Afterburner Decals 1/48 F/A-18F VFA-211 Fighting Checkmates Decal First Look
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | June 2007 | Manufacturer | Afterburner Decals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | F/A-18F VFA-211 Fighting Checkmates | Scale | 1/48 |
| Set Number | 48013 | Pros | Seven different decal schemes with the CAG's aircraft represented in two different schemes |
| Cons | Skill Level | Novice | |
| MSRP (USD) | Out of Production |
First Look
Afterburner Decals has turned out some impressive decal releases covering contemporary USAF subjects and now they've jumped into contemporary US Navy as well. In this release, we have six aircraft from VFA-211, the Fighting Checkmates, as they appeared in 2005 and in 2006. Note the change in tail art in one year. In fact, the CAG's aircraft is presented twice which highlights the differences in appearance of that one aircraft in just a year's time. Seven different decal schemes are available on this sheet.
The aircraft presented in this set are:
- F/A-18F, 165795, VFA-211, AB/100, CAG, USS Enterprise, 2005
- F/A-18F, 165892, VFA-211, AB/107, USS Enterprise, 2005
- F/A-18F, 165795, VFA-211, AB/100, CAG, USS Enterprise, 2006
- F/A-18F, 165801, VFA-211, AB/101, Sqn CO, USS Enterprise, 2006
- F/A-18F, 165803, VFA-211, AB/110, USS Enterprise, 2006
- F/A-18F, 165806, VFA-211, AB/112, USS Enterprise, 2006
- F/A-18F, 165808, VFA-211, AB/115, USS Enterprise, 2006
With two different CAG schemes, one for the squadron commander, and five different line aircraft, you've got some nice options in this set. According to the instructions, these decals were designed for the Hasegawa kit. As you can see in the decal layout, this set provides a nice array of maintenance stencils in addition to the national markings and distinctive unit markings. In fact, Afterburner Decals provide sufficient stencils and markings for two complete aircraft.
This set will provide some distinctive color schemes for your next Super Bug project. Did you note that the line aircraft have combat mission markings provided?
My sincere thanks to Afterburner Decals for this review sample!