Banzai!! The Mitsubishi F-2 sheets are ready for new homes!

For a few years now, the Hasegawa 1/48 Mitsubishi F-2 A/B kits have been considered some of Hasegawa’s finest work. These kits are just outstanding, and until the Tamiya vipers were released nothing really came close to these kits in terms of detail, fit, accuracy and fidelity…they are just awesome builds. The holdup, as we saw it as modelers, was the lack of really good markings for them. The schemes were terrific…the JASDF 2-tone blue maritime scheme certainly isn’t your average “boring gray jet” and the JASDF has been known for their wild looking special schemes for anniversaries and tactical air meets, but the decals were very limited in both quantities and quality…they were very tough to acquire from overseas. When Geoff first broached this subject, the difficulties in both good reference and our unfamiliarity with the subject were apparent, but he forged ahead anyway and developed some fantastic contacts in Japan and across the globe that provided us both with reference pictures and help with understanding JASDF organization and operations….plus Geoff having to learn to draw Kanji! This is a better than 2 year effort, the result of which is what you have available to you now, 2 sheets of the finest markings anywhere for these terrific jets in some of the coolest schemes you can imagine.

	48-064 – This release covers the F-2 A/Bs from the 6th Hikotai, one of 3 F-2 combat squadrons within the JASDF, based at Tsuiki AB on NE Kyushu. This sheet contains both regular and special schemes, the highlights being the 2009 50th Anniversary scheme for Tsuiki AB, 3 jets from the 2009 JASDF Air Combat Meet wearing the sinister Grim Reaper tails, as well as the 2009 “Skull Riders” jets, again adorned with Grim Reaper motifs. 2 sets of stencils are included, and also an innovative solution to a major hangup on F-2 markings. The side fuselage numbers cross between the camouflage demarcation lines between the dark and light blue, and the numbers have the lighter blue as a border. This is difficult to match with a printed decal color, as there isn’t a good out of the bottle color for the light blue. The solution was a paint mask, applied over the light blue before the dark is sprayed, thus leaving the light blue border for the plain black numbers….snazzy, huh?
	48-065 – This release covers the F-2 A/Bs from the sole F-2 conversion and training squadron, the 21st Hikotai at Matsushima AB. This unit is known for their awesome special schemes, and several are covered on this release including the only accurate representation of the dark blue….not black, mounted samurai on the JASDF 50th Anniversary jet. Also included is the wild looking 21st Hikotai 30th Anniversary jet, and the 2006 Matsushima AB commemorative scheme. Several line jets are covered and the schemes include drop tank markings and the little details that make Afterburner sheets what they are.
	48-066 – this is a cool little detail sheet that includes neat little items like the exhaust inside and exterior details, ejection seat details including seatbelts, a full cockpit including powered on CRTs, landing gear placards, tire and wheel markings etc….the stuff that really makes a piece stand out

Jump on these sheets folks…we did them because we personally couldn’t find good F-2 markings….and we aren’t alone. Expect a LOT more F-2 and JASDF subjects from us in the future. If you’ve noticed there is some wicked flash animation on the front page that announces our next 4 releases, which will available for the IPMS USA National Convention…..mere weeks away. As always, we are most appreciative of your continued support!