VX-30 "Bloodhounds"

QF-4S

The Last of the Legends

The Aviation Workshop
Premier Plus Decals

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

HyperScale is proudly sponsored by Squadron.com

MAS-489004 from Model Alliance provides markings for a single QF-4S Phantom of the Point Mugu; California based US Navy's Test and Evaluation Squadron VX-30. 

After 44 years of service, the legendary F-4 is facing its final year of service albeit as a target and VX-30 will be its final operators. 

The provided markings are for Bureau Number 153832 or 'CUJO' as it is called by its maintainers in keeping with the VX-30's tradition of naming its aircraft after dogs.  'CUJO' is in Tactical Paint Scheme of FS36375 dark ghost grey and FS36320 light ghost grey with a black anti-glare.  All the markings are either black or lo-viz grey with the exception of the tail art and they consist:

• Lo-vis national insignia in four places

• 126 modex for the nose with abbreviated 26 for the fin cap.  There is also a further 126 provided (decal number 9) but the placement guide does not advise where it is located on the airframe. An examination of the photographs of 'CUJO' in the March 2004 Combat Aircraft magazine 'Phantom Phinale' article show that it should be located on the forward facing nose gear door.

• Lo-viz intake warnings

• Crew names for the canopy rails

• VX-30 titles

• Navy scripts

• Large 3832 "last four'" of the Bureau Number

• VX-30's three hound artwork for the vertical stabilizer.  This is a two-part decal with the black outline one being overlaid on the red and white one to avoid any register problems.

• The name Bloodhounds

• The name 'CUJO'

The placement guide advises that there is no visible stencil data on any of their reference photos so they have not provided any.  Again, an examination of the photographs of 'CUJO' in the March 2004 Combat Aircraft magazine 'Phantom Phinale' article confirms this. 

The placement guide is A-4 in size and bears full colour left and right profiles as well as upper and lower surface plan views.  It also gives matches for the paint used on the one-to-one machine to Humbrol, Model Master and Xtracolour paints and a comprehensive guide to applying the decals. 

The decals themselves are sharply printed and in perfect register with a minimum of film surrounding each subject.  There is no identity to the printer but they look every bit as good as those from Superscale. 

Be aware that if you choose to model 'CUJO' you will need to modify your kit to include the extra antennae that they wear as a result of their conversion to QF status. 

This is another nice sheet from Model Alliance. 

Recommended.

Thanks to Aviation Workshop / Model Alliance (UK)  for the review sample

Model Alliance products are available online from the Aviation Workshop.

Review Copyright © 2004 by Rodger Kelly
Page Created 13 July, 2004
Last updated 12 July, 2004

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