IPMS/USA Decal Review: TwoBobs Decals 1/48 F/A-18E Fighting Fourteenth

TwoBobs Decals

1/48 F/A-18E Fighting Fourteenth

Sheet Number: 48-196

Reviewed by Fred A. Amos, IPMS# 6672

MSRP: $12.00
Website: www.twobobs.net

"The Strike Fighter Squadron 14 (VFA-14) "Tophatters" are a United States Navy fighter attack squadron based at Naval Air Station Lemoore.

They fly the F/A-18E Super Hornet and are the Navy’s oldest active squadron, having formed in 1919. Their callsign is Camelot, and their tail code is NH." This is the third or fourth set of TwoBobs Decals I have had the pleasure if reviewing and as I have said before, they are just beautiful. TwoBobs has chosen another colorful subject with flawless decals. Everything is in perfect registry and it appears that every marking and stencil for the real aircraft is provided on this sheet. I can’t be 100% positive but it also appears that enough decals for both of the aircraft featured on this sheet. The decals are nice and thin but to the point that a few of the longer and smaller ones want to roll up under the paper rather than just slide off.

I used the Revell F/A-18E kit, which has some fit issues. As you can see in the photo of the big markings on the tail the decals set in perfectly. I guess the biggest possible problem is figuring out the angle of the red flash on the side of the spine behind the cockpit. I placed a piece of Tamiya tape on a clear plastic sheet from an old blister pack and place that over decal. Using a straightedge I then cut a mask for the front and top edge of the decal. Then I placed the in what looked to me like the right place for it. It looks to me like it worked out.

As always, the instruction sheet is to the high standards we have come to expect from TwoBobs. Full-color two sided with several photos of the subject aircraft, and suggested paints from Testors MM, Humbrol, Gunze Sangyo, and Xtracrylics. I used Humbrol colors, so I must warn you up front to be careful. The colors are so close to being the same that I put the lighter color on top and didn’t realize it until I removed the masking after painting the bottom.

Thanks to Bob Sanchez of TwoBobs decal for this review item to the IPMS for the chance to review it.