Cutting Edge Modelworks

1/32 Tomahawks AVG Flying Tigers decal sheet

Product # CED32052 for $9.99

Product Article by Steve Bamford on Apr 16 2004

 

 

 

This new decal sheet from Cutting Edge Modelworks includes markings for two different 1/32 P-40CU and H81A-2 Tomahawks.  The recommended kits for these decals is the 1/32 Trumpeter P-40B.

The American Volunteer Group or "Flying Tigers" is a story that will live in legend forever.  These American pilots hired by the Chinese were an impressive disruption to the Japanese as they fought against the Chinese prior to Dec 7 1941.  It is a very big story....too big to go into here.

The first aircraft is a Hawk 81A-2 P-8133 flown by Tom Haywood of 3rd Pursuit Squadron with the AVG. This plane is white "49" and the white numbers P-8133 on the tail with a red band around the rear of the fuselage.  This plane is painted in RAF dark Earth and Dark Green on top and either Light Gray or Sky on the underside.  For markings this plane has the customary AVG sharks mouth and 3 other pieces of artwork.  P-8133 was originally flown by Frank Swartz, but after his death was flown by Tom Haywood.  Haywood, a former USMC pilot, had the USMC bulldog applied to both sides of his fuselage.  The remnants of an earlier 'flying tiger' decal remain on the port side only, and a freshly applied decal was applied just aft of this on both sides.  The second decal, the bulldog, and Haywood's name in front of the cockpit appear to have been applied over a fresh coat of dark Green.  The area around the first 'flying tiger' decal still shows where varnish had been applied to the original decal in an attempt to keep it from peeling off during flight.  This aircraft has Chinese national insignia.

The second aircraft is a P-40CU with the  35th PS, 8th Pursuit Group out of Mitchell Field, NY in 1941.  This plane has the yellow numbers 548P on the tail. This aircraft is painted in Olive Drab with neutral Gray on the underside.  The spinner and engine cowling band are in insignia yellow.  The artwork is what appears to be a black panther lying down inside a white circle.  The plane has US national insignias and a red and white striped rudder.  On the underside of the wings are the words in big text "US Army".

The decals were flawlessly printed and the clear carrier film is trimmed very close to the crisply printed colored areas.  The colours look good and will cover very well.  The artwork and paint scheme on the Hawk 81A-2 P-8133 flown by Tom Haywood will require effort but it will produce a very interesting aircraft.    

A very special bonus is you get extra Chinese Nation insignia.  Chinese markings often faded in the intense Chinese sun so faded and non-faded Chinese national insignia are included.

The instructions are clear and includes 4 view drawings and an extra page of text instructions is included with a small bit of info about one of the planes as well as helpful tips for decal application. 

A very nice decal sheet and highly recommended for all the Tomahawk builders and especially AVG fans out there.

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