This new decal sheet
from Flying
Leathernecks Decals includes
1/48 Decals for the
F/A-18A and F/A-18C Hornet.
Where do I begin? This
is the most comprehensive set of decals I have ever purchased. The main
decal sheet measures a full 8.5” x 11”, and there is not a fraction of
wasted space on this sheet. In addition there is a 4.5” x 2” sheet
with more “Werewolves” and plane crew markings. All beautifully
printed by Cartograf, and in perfect register.
Options for ALL 12
aircraft currently assigned to VMFA-122 are included, as well as three earlier
aircraft (two F/A-18A's and an F/A-18C) while they were still officially known
as the 'Crusaders'.
Complete stencils for two (2) airframes are also included, which include
everything from formation lights, flares, landing gear stencils, vents, missile
rail stencils, ejections seat stencils (for both the SJU-5/6 and the SJU-17),
right down to the “dots” (for lack of a better term) on the inside of the
exhaust petals.
And it doesn’t
stop there. You will also find in your package a set of vinyl paint masks
for the Werewolf on the tail of jet 164264, the Commanding Officer’s bird.
You simply spray the gray background color, place the vinyl mask (Dave shows you
exactly where), spray the rest of the tail black, remove the mask and put the
decal in place. Genius!
But wait, there’s
more. You will also find a CD filled with reference material. On
this CD you will find detailed pictures in PDF and jpeg format of the following:
-
AIM-9M: 17
pics
-
AIM-9X: 9
pics
-
AIM-120: 7
pics
-
GBU-12: 8
pics
-
Airframe
details: over 50 pics
-
Engine
bay/exhaust: 14 pics
-
Litening pod:
4 pics
-
Main landing
gear: 20 pics
-
Nose gear:
12 pics
-
SJU-17 ejection
seat: 10 pics
-
Tail hook:
8 pics
Click on
images below to see larger images
As well there are
many shots of the F/A-18A airframe and cockpit. Absent are pictures of an
F/A-18C cockpit, though I’m not sure what the differences are between the A
and the C.
Also on the CD is a
detailed ordnance guide, overall stencil guides for the top, sides and bottom of
the aircraft (these may have been better served if they came printed out for
you, my printer struggled with the smaller markings and are hard to read),
paint/decal guides for all 12 individual jets, including jet specific
instructions on what to change or update on the kit to model the jet of your
choice.
To wrap things up
you are provided with a printed list of all available 1/48 scale F/A-18A or C
Hornet kits and aftermarket accessories.
All in all this is a
spectacular set of decals, great subject for the markings, and a fantastic
value. Watch the ARC Forum in the coming weeks for my full build up
article using these decals.
These decals (and
others) are available at: http://orionscalemodels.com
Kelly
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