This new decal
sheet from Afterburner
Decals includes
markings for 6 different 1/48 F-18's from A's to F's in Pax River Test aircraft
paint schemes.
The first
aircraft is a F-18A 161925 in 1986. The
paint scheme for this aircraft is Black and white on top and black and white on
the underside and there is script on the fuselage that reads "D
SKUNK". So from the left side it is black on top and white on the
underside and from the right side it is white on top and black on the
underside. This is a US Navy Test aircraft.
The
second aircraft is
a F-18B 161947 in 2003.
The
paint scheme for this two seater aircraft is a lo-viz Gray/Gray scheme with
black squadron artwork on the tails and black horizontal stripes on the rudders
and the words Strike Test on the fuselage behind the canopy.
The
third aircraft is
a F-18C 163476 in 2003.
The
paint scheme for this aircraft is a lo-viz Gray/Gray scheme with black squadron
artwork on the tails and black horizontal stripes on the rudders and the words
Strike Test on the fuselage behind the canopy. This aircraft has quite a
few of the black and white photographic reference targets which are used to
assist in gauging how weapon stores separate from the aircraft.
Click on
images below to see larger images
The
fourth aircraft is
a F-18D 163986 in 2003.
The
paint scheme for this two seater aircraft is a lo-viz Gray/Gray scheme with
black squadron artwork on the tails and black horizontal stripes on the rudders
and the words Strike Test on the fuselage behind the canopy.
The
fifth aircraft is
a F-18E 165537 in 2005.
The
paint scheme for this aircraft is a lo-viz Gray/Gray scheme with red squadron
artwork on the tails and black horizontal stripes on the rudders and the words
Strike Test on the fuselage behind the canopy. This aircraft has a number
of the black and white photographic reference targets which are used to assist
in gauging how weapon stores separate from the aircraft.
The
sixth aircraft is
a F-18F 165929 in 2005.
The
paint scheme for this two seater aircraft is a lo-viz Gray/Gray scheme with red
squadron artwork on the tails and black horizontal stripes on the rudders and
the words Strike Test on the fuselage behind the canopy.
The instructions are clear and
include 4 views of each aircraft. The decals are beautifully printed on 2 decal
sheets. The instruction sheets also include plenty of colour profiles of
the weapons pylons showing the placement of all the black and white photographic
reference targets. Two complete set of stencils are included on this decal
sheet.
This is quite the package and the
it's refreshing to see decals for this seldom thought of Test Aircraft.
Steve
I would like
to thank Afterburner
Decals for
providing me with this review sample.
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