Without a doubt, the US Navy has consistently offered some of the most colorful aircraft. Why it is that these planes are not seen that often at shows is a mystery. When I go to contests, I usually see a lot of camouflaged USAF aircraft, but rarely the very much more colorful USN types of the same period. During nearly the entire period when tactical USN planes wore the gull grey and white camo scheme (approx 1956 to the early 1980s), they have used the tail of the aircraft to display some superb artwork.

Though it is a bit of a toss-up between the A-7 and F-4 for who had the greatest variety of colors, I'll have to vote for the F-4. Aeromaster, who is not known for doing a lot of 1/72 decal sheets, has started doing something about that. Here is one of the more recent sheets on the F-4. All of them are CAG birds (which pretty well guarantees lots of color) and there are three different subtypes offered, which makes it nice for those of us who have LOTS of F-4 kits.

The first aircraft on the sheet is an F-4B, 150628, from VF-11 aboard the USS Forrestal. The aircraft is in standard gull grey over white. To my knowledge, this is the first time early VF-11 F-4s have been offered on a sheet in this scale.

Next is an overall gull grey F-4J, 155854, from VF-103 on the USS Saratoga. Those of you who don't like to mask will appreciate this scheme as it is quite easy to paint.

Finally, is an F-4N, 150442, from VF-302, a reserve squadron based at NAS Miramar. For this scheme, you'll have to paint the fin and rudder yellow. This particular scheme is VF-302's Bicentennial scheme as noted by the red, white and blue modex number on the nose.

The sheet has all the standard markings for all three aircraft. Wing walk areas and stencil data will have to come from another source.

Review copy courtesy of me and my credit card

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