 Afterburner
Decals 1/48 Seymour Johnson F-4E Sheets
Never one to do things in a small way, Afterburner Decals has decided
to provide markings for a few Phantoms from Seymour Johnson AFB. Between
two sheets they have no fewer than fourteen aircraft depicted, ranging
from the original SEA camouflage through to the final Hill Gray scheme.
Nine years are shown, from 1981 to 1990, and it is interesting to note
that one aircraft is covered twice (74-1649, shown in 1984 in a wraparound
Euro 1 scheme with the 336th TFS and again in 1989 in the Hill Gray scheme
with the 335th TFS). Sized to fit the Hasegawa kit, both of these sheets
will keep you in Phantoms for quite a while.
Starting chronologically (but out of sequence for the decal sheets,
as Afterburner did the Hill Gray sheet first as AD48-040 and the SEA/Euro
1 sheet second as AD48-041), the first aircraft are a couple Phantoms
from Red Flag 1981. Both of these are in the standard SEA camouflage scheme
of 30219 tan, 34102 medium green and 34079 dark green over 36622 camouflage
gray. The first one, 73-1180, has a black and white checkered rudder,
while the second one, 72-1142, has a blue rudder with white dots. Both
aircraft carry the 4th TFW badge on both intake sides.
 Next
up are a pair of wraparound SEA camouflaged F-4Es. The first here is the
4th TFW CO’s aircraft from 1983. This aircraft, 74-1040, has multi-colored
stripes around the fuselage and has the tail code shaded in white. A large
white-shaded black four is also on the fin. The second F-4E in this camouflage
scheme carries a couple drone kills on the intake splitter plate. From
the 337th TFS, 67-0283 has a red tail band as well and dates from 1985.
The final camouflage scheme provided on this sheet is the Euro 1 scheme
of 34102 medium green, 34079 dark green, and 36081 Euro 1 gray. The first
three aircraft in this scheme date from 1984, showing an overlap with
the above wraparound SEA scheme. 67-0232 is from the 337th TFS and carries
a large red star on the splitter plate denoting a Vietnam MiG kill (a
MiG-21, shot down on 14 October 1972 while with the 307th TFS, 432nd TFW,
or at least that’s what the decal says; yes you can read that fine
stenciling). The second 1984 aircraft, 74-1649, is the 336th TFS CO’s
bird, and carries a yellow diagonal stripe on the fuselage. Finally, finishing
up 1984, we have 660295 from the 337th TFS. Also a CO aircraft, this plane
has a red diagonal band on the fuselage and the name “Wicked Wanda”
between the front and rear canopy.
The last two aircraft on this sheet date from 1985 and 1987, respectively.
The 1985 aircraft is 73-1176 and carries a specially-marked Gunsmoke ’85
travel pod. The tail band is in the three squadron colors of blue, yellow
and green, with 4th TFW printed in the yellow portion, and the port intake
carries a special 4th TFW emblem denoting Gunsmoke ’85. The final
Euro 1 aircraft is 73-1168 from 1987 and is the 4th TFW CO’s aircraft.
The tail codes are angled and shaded in white, as is the 4TFW marking
present on the fin.
 Moving
on to the Hill Gray aircraft, sheet AD48-040 provides markings for five
aircraft: three dating from 1989 and two from 1990. Two of the aircraft
are line jets, while the remaining three are CO aircraft. Starting with
the line jets, this sheet provides markings for both the 334th and 335th
TFS. The 334th aircraft, 71-1397, has a blue tail band with Eagles written
in script, while the 335th aircraft, 74-1649 (the former 336th CO aircraft
seen on the other sheet), has Chiefs written. Both carry the squadron
emblem on the port intake, and the wing emblem on the starboard. Both
aircraft have low-viz codes.
For the CO aircraft, the tail codes are black, shaded in white. The
first aircraft is the 335th CO’s aircraft, 72-0128, and it carries
the designation 335th TFS on the tail in black, shaded white. The 334th
TFS CO has 73-1165, and also has the squadron designation on the tail
in white-shaded black (although smaller than the 335th one). Finally,
73-1172 is the 4th TFW CO’s aircraft. It has the three-colored tail
band, while carrying the 337th TFS squadron emblem on the intake. 4TFW
is on the fin in black, shaded white.
Given the interesting markings presented on all of these aircraft, it
would be difficult to choose just one. So, the only solution really is
to just build all fourteen aircraft! Seriously, though, a collection of
four Seymour Johnson F-4Es showing the four camouflage schemes would make
for an excellent display, and these two sheets make that an easy option
to follow. My thanks to Afterburner
Decals for the review samples.
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