Stock Number 48-655 is the first sheet in a three-part coverage by AeroMaster of the 361st Fighter Group, the 'Yellow Jackets'. 

It provides markings for three P-51D aircraft.  The individual aircraft and their markings are as follows:

'Baby Doll' 44-15663, flown by Lieutenant Clarence Sullivan Jr of the 376^th Fighter squadron.   The machine is in overall natural metal finish with 361^st's yellow upper and lower nose cowling panel and spinner group marking with the 376^th's yellow rudder.  The supplied markings comprise: 

• Black E9 squadron code and S individual aircraft code. The underline to the S indicates that it is the second aircraft within the squadron wearing the code letter S.
• Black 415663 aircraft serial for the fin and rudder (supplied as one-piece decals).
• A data block with the correct serial number (as are all of them on the sheet)
• The name 'Baby Doll' in black.

'Jasper's Joker II' - P-51D 44-14803, flown by Lieutenant Donald F. Vulgamore of the 376^th' Fighter Squadron.  The machine is in natural metal finish with black theatre bands over the wings and the horizontal stabilizers and the 361^st's yellow nose and spinner group marking with the 376^th's yellow rudder and black wing tips.  The supplied markings consist: 

• Black squadron E9 codes and individual aircraft code letter V.
• 414803 aircraft serial for the fin and rudder (supplied as one-piece decals).
• The name 'Jasper's Joker' in black and yellow (black where it goes over the yellow nose markings and black where it goes over a black painted panel.
• Nose art in the form of a caricature of a jester's head.
• A data block.
• A scoreboard consisting of three black swastika on a white circle background for the canopy rail.
• Thin yellow stripes for the propeller (the aircraft wore these inboard of and supplementary to the standard yellow tips)

'Betty Lee III' 44-15076 piloted by Second Lieutenant William W. Kemp of the 375^th Fighter Squadron.  This aircraft is in overall natural metal with D-Day markings (not supplied) on the lower fuselage and tops and bottoms of the wings.  It also wears black theatre bands around the horizontal stabilizers and the fin (the band around the fin is unusual as this was ordered removed from 23 March 1944 as it broke up the outline of the fin and rudder which was one of the identifying features of the P-51) yellow nose and spinner group markings and blue squadron markings to the canopy rail and rudder complete and its markings.  The supplied markings consist:

• Black E2squadron codes and individual aircraft letter X.
• Black 415076 aircraft serial for the fin and rudder (supplied as one-piece decals).
• The name 'Betty Lee III' in black with a thin red outline.
• The data block.
• Pilot and ground crew names in black.

The sheet incorporates national insignia for each option two very complete sets of stencil data.  Two sets of black theatre bands are also supplied for the wings and horizontal stabilizers.  Strangely though it doesn't include the fin and rudder band so you will have to paint this on if you decide to model the last option. 

Interestingly, the decal sheet states that they have been printed in Mexico as well as in Italy by Cartograf!  My bet is that they have been printed by Cartograf.  Everything is in perfect register and sharply printed.  My standard warning re Cartograf decals applies here - Cartograf decals will work!  Just be patient and apply heaps of settling solution.  The decals and placement sheet come packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag. 

The placement guide is A-4 in size and shows left-hand side profiles of each option.  The tops and bottoms of the wings are also shown as is a complete guide to stencil data placement which includes the propeller. 

The recommended kit is the Tamiya P-51D. 

This is another nice sheet from AeroMaster. 

Recommended.

Postscript 

If you want to know more about the 361^st Fighter Group, its men and its machines, head over to Little Friends at  http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/361stfg.jsp  It has some great reference shots as well as the histories of some of the aircraft featured in AeroMaster's trilogy of sheets covering the 361^st Fighter Group.

Thanks to AeroMaster / Eagle Strike Products for the review sets

On-line sales are available from the AeroMaster Products / Eagle Strike Productions web site.

Review TextCopyright © 2004 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 22 July, 2004
Last updated 21 July, 2004

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