The decal set consists of one 4.75 x 7.5 inch sheet accompanying by a color glossy 8.5 x 11 inch instruction and placement page in a ziplock plastic bag. I always appreciate the resealable bags, for storing unused decals afterwards and protection from coffee. The decals themselves were printed by Cartograf. Markings for two aircraft are provided, BuNo 162224 of VAQ-135, and BuNo 163527, VAQ-137. Very well-done and unique unit art is included for each aircraft, as well as numerous decals for some ECM pods and drop tanks. The formation light panels appear to be a reasonably accurate color. Unfortunately, there are only formation lights for one aircraft. Consider this if you actually are going to build both aircraft off this sheet. General and detail side views of both are included, and there are two general top and detail views. FS colors are provided for the color schemes, and the decal inks appear to match the FS color chips fairly well.

The F/A-18 Hornet has been around for a while, and it looks to be almost as big a winner as its predecessor, the F-4 Phantom. One of the stories going around St. Louis in the 90s was that the plant wanted to build 5058 Hornets, one more than the production run for the Phantom. Well, the production line is still open, and they’re past 1100 now.

The F/A-18 E and F are different aircraft from the A to D models. The whole plane is larger, the engines are more powerful, and it’s stealthier. The engine intakes are square and the landing gear doors have sawtooth edges, which reduce radar return.

Here’s a picture of my recent CF-18A with the F/A-18E.

The Kit

You get two kits in separate plastic bags. The only difference between the two kits is that the F model has a longer canopy. Otherwise, they’re part-for-part the same kit. You even get two ejection seats and the extras for the rear cockpit with the E.

The Detail Parts:

We all know what a propeller is, but what is this “tool” of which we speak? Trumpeter provides a block of resin with a “bed” for the prop blade to be placed into, and a locating hole and ring for the spinner. When placed into the “bed” the prop will assume the correct angle for alignment with the spinner. Using this tool, which is also included in many of the other Quickboost prop sets, alignment of exactly the same angle and orientation will be achieved for each of the three blades. What a great idea!

Product/Stock #

• 148 003 Navy Chock/ Bar (Early Production) $5.99
• 148 002 Universal Navy Chock/Rope (Early Production) $4.99
• 148 006 Universal Navy Chock/Rope (Late Production) $4.99

Anyone’s who’s seen the Aires line of detailed aftermarket aircraft parts is well aware of the high quality and attention to detail that goes into all their products. Now, Aries has dug even deeper into scale modeling minutiae with their offering of these 1/48th scale Wheelliant resin wheel chock sets. These ubiquitous pieces of equipment are on hand wherever Naval Aviation is found, on land or at sea.

To counter Axis armor, the British introduced a tank busting version of the Hurricane. Armed with two Vickers 40mm cannon they had the same effect as an armor-piercing rocket, but were four times more accurate. First fitted to the Hurricane as the Mk IID, they were also used on the later Hurricane Mk IV. Hurricane IIDs saw service in North Africa, the Far East and in the UK.