Best Sellers

Marauding Invaders

Part II

AeroMaster Decals
 

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

HyperScale is proudly sponsored by Squadron.com

48-615 is the second sheet of the two sheet issue in AeroMaster’s Best Sellers series covering the A-26 Invader. 

Markings are provided for three aircraft. 

First up is a B-26B, serial number 44-34552 – “BROWN NOSE” of the 731^st Bomb Squadron, 452^nd Bomb Group.  The markings depict the aircraft as it appeared in mid-1945 at Pusan, Korea. 

Finish is overall olive drab with white tips to the fin and rudder, wings and horizontal stabilizers.  The comments provided by the placement sheet state that it had a relatively fresh paint job with little fading or chipping.   The markings consist of: 

·        Yellow USAFs for the top of the right wing and the bottom of the left wing, U.S. AIR FORCE scripts and serial number for the fin, and buzz numbers for the fuselage. 

·        Nose art in the form of a cartoon dog for the nose.  The “BROWN NOSE” script is supplied a two-part red and white decal with the smaller and separate red decal being placed over the white script.

·        A comprehensive bomb log, crew name/position block for the nose and letter Js for the fin in white.

Next is B-26B, 44-3417 “Jersey Bounce” of the 90^th Bomb Squadron, 3^rd Bomb Group as it appeared in Korea in 1952. 

“Jersey Bounce” is in overall natural metal finish; with yellow tips to the fin and rudder, wings, and the horizontal stabilizer and elevators, and an olive drab anti-glare.  The engine nacelles are painted black with the leading edges left in natural metal.  Markings consist of: 

• Dark blue USAFs for the wings.
• Black U.S. AIR FORCE titles, serial number and letter X for the fin and rudder as well as buzz numbers for the fuselage.
• Nose art consisting of a green map of the state of Jersey, USA with red “Jersey Bounce” script and red and yellow musical notes.

The last option is an A-26B, serial number 44-34553 “Hollywood Hangover” of the 728^th Bomb Squadron, 452^nd Bomb Group.  This time the aircraft was based at Miho Air Base, Japan in 1950. 

Another natural metal finish option.  It sports olive drab anti-glares to the nose and the inner faces of the engine nacelles.  This time the trim is in green and is only on the top of the fin, as well as the tips of the horizontal stabilizers and the wings.  The markings consist of: 

• Dark blue USAFs for the wings.
• Black U.S. AIR FORCE titles and serial number for the fin and rudder as well as buzz numbers for the fuselage and a bomb log for the nose.
• Nose art consisting of a reclining nude with a champagne glass with the script “Hollywood Hangover” in red and black.

A single set of national insignia is supplied for all three options but there are two sets of red propeller warning stripes and two and a half sets of propeller blade stencils and Hamilton Standard propeller logos. 

As with the other Best Seller Invader sheet, the decals themselves have been printed in Italy by Cartograf.  They are well up to Cartograf’s high standards being in perfect register and clarity.  The decal sheet and placement guide come packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag. 

The placement guide is in Aeromaster’s normal double-sided A-4 sheet which gives full-colour side profiles as well as plan-views of each aircraft’s wings.  The placement guide also provides a list of references to help in researching each aircraft.  The suggested kit is the Revell/Monogram/Pro-Modeller one. 

This is a great sheet from Aeromaster.   

Recommended.