VMFA(AW)-121
Green Knights
Operation Iraqi Freedom Tour 2007

Flying Leathernecks Decals, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

Flying Leatherneckss' Green Knights Decals are available online for $18.00 from Squadron.com

Here is something new!

Some background first though.  For those of you who don’t know the brand name Flying Leathernecks Decals is a part of Orion Scale Models which itself is owned and operated by one Dave Roof, a serving member of the United States Marine Corps as well as an active contributing member of the world-wide modelling community.

Flying Leathernecks Decals FL48004 VMFA(AW)-121 Green Knights Operation Iraqi Freedom Tour 2007 is a decal sheet that provides markings for F/A-18 Hornets of the United States Marine Corps.

So what you say?  There are plenty of decal sheets that do that.  Well, that’s certainly true there are, but this one from Flying Leathernecks Decals is very different from those other decals.  So much different in fact that it should be termed a comprehensive decal reference and decal sheet rather than just a decal sheet.

So how is it different?  Well, you get what you would typically expect from a decal sheet – a decal sheet and a placement guide – but not in the mode you normally get.  The placement guides and information sheets all come on a Compact Disc (CD).  As well as the placement guides and information sheets, the CD contains high resolution walk-around images of each of the options -59 images – as well as a further 18 general airframe images.  The latter includes shots of the chaff dispensers, landing gear (seven images), instrument panel, and exhausts (five shots).

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There are markings for four VMFA(AW)-121 F/A-18Ds Hornets in all,   They depict the squadron’s birds during the period February to August 2007 when the Green Knights were flying from the Al Asad, Airfield Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).  All of the options on the sheet are finished in the Tactical Paint Scheme (TPS) finish of Federal Standard 36320 dark ghost grey over Federal Standard 36375 light ghost grey.

The Green Knights have a proud history and this is celebrated with each of their aircraft bearin the name of a World War II member of VMF-121 who made “ace” status on their leading edge extension (LEX) strakes.  The individual options are:

• F/A-18D Bureau Number 165413 - squadron call sign Covey 01.  This machine is the Green Knights flagship and is named for Captain Joe Foss.  If you are a fan of bright markings then this is the one you will want to model as she bears the insignias of the units that make up the 2^nd Marine Division in full colour on her starboard vertical stabiliser as well as the title 2D MAR DIV in red on the starboard side of her spine.  Her port side bears VMFA(AW)-121 titles in green and her port side vertical stabiliser bear the unit’s chess piece knight insignia in green.   She carries mission markings which represent those flown by all of the Green Knights whilst deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom.   The leading edges of her vertical stabilisers are in the same shade of green as well.  She also has full colour nation insignia as well as a full colour stars and stripes flag on her ventral speed brake.

• ATARS equipped F/A-18D Bureau number 165867 Covey 04. Named for Second Lieutenant Cecil Doyle who claimed five kills and was killed in action on 7 November 1942.  Whilst her markings are all lo-viz there are enough of them to make her look interesting.

• F/A-18D Bureau number 165411 Covey 05, named for Captain Kenneth Ford who holds the distinction of the being the first member of VMF-121 to make ace whilst flying the F4U Corsair.   Again, in all lo-viz markings.

• F/A-18D Bureau number 164652 Covey 11, Named for First Lieutenant William Marontate who scored 13 kills whilst flying Grumman F4F Wildcats over the island of Guadalcanal between 1942 and 1943.  Lo-viz markings for this bird too.

Individual full colour placement guides that show left and right hand side profiles to 1/72 scale are provided for each option with the flagship, Covey 01, getting a second page to show the placement of the individual unit insignia and green trim on the inner and outer surfaces of the vertical stabilisers.

Further placement guides - six pages in all - show placement of the huge amount of stencil data provided on the sheet.  These pages include the upper and lower surfaces in full colour (one page for each), two further separate pages that have colour images of the relevant parts of the airframe (ejector seats, undercarriage, exhausts, instrument panels), a black and white line drawing for fuselage stencil data, and finally, a further page that shows stencil data placement for AGM -65E and AGM-65F missiles as well as a load out grid to show what store was carried on what pylon.

The final three sheets on the CD hold modelling notes to assist you in correcting the Hasegawa (the recommended kit) F/A-18D kit to more accurately depict the aircraft on the sheet, a list of references and available aftermarket detail sets, and a two-page written history of the squadron.

The decals themselves come on three separate sheets.  The main sheet carries the vast majority of markings and stencil data whilst the other two sheets carry the green trim for the leading edges of the first option and a set of simulated mesh screen gun door vents respectively.

The stencil data really stands out too with too very comprehensive sets being supplied.  Some of these items include the AN/ALE-47 buckets with separate yellow and blue rounds so you can simulate differing loads (not seen these before on any other decal sheet), complete data plates for the undercarriage legs, doors and wheel bays, lo intensity formation lights (slime lights) navigation lights (beats painting the little devils!), ejection seat data plates, four sets of AGM-65E/F missile stencil data and external fuel tank stencil data.

From what I can make out, you get enough decals so as you can build two models from the sheet, Covey 01 and any one of the lo-viz birds.

The decals themselves have been printed in Italy by Cartograf.  Everything is in perfect register, sharp and clear.  Pretty much all of the stencil data is readable to the naked eye too and what is not (bar the undercarriage and ejection seat ones) are still sharp and clear under a strong magnifying glass.

The decals and the CD come packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag that has a piece of stiff cardboard in it as well so as to separate and protect the decal sheets from creasing against the CD.

So there you have it.  As I said initially, something different!  You get right up to date markings as well as some really excellent reference images and information in the same package.

Recommended!

Thanks to Flying Leathernecks Decals for the review sample.

Review Copyright © 2008 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 5 February, 2008
Last updated 5 February, 2008

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