Flying Leathernecks Decals 1/48 F/A-18 Lords and Angels Decal First Look
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | August 2008 | Manufacturer | Flying Leathernecks Decals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | F/A-18 Lords and Angels | Scale | 1/48 |
| Set Number | 48003 | Pros | Nice markings for any of the available F/A-18A/C kits |
| Cons | Skill Level | Novice | |
| MSRP (USD) | Out of Production |
First Look
Flying Leathernecksis a new brand under Orion Scale Models which is all owned and operated by Dave Roof, USMC, so you'll know he has a passion for the Corps and this latest release is no exception.
In this set, Flying Leathernecks offers four F/A-18 Hornets from Operation Desert Storm (ODS) in 1991. All four of these aircraft (as well as the rest of the two squadrons) staged from Sheik Isa Airbase in Bahrain. The two squadrons in question are VMFA-451 'Warlords' and VMFA-235 'Death Angels'. Ironic that these two squadrons were among the few 'lucky ones' to be staging out of probably the only country in fighter range that hasn't banned liquor for medicinal (or other) purposes, but that is another story...
The aircraft presented in this set are:
- F/A-18A, 163146, VM/11, VMFA-451, ODS, 1991
- F/A-18A, 163141, VM/06, VMFA-451, ODS, 1991
- F/A-18C, 163769, DB/00, VMFA-235, ODS, 1991
- F/A-18C, 163782, DB/12, VMFA-235, ODS, 1991
You can see here that there are sufficient markings and stencils to render two aircraft from this set. A vinyl paint mask is also included to paint the flat black false canopy under the nose of the Warlord Hornets.
The instructions recommend using any of the available 1/48 F/A-18A/C Hornet kits from Hasegawa, HobbyBoss, or Revell/Monogram. They also list the available aftermarket enhancements that will help you improve the look of your Marine Corps F/A-18.
For more information about this set and the other releases from Flying Leathernecks Decals, visit their website at http://flyingleathernecksmodels.com.
My sincere thanks to Flying Leathernecks Decals for this review sample!