Bingo Decals 1/48 E-2C Hawkeye VAW-77/VAW-88 Decal First Look
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | December 2009 | Manufacturer | Bingo Decals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | E-2C Hawkeye VAW-77/VAW-88 | Scale | 1/48 |
| Set Number | 48001 | Pros | Nice selection of VAW-77 and VAW-88 Hawkeyes |
| Cons | No painting instructions nor time period indicated to derive paint colors on the airframe | Skill Level | Novice |
| MSRP (USD) | $16.00 |
First Look
Bingo Decals is a new producer of aftermarket markings and starts off with the first aftermarket decals available from anyone for the recently released Kinetic 1/48 E-2C Hawkeye kit ( look here). This set is the first out of the chocks and covers the two Hawkeye squadrons out of the east and west coast reserve wings: VAW-77 and VAW-88.
This rather large sheet provides markings for five different airframes. The printing is very nice and the carrier film is thin, much like Microscale.
The five aircraft presented in this decal set are:
- E-2C, BuNo 164483, VAW-77, AF/600 *
- E-2C, BuNo 164485, VAW-77, AF/602
- E-2C, BuNo 160992, VAW-77, AF/601
- E-2B, BuNo 150540, VAW-88, ND/013 **
- E-2B, BuNo 151724, VAW-88, ND/014
* Note: The large four-digit BuNo on the vertical stabs should read 4483, not 1783 as depicted on the sheet. If you do this scheme, you'll have to correct the numbers.
** Note: The 2E005 under the Modex 013 is an AMARC ID number which is fine if you're modeling a Hawkeye in AMARC storage. Delete this number if you're modeling the aircraft still flying with VAW-88.
The instructions show you placement of the markings for each of the five subjects, but there is no indication of what time period these aircraft are depicted (which year) nor alternatively a painting guideline. As you know, the early Hawkeyes wore the Gloss Gull Gray over white standard scheme, followed by a Gloss Gull Gray overall scheme, followed by the current overall subdued gray scheme. As always, check your references to ensure you've got the right airframe configuratin to match the decals being offered.
These are the first options for the E-2C from Bingo Decals and there are others in the works. If you're wanting some interesting decal options for your Kinetic Hawkeye, come check these out!
For more information about this set and the other releases from Bingo Decals, visit their website at http://www.shop.bingodecals.com.
My sincere thanks to Bingo Decals for this review sample!