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.
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