F/A-18E/F
Data and Stencils

1/48 scale

Afterburner Decals

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

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New from Afterburner decals are two new sheets that provide the myriad stencil data that are a feature of modern military aircraft.

Sheet number 48-017 covers both the F/A-18E and F/A-18F models of Boeing’s Super Hornet.

You get two separate sheets with the set, a normal sized one as well as a smaller one that hold four sets of numerals (0 to 9) as data placards for the undercarriage legs – 147 separate decals on the smaller sheet alone!

Click the thumbnails below to view images full-sized:

As expected, the larger sheet holds far, far more. To generalise, the vast majority of items are supplied in three different colours, two shades of grey as well as black. Colour also features but is confined to a set of national insignia and intake warnings (for the show birds) as well as the various red and white data placards for the ejection seats.

Without naming each and every single item, you get national insignia, intake warnings, slime lights, navy titles, blankets for the environmental system between the vertical stabilisers, walkways for the chines opposite the cockpit, as well as a whole lot more!

One feature I really like is the provision of the 144 tiny white squares to apply to the insides of the exhausts! These really are visible on the one-to-one-examples of the Super Hornet and I have attached a photo to illustrate this.

The various, caution placards, Bureau number blocks (both –E and –F) anchor and earthing points, ejection seat and tail hook warnings as well as no-step and no-push stencils also feature.

The decals have been printed by Superscale and as such are very thin and have an absolute minimum of film surrounding each design.

The placement guide is printed on glossy A-4 sized paper and shows large upper and lower surfaces plan views as well as left and right hand side profiles. Thankfully, each design is printed large on the placement guide with an arrow pointing to where it should be applied so as you get it right!

The recommended kits are the Hasegawa ones.

The placement guide and the two decal sheets come packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag.

This is another nice release from Afterburner Decals. It is the small details that are provided on these sheets that transform your latest creation from a mere model to an impressive replica of the real thing.

Recommended.

Thanks to Afterburner Decals for the review sample

Review Copyright © 2007 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 26 December, 2007
Last updated 26 December, 2007

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