Reviewed by Rodger Kelly
 

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FirstLook

If ever an event has spurred decal manufactures into producing sheets then the President of the United States landing aboard a carrier would have to be it! 

Previously the Blue Wolves CAG bird, Bureau number 159387 became Navy 1, when Commander. John “Skip” Lussier, VS-35’s Executive Officer flew President George W. Bush aboard USS Abraham Lincoln on May 1 2003, to declare an end to major fighting in the war with Iraq.  According its place in history, Navy 1 is now safely ensconced in the US Navy Museum at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida. 

Going one better than its counterparts from other companies, Yellowhammer has provided two complete sets of markings on the one sheet, one in 1/72 scale with the other in 1/48. 

Navy One bears the typical S-3 Tactical Paint Scheme of overall FS 36320 with the cockpit framing and anti-glare panel in black.  Befitting a CAG bird, there is some colour to its markings.  These markings are supplied as decals and include:

• The magnificent tail markings worn by VS-35 featuring a belligerent looking wolf in spurs and gun belt leaning on the NK of the airwing identifier.  Yellowhammer supplies this complex marking as a one-piece decal to ensure that you get the placement right. 

• The 700 modex is in black with red shadow for either side of the nose with smaller abbreviated 00s in black only for the nose gear door and the rudder.  A further set is supplied in white for the tops of the flaps if you choose to modify your kit to drop the flaps.

• US Abraham Lincoln, NAVY 1, 9387, VS-35, and CVW-14 titles for the rear fuselage/fin in black.

• The all important George W. Bush Commander-in-Chief titles for the canopy rails (both sides) with the George W. Bush in white to show against the black of the canopy rail.

• Ground crew names in black for either nose gear doors.

• Intake warnings in red.

• A set of slime lights

• Four hi-viz national insignia.  The placement sheet advises that the aircraft wore hi-viz markings on either side of the fuselage so I guess that you can assign the other two to your spare box.

• A pair of lo-viz national insignia for the wings.

• Comprehensive stencil data is also provided on this sheet and they include the vast majority of the highly visible stuff.  Included in this are the warning data, ejection seat and rescue data, Bureau number block and warning outlines for the APU exhaust.

• The warning stripes for the tail hook are also included as a decal – thanks Yellowhammer; it sure saves a lot of time and hassle with masking tape.

The decals look like they have been printed by Microscale.  Everything is in perfect register with an absolute minimum of carrier film – nice! 

The placement guide is A-4 in size and shows left and right side colour profiles as well as a top view of the wings and lowered flaps. 

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

This is a good sheet from Yellowhammer that provides comprehensive markings for an historic aircraft. 

Recommended.

If you want some reference pics on Navy 1 and want to learn some more about the event follow the link to the Navy News site. http://www.news.navy.mil/search/photolist.asp

It has a selection of pics that show it "today" as well as "on the day"  Note that it appears to have been re-painted before it was delivered to the museum. 

I have included a photo of Navy 1's tail.  This was taken in December 2002 prior to the USS Abraham Lincoln sailing to the Gulf.  In those days she was merely the Blue Wolves CAG bird.

Review Copyright © 2003 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 23 May, 2003
Last updated 22 August, 2003

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