Afterburner Decals 1/48 TA-4J Scooter Trainers Decal First Look
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | August 2008 | Manufacturer | Afterburner Decals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | TA-4J Scooter Trainers | Scale | 1/48 |
| Set Number | 48039 | Pros | Seven distinctive TA-4J trainers |
| Cons | Skill Level | Novice | |
| MSRP (USD) | Out of Production |
First Look
Afterburner Decals has turned out some impressive decal releases covering contemporary US subjects and this one is no exception. This new set covers the variety of color schemes and markings of the US Navy's TA-4J Skyhawks. Designed for the Classic Airframes 1/48 TA-4J kit, these markings replicate seven of the Navy's more interesting trainer color schemes spanning over 14 years.
One of the more difficult tasks in replicating these color schemes is good information including four-view color guides and matching Federal Standard color numbers so one can replicate this scheme in scale. Afterburner has taken the hassle out of this step by providing detailed four-view diagrams of all seven aircraft, including the color patterns inside the flap wells. Nice! The seven Scooters presented here include:
- TA-4J, 153498, A/749, VT-7, 1992
- TA-4J, 155098, C/445, TW-3, 1990
- TA-4J, 158509, B/000, VT-25, 1984
- TA-4J, 158100, C/000, VT-25, 1982
- TA-4J, 155113, B/168, TW-2, 1992
- TA-4J, 158100, C/400, VT-25, 1978
- TA-4J, 155103, -/575, VT-25, 1986
This decal set provides you with the sufficient markings to replicate at least two of these aircraft. If you look over the decal sheet, you can see that this set is complete with the names of the flight crews and maintainers. Someone has done their homework!
If you're looking for a nice subject for your next two-seat Scooter project, this is the right set to get you there. If you're a fan of colorful trainer aircraft as I am, you'll need to stock up on these Classic Airframes kits!
My sincere thanks to Afterburner Decals for this review sample!