Reviews

This is, to say the least, another much awaited sheet!  The 18^th AS has now taken on an Aggressor role, and are in the process of painting up their F-16’s in 3 schemes. 

For various reasons, the aircraft at Eilson have been repainted a number of times, and Two Bobs have chosen their sheet to depict the aircraft as they will appear when repainted and remarked.

Afterburner’s sheet in 1/48^th scale is extremely comprehensive, to say the least…

The sheet contains markings for 9 different Block 30 airframes in all 3 schemes, as follows:-

• F-16C 86-0314 “AK” “354 FW” with bort no 14 – the tailcode is in grey outlined in white, the aircraft being in the Arctic Flanker scheme of FS36628 / FS36231 / FS37030;
• F-16C 86-0290 “AK” “18 AGRS” with bort no 90 – again, the tailcode and markings are grey outlined in white, the aircraft also being in the Arctic Flanker scheme;
• F-16C 86-305 “AK” with bort no 05 – again, the tail code and markings are white although the “AK” is white/black; the aircraft is Arctic Flanker;
• F-16D 87-0375 “AK” with bort no 75 – tail code and markings in white over the Arctic Flanker scheme;
• F-16C 86-0301 “AK” with bort 01 and black tailcode and markings – the aircraft is in the “Lizard Flanker” scheme of FS30279 / FS30140 / FS34079;
• F-16C 86-0310 “AK” “354 OG” with bort 10 and black tail codes outlined in white – the aircraft is in the “Lizard Flanker” scheme;
• F-16C 86-0335 “AK” with bort 35 and black tailcode and markings outlined in white– the aircraft is in the “Blue Flanker” scheme of FS35450 / FS36270 / FS35109;
• F-16C 86-0298 “AK” with bort 98 and black tailcode and markings – again in the “Blue Flanker” scheme;
• F-16C 86-0322 “AK” with bort 22 and black tailcode and markings – again in the “Blue Flanker” scheme

Where Afterburner really score is with the instructions.  Each aircraft has left and right drawings in color showing the key markings, and there are upper and lower camouflage markings to complement them. AB also provide a separate layout for the wing walkways and a complete set of stencilling instructions.  If THAT isn’t enough, they even detail the differences between the 3 paint barns used to paint the different aircraft!!  There are also build and modelling notes.

All in all a fantastic sheet!  I don’t build 1/48^th scale aircraft, but tend to pick up the Afterburner decals as they provide great reference material!  My only “complaint” (although not as such” is that the instructions are color copies and a little “muddy” – the quality could be improved.  Only a minor complaint though!

All in all, a great sheet!

Review by Chris St Clair