This new decal
sheet from Cutting Edge
Modelworks includes markings for two different 1/48 B-17's.
The first aircraft is a B-17G-30-BO
"Our Gal Sal" flown by Robert J. Shoens with 351st BS of the
100th BG out
of Thorpe Abbotts, England in the summer of 1944.
This B-17 was the queen of the "Bloody Hundredth" having flown 135
missions with 27 different crews and had the distinction of being the longest
serving plane in the unit. The name for this B-17 was inspired by the 1942
movie of the same name starring Rita Hayworth. The nose art was painted on
control surface canvass then glued to the fuselage.....this worked and permitted
the noseart to stay on despite the slipstream. The "Our Gal Sal"
B-17 flew her first mission on February 3 1944. The
paint scheme on this aircraft is overall Olive Drab on top and neutral grey on
the underside. The cockpit window frames are bare metal. The Neutral Grey
chin Turret was replaced at some point with a natural metal chin turret.
Wing leading edge deicer boots are heavily worn. The nose art is a
sexy brunette in a skimpy one piece 1940's bathing suit and high heels looking
over her shoulder.
The nose art is applied to
a white decal to place under the noseart decal to avoid colour bleed through.
The light grey code letters on the side of the rear fuselage are “EP E” with a
blue and white national insignia between the letters.
The tail contains a a
large white square with a black letter "D" and below that are the
large yellow serial numbers 231767 E. These decals depict this B-17 about
the time of her 60th mission. The mission markings seem to go on forever
on the nose of this B-17. The aircraft was heavily worn and weathered by
this point in her career and these details are covered in the text instructions
included in the decal set.
The noseart decals are delicate and two are included
for each plane in case
you mess up the first ones. Exacting
instructions are included on how to prepare and install these decals…..read
these instructions carefully to avoid disaster. Apparently these noseart decals are very thin and need
special care, but once installed they will look very accurate and realistic.
The nose art decals are printed on a one piece decal sheet, so you’ll
need to cut the decal free from the rest of the decal film…..patience is the
key here. The noseart decal is
beautifully printed with fantastic detail and lovely shading.
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