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Hawkeye Models 1/72 & 1/48 RAAF FA-18A

By Jenny Kinron

In 2001 Australia had it's 100th birthday. As part of the celebrations the RAAF outfitted two of it's aircraft with a special scheme which featured the Centenary of Federation logo as well as the Southern Cross on the uppersurfaces of the aircraft. Unveiled to the general public at the Avalon Airshow last year, this subtle yet striking scheme has been released as a decal by Hawkeye Models, an Australian decal manufacturer.

Good choice of subject but how are the decals? Two words - really beautiful. The decals themselves are well printed, thin and in excellent register. The detail offered in the decals, especially in the markings, is remarkably comprehensive and provision is there for you to do either of the two aircraft which wore this "birthday suit". In addition to the two decals pictured here, you get some white decals for the roundels and the Centenary of Federation logo background.

Instructions are very detailed with not only application advice and general handling instructions but four colour profiles to show you EXACTLY where the decals go. A nice gesture to the modeller is the fact that FS colour matches are included for the aircraft itself.

This is the first set of Hawkeye Decals I've bought - but it won't be the last. They're available from a few retailers but I got mine from SANDLE Hobbies.