Cutting Edge Modelworks

1/48 He 111 Pedro "Pencil Noses" Part 1 decal sheet

Product # CED48238 for $8.99

Product Article by Steve Bamford on Dec 4 2003

 

 

 

This is a new decal sheet from Cutting Edge Modelworks.  The sheet includes markings for 4 different Luftwaffe He-111B's in 1/48 scale that served during the Spanish Civil war in the late 1930's.

To build an early He-111 you will begin with the very good 1/48 Monogram He-111H and use the Cutting Edge Modelworks conversion set #CEC48446 to backdate the Monogram kit to a He 111B.

The first plane on this sheet is a He 111B-2 that flew with K-88 out of Leon Spain.  The paint scheme is a camo pattern of RLM61, 62, 63 on top and RLM 65 on the underside.  The rudder is white with a big black "X".....the "X" is included as a decal.  The tail has artwork of Baron Muenchausen in a red coat riding a bomb to it's target.  This artwork is on both side of the tail, but there are minor differences in the artwork from the left and right side.  These differences are documented in photos and the decals reflect these differences.      

The second plane is a He 111B-1 flown by 1.K/88.  This plane has text nose art that reads "PEDRO 9".  The decals represent this aircraft from Mid to late 1937.  On the rear fuselage there is artwork of a champagne bottle popping it's cork.  This plane also has tail artwork of a witch flying a broom.  The nose of the broom has a propeller.  It is not confirmed by photographs if the witch artwork appeared on both sides of the tail......but decals are included to put this flying witch artwork on both sides of the tail.  This plane is overall gray top and bottom with a white rudder with a big black "X".....the "X" is included as a decal. 

The third plane on this sheet is a He 111B flown by VB/88.  This plane has text nose art that reads "PEDRO 1".  The decals represent this aircraft from early 1937.  On the rear fuselage there is artwork of a white bird of prey dropping a bomb.  This plane is overall gray top and bottom with a white rudder with a big black "X".....the "X" is included as a decal.  Later in this plane's service life it had additional dark sprayed in patches to give it a two-color upper surfaces. 

The fourth plane on this sheet is a He 111B that flew with Grupo 25 with the Nationalist Air Force.  The paint scheme is a camo pattern of RLM61, 62, 63 on top and RLM 65 on the underside.  The rudder is white with a big black "X".....the "X" is included as a decal.  The tail has artwork if an military gentleman in a  gray uniform giving the thumbs up.  This artwork is on both side of the tail.     

The decals were flawlessly printed on 1 decal sheet and the clear carrier film is trimmed very close to the crisply printed colored areas, which is always good to see.  

The instructions are clear and an extra page of text instruction is included with a small bit of info about this 3 of these planes as well as instructions about basic decal installation.  

It's very good to see Cutting Edge Modelworks has come out with a resin conversion set to make an early He-111 as well as many interesting decals to finish off your Spanish Civil War He-111.

A very nice product and highly recommended.

I would like to thank Cutting Edge Modelworks for providing me with this review sample.

Steve

Click on images below to see larger images of the instruction sheets

Photos and text © by Steve Bamford