Review of FCM 1/32nd Scale
VAQ-132 Scorpions Decal Sheet
Kit no. 32022
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $22.49 marked down from $25.00 at Sprue Bros.
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $22.49 marked down from $25.00 at Sprue Bros.
HISTORY:
The Boeing EA-18G Growler is an American carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft, a specialized version of the two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet. The EA-18G replaced the Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowlers in service with the United States Navy.
The Growler electronic warfare capability is primarily provided by Northrop Grumman. The EA-18G began production in 2007 and entered operational service with the US Navy in late 2009. Australia has also purchased twelve EA-18Gs, which entered service with the Royal Australian Air Force in 2017.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Electronic warfare aircraft
National origin: United States
Manufacturer: Boeing
First flight: 15 August 2006
Introduction to service: 22 September 2009
Status: Currently in service
Primary users: United States Navy, Royal Australian Air Force
Produced: 2004–present
Number built: 150 as of December 2017
Unit cost: US $68.2 million (flyaway cost, FY2012)
Developed from: Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet
The Boeing EA-18G Growler is an American carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft, a specialized version of the two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet. The EA-18G replaced the Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowlers in service with the United States Navy.
The Growler electronic warfare capability is primarily provided by Northrop Grumman. The EA-18G began production in 2007 and entered operational service with the US Navy in late 2009. Australia has also purchased twelve EA-18Gs, which entered service with the Royal Australian Air Force in 2017.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Electronic warfare aircraft
National origin: United States
Manufacturer: Boeing
First flight: 15 August 2006
Introduction to service: 22 September 2009
Status: Currently in service
Primary users: United States Navy, Royal Australian Air Force
Produced: 2004–present
Number built: 150 as of December 2017
Unit cost: US $68.2 million (flyaway cost, FY2012)
Developed from: Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet
THE SET:
FCM is based in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
This decal set comes in a clear self-sealing clear cello bag.
The set consists of 2 decal sheets and the painting and marking instructions.
The marking and painting guide is 16 ½” x 8”, folded twice to fit the envelope. It is printed in color on slick coated paper.
One side shows two side views of 2 E/A-18Gs, a bottom view and illustrations of the jamming system pods and their markings.
FCM is based in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
This decal set comes in a clear self-sealing clear cello bag.
The set consists of 2 decal sheets and the painting and marking instructions.
The marking and painting guide is 16 ½” x 8”, folded twice to fit the envelope. It is printed in color on slick coated paper.
One side shows two side views of 2 E/A-18Gs, a bottom view and illustrations of the jamming system pods and their markings.
The largest decal sheet holds the squadron markings for 2 E/A-18Gs. One is serial no. 166894 “Scorp 540”, Commander, Electronic Attack Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Operation Odyssey Dawn – 2011.
It is overall dark ghost-grey above the fuselage with a light ghost–grey nose and under carriage and a dark-earth and olive-brown wave pattern on its rudders. It has a red no. 540 on the side of its nose, repeated in black at the top of the rudder. It has VAQ-132 on one side of the fuselage in red and SCORPIONS in red on the other side of the fuselage and red NAVY under the elevators.
The second side profile shows another E/A-18G that is also overall dark ghost-grey above the fuselage with a light ghost-grey nose, undercarriage and rudders. It has an illustration of a dark ghost-grey scorpion’s tail on the sides of the rudders, followed by dark ghost-grey letters NL. It has a black no. 541 at the tip of the rudders and on the sides of the nose. It has a white VAQ-132 on the sides of the fuselage and a red NAVY under the elevators.
It is a E/A-18G Growler, ser. No. 166935 – “Scorp 541” Commander, Electronic attack Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Operation Odyssey -2011.
The reverse side of the painting and marking guide has a top view and illustrations of the sand, dark-earth and green wave pattern on the rudders, over a 4-view line drawing of a E/A-18G showing stencil placements.
It says here that the 1/32nd scale Growler from Trumpeter Models has some important details missing to represent an accurate Growler model. It is basically the same kit for the F-18F with extra load out parts.
To fix the missing details in the Trumpeter kit you need to get the Steel Beach EA-18G Growler update set no. 32011.
It is overall dark ghost-grey above the fuselage with a light ghost–grey nose and under carriage and a dark-earth and olive-brown wave pattern on its rudders. It has a red no. 540 on the side of its nose, repeated in black at the top of the rudder. It has VAQ-132 on one side of the fuselage in red and SCORPIONS in red on the other side of the fuselage and red NAVY under the elevators.
The second side profile shows another E/A-18G that is also overall dark ghost-grey above the fuselage with a light ghost-grey nose, undercarriage and rudders. It has an illustration of a dark ghost-grey scorpion’s tail on the sides of the rudders, followed by dark ghost-grey letters NL. It has a black no. 541 at the tip of the rudders and on the sides of the nose. It has a white VAQ-132 on the sides of the fuselage and a red NAVY under the elevators.
It is a E/A-18G Growler, ser. No. 166935 – “Scorp 541” Commander, Electronic attack Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Operation Odyssey -2011.
The reverse side of the painting and marking guide has a top view and illustrations of the sand, dark-earth and green wave pattern on the rudders, over a 4-view line drawing of a E/A-18G showing stencil placements.
It says here that the 1/32nd scale Growler from Trumpeter Models has some important details missing to represent an accurate Growler model. It is basically the same kit for the F-18F with extra load out parts.
To fix the missing details in the Trumpeter kit you need to get the Steel Beach EA-18G Growler update set no. 32011.
The smaller decal sheet holds very many stencil markings.
The sheet was made in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil and printed by Micro Scale.
I want to sincerely thank Mr. Felipe Canuto Miranda, head of FCM Decal Co. for this review sample.
All FCM decals can be viewed on their website at:
I want to sincerely thank Mr. Felipe Canuto Miranda, head of FCM Decal Co. for this review sample.
All FCM decals can be viewed on their website at: