Afterburner Decals 1/48 EA-18G Superbug Shockers Decal First Look
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | April 2010 | Manufacturer | Afterburner Decals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | EA-18G Growlers | Scale | 1/48 |
| Set Number | 48061 | Pros | First set of decals for fleet active Growlers |
| Cons | Nothing noted | 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 latest set provides the first-ever set of markings for fleet squadron Growlers as well as a selection of test airframes and one training aircraft.
As usual, the instructions are printed in color to provide clear placement of the various distinctive markings. There is a separate set of sheets showing placement of the standard stencils and markings. There are five aircraft presented on this sheet which include:
- EA-18G, 166894, VAQ-132, NL/540, COMVAQWINGPAC, Mar 2010
- EA-18G, 166895, VAQ-132, AA/501, USS Carl Vinson, Feb 2010
- EA-18G, 166858, VAQ-129, NJ/550, NAS Whidbey Island, Feb 2009
- EA-18G, 166856, VX-9, XE/572, NAS Pt Mugu, Sep 2008
- EA-18G, 166642, VX-31, DD/500, NAS China Lake, Feb 2009
This decal set provides you with the sufficient markings to replicate at least 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. Someone has done their homework!
According to the instructions, this set was designed for the Hasegawa Super Hornet using the Steel Beach Growler Conversion from Sprue Brothers.
My sincere thanks to Afterburner Decals for this review sample!