When the F/A-18 Hornet was introduced into operational Marine and Navy Squadrons, the low-visibility tactical paint scheme was already entrenched in naval aviation.  For many years, Hornets were basically…well…gray.  There was the occasional colorful Hornet, usually CAG birds.  For many years, aftermarket Marine Hornet decals (mostly Superscale) we basically gray as well.  In the past half decade, it seems that brightly painted Marine CO’s Hornets have become more commonplace.  Thankfully, Superscale has seen fit to produce the markings for some of these jets.

The sheet has two colorful Hornets from two Reserve Squadrons, the CO’s jet from VMFA-134 and the CAG birds from VFA-204.  Well, maybe “colorful” isn’t entirely accurate term, but they’re not the run-of-the-mill gray.

In 1989, VMFA-134 transitioned from the Phantom to the Hornet, becoming the first Marine Reserve Hornet squadron.  VMFA-134 makes up the fast-jet component of Marine Air Group Forty-six (MAG-46).  In 1994, the squadron had relocated to NAS Miramar in anticipation of the closure of MCAS El Toro.  This sheet depicts the CO’s F/A-18A as it appeared around 1997.  Trust me when I tell you that this was the brightest VMFA-134 jet up to that time.  It features the full-color squadron patch on the tails, the squadron nickname ‘Smoke’ on the LEX fences, and a false canopy on the fuselage.  The squadron designation, ‘Marines’, tail code ‘MF’ and modexes are shadowed in white as was the real jet.  You’ll have to paint the nose gear doors black as part of the false canopy.  Although not pointed out in the instructions, you also need to paint the forward portion of false canopy as this was omitted by the decals.  You can see from the photo that the false canopy marking covers part of the gun bay vents.

The other F/A-18A on the sheet is the CAG bird from VFA-204 “River Rattlers”.  This New Orleans-based squadron had transitioned from the A-7E to the F/A-18A in 1991.  It makes up the fourth squadron in the sole Reserve Carrier Air Wing.  What distinguishes this CAG bird from the rest of the River Rattler jets are the stars on the rudder and color markings.  You’ll need to paint blue portions of the tail to match the decals.

Since I was a radio repairman in MAG-46, I really like this sheet and I’m glad that Superscale produced it.  VMFA-134 had also inherited some tan and brown camouflaged F/A-18As previously owned by VFC-13.  Maybe a certain Marine aviation ordinanceman will produce decals for these jets.  Until then, I’ll need to build another F/A-18A to apply these markings that are nostalgic (for me).   

Please note that the sheet may look a bit short as I'll often crop off common markings to save on server space.

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