Two Bobs Aviation Graphics are well known for their attention to detail, color accuracy, instructions and graphics, and quality. This latest decal set is no exception. The F-15A Fightin’ 49ers decal set comes with two decal sheets in a protective Ziploc sleeve (6”x 10”) and one-page glossy color instructions (17”x11”) that folds into a four-page booklet.

Included on the instructions, and their webpage (https://www.twobobs.net/contents/en-us/p57778_48-289-F-15A-Fightin'-49ers.html), is a brief history of the 49^th Fighter Wing:

“Originally designated as the 49th Pursuit Group in 1940, the unit was one of the first combat units to deploy from the US to the Southwest Pacific after the attack on Pearl Harbor. There were 43 pilots that flew with the 49th who became aces to include Major Richard I. Bong.

After flying the P-51, F-80, F-86, F-100, F-105 and the F-4, the 49th TFW transitioned to the F-15 in 1977. The wings primary mission was to train new F-15 pilots until 1991. During that time, the 49th Fighter Wing achieved numerous milestones to include the longest flight by a single-seat fighter (14hrs) and also won the 1988 William Tell competition by outscoring the nearest competitors by over 2,000 points.

This decal sheet contains two different font style stencils for two complete aircraft and markings for various AC from all three squadrons.”

The 49^th Fighter Wing has a long and storied history, as does it home base, Holloman AFB, outside Alamogordo, New Mexico. Included in this decal set are two stencil sets and markings for five F-15As from the 1980s:

• 49^th Tactical Fighter Wing, “City of Alamogordo”, SN 77-0149, January 1984
• 7^th Tactical Fighter Squadron “Screamin’ Demons”, SN 77-0140, January 1984
• 8^th Tactical Fighter Squadron “Black Sheep”, SN 77-0118, September 1982
• 9^th Tactical Fighter Squadron “Iron Knights”, SN 77-0153, November 1983
• 833^rd Air Division, SN 77-0083, September 1982

The four-page, color instruction sheets provide top, bottom, left and right profiles, and the inside of the twin vertical stabilizers. The Cartograph decals are colorful, in register and look remarkable.

Gone are the days of the Eagles screaming through New Mexican skies; however, their jet engine sounds were replaced by F-117 Nighthawks, F-22 Raptors, QF-4 and QF-16 Aerial Targets, MQ-9 Reaper, and F-16 Falcons. The decals in this set provide source material for the F-4 Phantom (stationed at Holloman AFB prior to the F-15s) with the distinctive HO fin flash, any number of Tactical Air Command stencils, warning and safety stencils, and the squadron decals are still in use with the F-16 training squadrons flying out of Holloman. There are a lot of options for this decal set, and you needn’t be limited to just the F-15A Eagles.

According to the Two Bobs website, “Two Accurate? Two Colorful? TwoBobs!”. I couldn’t have said it better myself. If you build modern combat aircraft, check out their website. For a Holloman AFB Fightin’ 49er F-15A, you could do no better than Two Bobs!

Profuse thanks to Two Bobs Aviation Graphics (https://www.twobobs.net/index.html) and IPMS/USA for providing the review sample.