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TwoBobs 1/72 USN Hornet Decals
F/A-18E Super Bugs VFA-14 Tophatters (72-022) F/A-18F Super Bugs VFA-41 Black Aces (72-023 ) |
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Reviewed By Joe Hegedus, #33868 |
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MSRP $9.50 each TwoBobs have made quite a name for themselves in the decal business lately with high-quality decals of modern military aircraft subjects. These Super Hornet sheets are fine additions to their line. Each sheet provides markings for 3 different jets. The CAG bird (side number X00), and squadron commander's aircraft (side number X01) are represented as well as a "normal" squadron airplane. There are enough markings on each sheet to do the normal airplane and a choice of one of the other "color" birds, but not both of the colorful ones. Both sheets are of aircraft from Carrier Air Wing 11 aboard USS Nimitz during 2002-2003. This was the second Super Hornet deployment, and also the first cruise of the 2-seat FA-18F. Aircraft from Operation Iraqi Freedom may be represented with these sheets, but any mission marks added during deployment are not represented on the decals. The decals are well printed by Microscale and responded very nicely to the use of Superset and Supersol, as expected. They are quite thin, though, which makes them somewhat easy to distort while placing. They were also somewhat prone to folding over on themselves. I ended up ruining a couple unique markings this way and needed to purchase replacement decals to finish the models (my error, my expense). I applied the decals over a gloss coat of Future, and had no problems with silvering. TwoBobs designed the markings with things like shadowing on the numbers as separate overlay decals which eliminates registration problems. There are a few confusing things with the decal instructions, but careful study of the photos included should be sufficient to sort it out. Both squadrons carried a star marking on the fins, and these are included on the sheets. The placement for this is omitted on the VFA-14 instructions, though. Examination of the photos reveals that it should be on the inside surface of each rudder, but you have to look for it to find this out. I'd also like to see paint colors identified by a name, as well as FS number and paint manufacturers stock numbers, mainly for convenience. Also, the drawings in the instructions have an error, as the wing national insignia are drawn inboard of the wing fold but are painted outboard of the wing fold on real Super Hornets. Overall, these decals are of excellent quality. It almost seems a shame to use them on the existing Italeri Super Hornet kits, with all the things that need correcting or updating in those kits. At this writing, though, they are the only kits available. My recommendation is to get the decals now, and hold onto them until better kits are available (which might be by the time this appears in print). A big THANK YOU to TwoBobs, both for the review samples and for producing the sheets in 1/72 scale! |
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