spoiling seven of the tiger stripe including the huge spine stripe. I have heard that Leading Edge has good customer service. I will have to give them a try.

Conclusion