Afterburner Decals 1/48 F-4E Double Ugly Decal First Look
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | August 2008 | Manufacturer | Afterburner Decals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | F-4E Double Ugly | Scale | 1/48 |
| Set Number | 48040 | Pros | Five Hill Gray 4 TFW F-4Es |
| Cons | Skill Level | Novice | |
| MSRP (USD) | Out of Production |
First Look
Afterburner Decals has turned out some impressive decal releases covering contemporary US subjects and this one is no exception. This new set covers several late-block F-4Es from the 4th TFW at Seymour Johnson AFB, NC. These aircraft were kept in prime condition during their service in the 4th as many photos from the period show. These markings reflect the appearance of the aircraft not long after they had all gone to the paint shop to receive the Hill One (F-16-styled) paint scheme.
The five examples presented here include:
- F-4E-58-MC, 73-1172, SJ, 4 TFW, Wing CC's Aircraft, 1990
- F-4E-58-MC, 73-1165, SJ, 334 TFS/4 TFW, 334 TFS CC's Aircraft, 1990
- F-4E-53-MC, 72-0128, SJ, 335 TFS/4 TFW, 335 TFS CC's Aircraft, 1989
- F-4E-62-MC, 74-1649, SJ, 335 TFS/4 TFW, 1989
- F-4E-50-MC, 71-1397, SJ, 334 TFS/4 TFW, 1989
The instructions show these aircraft upgraded with the ARN-101 (Arnie) navigation system which is a black dome-shaped fairing ahead of the vertical stabilizer and blade antennas located in front of and behind the fairing. What the instructions don't tell you is that these aircraft have all been upgraded with the TISEO system (cylindrical fairing on the leading edge of the port wing just above the inboard pylon housing a telescopic video camera), and that these are all late-block aircraft that are equipped with leading edge slats.
Pick your model accordingly. The Hasegawa 1/48 F-4E is a good start for this project as it represents a slatted airframe, but you will have to add your own Arnie and TISEO details to the kit (not a big deal). Also note that the Wing and Squadron commanders' aircraft were all well-waxed, so not only did they get a few extra knots of airspeed with the smooth finish, these will look fine if you leave that coat of Future somewhat glossy on the finished model.
This decal set provides you with the sufficient markings to replicate two of these aircraft. If you look over the decal sheet, you can see that this set is complete with the names of the flight crews and maintainers.
If you're looking for a nice subject for your next Phabulous Phantom project, this is the right set to get you there.
My sincere thanks to Afterburner Decals for this review sample!