TwoBobs Aviation Graphics have been around for years, and have built a solid reputation for producing some of the finest after-market decal sets in the industry. Chances are, if you’ve been around aircraft modeling for a while you’ve used some of their products already. Their recent release of a set of 1/48^th Viggen decals was meant to coincide with the recent Tarangus release of a JA-37 Viggen in the same quarter scale.

The decal set under review comes in a sealed plastic envelope that contains two sheets of individual markings covering the following nine different aircraft:

1. Saab AJ-37 Viggen, S/N 37034 F6 Wing, Royal Vastergotland Air Base, Karlsborg – 1993 (Splinter scheme)
2. Saab JA-37 Viggen, S/N 37302 F13 Wing, Royal Bravalla Air Base, Norrkoping-Bravalla – 1979 (Splinter scheme)
3. (2 versions) Saab JA-37 Viggen, S/N 37304 F17 Wing, Royal Blekinge Air Base, Ronneby-Kallinge – 2000 (172nd squadron, Gripen Conversion Special Scheme 2000)
4. Saab JA-37 Viggen, S/N 37308 Forsokscentralen T&E FMV Test and Evaluation, Malmslatt – 1985 (Splinter scheme)
5. Saab JA-37 Viggen, S/N 37304 F16 Squadron, Royal Uppland Air Base, Uppsala, 161^st Squadron, Viggen Retirement Scheme – 2003 (Overall Grey)
6. Saab JA-37 Viggen, S/N 37394 F17 Wing, 171^st Squadron, Royal Blekinge Air Base, Ronneby-Kallinge – 1992 (Overall Grey)
7. Saab JA-37 Viggen, S/N 37412 F13 Wing, 132^nd Squadron, Royal Bravalla Air Base, Norrkoping-Bravalla – 1989 (Overall Grey)
8. Saab JA-37 Viggen, S/N 37410 F16 Squadron, Royal Uppland Air Base, Uppsala, 161^st Squadron, Viggen Retirement Scheme – 2003 (Overall Grey)

Along with the decal sheets, TwoBobs includes two comprehensive sheets containing decal placement and paint callouts for Testors Model Master, Humbrol, Gunze Lacquers, and Xtracrylics, as well as Federal Standard (FS) numbers.

The quality of the decals is excellent, as usual. TwoBobs took great pains to insure perfect register and each image has the very tiniest amount of carrier film surrounding it. Assuming these sheets are made using the same process as all of their products, the decals will slide off and adhere easily using the Red/Blue MicroSol/Set products (which I am used to), as well as any other decal setting solutions.

Side-by-side Comparison

The first obvious difference between the two sets is that the Tarangus markings are for two S/N’s not found in the TwoBobs set, so the two products are not interchangeable, but rather complement each other. Since the TwoBobs set contains markings for eight different aircraft, it will have more stenciling and other aircraft and squadron-specific options then the two schemes found in the Tarangus set.

The yellow borders on the Tarangus roundels and other details are a little darker – more of a school-bus yellow - vs the lighter, brighter, ‘noon sun’ yellow used by TwoBobs. Conversely, the large red numerals on the Tarangus set are lighter than the darker ones from TwoBobs. Go figure. Also, the stencils in the Tarangus set seem to be a tad larger and bolder (and therefore a little easier to see) than the very fine stencils from TwoBobs. Of course, that may not be what you want. In the end, I think if you use parts of both sets you will have everything you need to dress up that build you spent so long painting!

I highly recommend this TwoBobs product for any airplane modeler who wants to add a little more detail and realism to their 1/48^th scale Viggen.

I would like to thank the TwoBobs Aviation Graphics for providing this product for review, and to IPMS USA for giving me the opportunity to review it.