Cutting Edge CED48199

1/48 Aggressive Scooters Pt.1

(also available in 1/32 and 1/72)

$18 (AUD) $10.17 (USD approx.) for 1/48 scale

Review by Steve Bamford on Oct 14 2003

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This is a new decal sheet from Gekko Graphics. The sheet includes markings for 4 different adversary A-4 paint schemes in 1/48 scale. This sheet is also available in 1/72 and 1/32 scale. There are actually 2 jets featured on this decal sheet......one of which wore 3 different paint schemes for this decal sheet. You get a selection of paint schemes from Jungle, Desert and Soviet style (gray/blue).

In the early years of the Vietnam war, the US was not achieving the level of superiority in air- to-air warfare that it had achieved in previous wars. By 1968, concerned about the relatively low kill rations achieved in Southeast Asia, Captain Frank Ault, serving with the Naval Air Systems Command, recommended the formation of a graduate level school to train a nucleus of fighter crews who would be highly trained in Air Combat Maneuvering (ACM) and weapons systems employment. The Navy established "Top Gun" at the Miramar Naval Air Station in 1969. It was a four week course that provided Navy pilots instruction that simulated realistic combat conditions. Over the 35 year history of Top Gun there have been changes, but the core mission remains the same......to pass along current information on fighter tactics and evolving world events to the top pilots. Ultimately, each new graduate of the Navy Fighter Weapons School will return as a Training Officer carrying the latest tactical doctrine back to his operational squadron.

The first plane is an A-4E Skyhawk Bu.No. 152080 used in the Top Gun program. This particular Skyhawk Black 62 is painted in a jungle camo scheme made up of 4 different colors. Those colors include Dark Brown FS. 30091, Dark Green FS. 34092, Green FS. 34102

and Tan FS. 30117. The markings are your standard looking Marine Corps. markings with the addition of a round decal for each side of the tail that is for the "United States Fighter Weapons School".

The second plane is an A-4E Skyhawk Bu.No. 150023 used in the Top Gun program. This particular Skyhawk Black 56 is painted in a Soviet scheme made up of 2 different colours. Those colours include Dark Ghost Gray FS. 36320, Intermediate Blue FS. 35164. The

markings are your standard looking USN markings with the addition of a round decal for each side of the tail that is for the "United States Fighter Weapons School". You get 3 different paint schemes for Bu. No. 150023 on this decal sheet. To date this plane has worn 6 different paint schemes in its career and is a battle damage Vietnam Vet as well. One special decal on each side of the fuselage below the canopy is gold in colour and has the pilot's name and callsign on it. For this jet the pilot's callsign is "Action".

The third plane is an A-4E Skyhawk Bu.No. 150023 used in the Top Gun program. This particular Skyhawk Black 56 is painted in a lo-viz Soviet scheme made up of 4 different colours. Those colours include Light Ghost Gray FS. 36375, Light Sea Gray FS. 36307,

Blue Gray FS. 35237 and Intermediate Blue FS. 35164. The markings are your standard looking Marines markings with the addition of a round decal for each side of the tail that is for the "United States Fighter Weapons School". One special decal on each side of the fuselage below the canopy is gold in colour and has the pilot's name and callsign on it. For this jet the pilot's callsign is "Blaster".

The fourth plane is an A-4E Skyhawk Bu.No. 150023 used in the Top Gun program. This particular Skyhawk Red 56 is painted in a Desert scheme made up of 2 different colours. Those colours include Tan Special FS. 20400 and Brown FS. 30118. The markings are

your standard looking Marines markings with the addition of a round decal for each side of the tail that is for the "United States Fighter Weapons School". One special decal on each side of the fuselage is gold in color and has the pilot's name and callsign on it. For this jet the pilot's callsign is "Stoker".

The decals were flawlessly printed and even the smallest text is readable. The larger decal sheet is an Alps printed decal sheet, so you have to individually cut the decal from the clear carrier film. You also must be very careful with these decals to avoid scratching them. They work like regular decals if you are aware of their unique qualities. The instruction sheets go into detail about dealing with these decals, so you shouldn't have any problems. One interesting note I read on the instructions is to cut the decal from the clear carrier film with small scissors instead of an X-Acto knife. Colours are solid and will cover very well. Alps print up gold decals much better than regular silk screened decals so having Alps decals for the gold decals on this decal sheet is a good thing.

This decal sheet has a good variety colour schemes.

The instructions include 5 pages of colour profiles and 2 pages of text instructions. I found the instructions to be clear and quite helpful an easy to follow.

A very nice product and highly recommended.

Steve

I would like to thank Gekko Graphics for providing me with this review sample.

Click on images below to see larger images of the instruction sheets