Airacobras
At War

Part One

Aeromaster Decals
 

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

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A brand new sheet from Aero Master. This time it features the Bell P-39 Airacobra. Markings are provided for four aircraft, three U.S. and one Russian. The recommended kits are both the Eduard and Monogram ones.

• 41-38506 a P-39D as flown by LT Lloyd Rosser of the 41st Fighter Squadron (FS) 35th Fighter Group (GP) Fifth Air Force based in Port Morseby, New Guinea in 1943. Finish is olive drab over neutral grey (OD/NG) with the New Guinea theatre markings of white vertical and horizontal stabilizers. The tip of the vertical stabilizer and the nose are in yellow signifying that it belongs to the 41st FS.
  
  The serial number is in yellow on an olive drab background with a yellow P for the fuselage side (Flight letter?) and 92 (plane-in-squadron number) for the nose. LT Rossers’ scoreboard is supplied as a white decal only so you will have to paint the black yourself or easier still, use the black decal film from one of the two sets of black wing-walks that are supplied as a part of the stencil data on this sheet.
  
  A full set of early style national insignia, data block and “door art” of the seemingly obligatory pin-up girl on a blue circle complete the markings.

• 42-18805, a P-39N as flown by a CAPT Hilbert also of the 41st FS 35th FG but this time out of Tsili-Tsili in September 1943. Finish is as per the previous aircraft.
  
  Individual markings include S Flight letter, 95 plane-in-squadron number, pilots name for beneath the windscreen, the name “Toddy III” for the fuselage above the exhausts, a data block, and more door art but this time she is clothed and on a yellow circle. A further full set of national markings are supplied. This time though they have the white borderless “bars” that were worn by 5th AF after July 1943.

• 42-9434, a P-39N as flown by CAPT Aleksander Klubov of the 16th GIAP. Finish is OD/NG with a red spinner and tail tip with a thin white border (the border is supplied as a decal).
  
  Individual markings are a large scoreboard in the form of red and white stars that cover the entire gun access doors. These markings are supplied as both a one-piece decal and two-piece decals to address any register problem that may arise – my sheet though is in perfect register. National markings are in the form of the Russian red star over the original U.S. insignia and two further red stars that are for the top right and bottom left of the wings – Russian markings were in the top and bottom of both wings whereas the U.S. only marked their aircraft on the top left and bottom right. A data block, serial number for the tail (two options for placement of the right hand side are given), and white 45s complete the markings.

• 42-20746, a P39Q as flown by LT Clarence Bud Anderson of the 363rd FS 375th FG in California, 1943. Finish is OD/NG with a red bad around the nose.
  
  Individual markings include large white 152 for either side of the nose, white “Old Crow” also for the nose, yellow serial number for the tail, data block and door art in the form of the 363rd FS insignia. A full set of national insignia is supplied. This time it is a blue bordered one. The original blue is faded whilst the blue on the border is fresh, indicative of the fact that it was probably repainted over the short-lived red border from early 1943.

Stencil data is quite comprehensive. If you are using the Eduard kit you will probably use the kit supplied data as it is quite good if however, you are using the Monogram kit you will be happy that this sheet supplies enough to make your kit look complete. A sensible move by Aero Master. There is also two complete sets of data and logos for both Curtiss and GM Aeroproducts propellers, and just to make sure you understand which ones to use, the placement sheet gives you a complete history on which prop was used on which model P-39 – excellent!

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

There is also a small separate sheet supplied. This sheet gives you the “shadow” for the two pin-up girls. However, my sheet had two sets of “shadows” for the same girl.

Decal placement is guided by a full-colour double sided A-4 sized sheet. As well as showing decal placement it also provides a comprehensive list of references as well as extra historical notes and the discourse on the propellers.

The decals themselves have been printed by Cartograf so their properties are known. The yellow of the codes and serial numbers is a little odd in that there seems to be a darker yellow “border” on the letters and numerals. Not a big thing really and I think it won’t be that obvious once it is applied to a model.

As per standard Aero Master practice, the placement guide and decal sheets are packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag.

A great sheet from Aero Master. It provides a fair range of options for markings worn by lesser known Airacobras. It also provides an excuse to build another of Clarence “Bud” Anderson’s “Old Crows”!

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