Bullseye Model Aviation 1/48 F-16C 31st Fighter Wing History Decal First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

Bullseye Model Aviation is back with an interesting selection of F-16CG Vipers from the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano AB, Italy. The subtitle calls this the 31st Figher Wing Viper History, but this is really a slice of time since this set covers the Vipers at Aviano between 1994 and 2007 while they flew the F-16CG Block 40 Fighting Falcons. There is one F-16CM example from 2012, but the remaining 13 examples are all pre-CCIP. This set is designed for the Tamiya 1/48 F-16 kit and the only one that has the parts for the Block 40/42 Viper is kit 61106 F-16C/N, which has all of the parts needed to do any F-16C Viper variant.

The aircraft presented here include:

• F-16CG, 89-2001, 555 FS/31 FW, Aviano AB, 1994, Wing CC's aircraft
• F-16CG, 89-2001, 510 FS/31 FW, Aviano AB, 1997, Wing CC's aircraft
• F-16CG, 89-2001, 510 FS/31 FW, Aviano AB, 1999, Wing CC's aircraft
• F-16CG, 89-2001, 510 FS/31 FW, Aviano AB, 2003, Wing CC's aircraft
• F-16CG, 89-2001, 510 FS/31 FW, Aviano AB, 2006, Wing CC's aircraft
• F-16CM, 89-2009, 510 FS/31 FW, Aviano AB, 2012, Wing CC's aircraft
• F-16CG, 88-0532, 555 FS/31 FW, Aviano AB, 1997, Ops Group CC's aircraft
• F-16CG, 88-0532, 555 FS/31 FW, Aviano AB, 1998, Ops Group CC's aircraft
• F-16CG, 89-2137, 510 FS/31 FW, Aviano AB, 2002, Ops Group CC's aircraft
• F-16CG, 89-2137, 510 FS/31 FW, Aviano AB, 2007, Ops Group CC's aircraft
• F-16CG, 89-2016, 555 FS/31 FW, Aviano AB, 1999, 16th AF CC's flagship
• F-16CG, 89-2016, 555 FS/31 FW, Aviano AB, 2000, 16th AF CC's flagship
• F-16CG, 89-2016, 555 FS/31 FW, Aviano AB, 2006, 16th AF CC's flagship
• F-16CG, 87-0351, 555 FS/31 FW, Aviano AB, 2001, Ops Support Sqn CC's aircraft

This set provides maintenance stencils and markings to replicate at least two examples in 1/48 scale (and if you use some of the stencils from the kits, you can do more!). The sheets are printed by Cartograf and the printing is very well done. What's more, none of these decals require the modeler to stack multiple layers of markings atop one another to recreate artwork. This trend by some other decal companies of producing multiple-layer decals is unfortunate as it puts the burden on you to do the work of what should have been done by the decal maker.

I hope Bullseye will do a part two of the 31st to cover the Vipers after CCIP and include some of the more distinctive combat veterans in addition to this array of commanders' aircraft.

These decals are sold exclusively by Sprue Brothers.

My sincere thanks to Bullseye Model Aviation for this review sample!