48-690 is the first of two new sheets covering the North American B-25 Mitchell in AeroMaster's Best Sellers series. 

48-690 provides markings for three B-25Ds of the 345th Bomb Group.  The individual aircraft and their markings are as follows: 

'Gay Mare' 41-30089, a B-25D-1 of the 501st Bomb Squadron.  The markings depict the aircraft as it was in August of 1944 when it was being flown by First Lieutenant Lawrence N. Schade.   The machine is in olive drab over neutral grey camouflage scheme with medium green splotching to the leading and trailing edges of the wings, vertical and horizontal stabilisers.  The cowling rings are orange (501 bomb Squadron's identifying colour) with a white stripe chord-wise across the vertical stabiliser and rudder (also a 501st Bomb Squadron identity marking. The supplied markings comprise: 

• Nose art, comprising a grey cartoon donkey with the words 'Gay Mare' in yellow.

• A scoreboard consisting of yellow bomb silhouettes, four aircraft and a ship.

• Air and ground crew names in white.

• Yellow 130089 aircraft serial.

• A pair of Japanese rising sun flag kill markings.  This marking is supplied as a one-piece and two-piece decal to counter any register problems.

• A set of "Fifth Air Force Variation" national insignia – early white star on insignia blue circle background modified with the addition of insignia white rectangles minus the insignia blue outline.

• A yellow star on a red circle background (for the nose gear).

'Lucky Bat', B-25D-5 41-30058 named and flown by Captain Julian B. Baird, the Operations Officer of the 499th Bomb Squadron.  The machine is in olive drab over neutral grey camouflage finish with medium blue cowling rings. The supplied markings depict the machine as it appeared in July 1943 and they comprise:

• Yellow 130058 aircraft serial.

• A scoreboard consisting of yellow bomb silhouettes.

• Nose art consisting of a bat riding a bomb and the name 'Lucky Bat'.  There are two different versions of the nose art and they are applied on either side of the nose.

• The name 'Chief' for the port side of the nose under the cockpit and the name 'Papoose' for the starboard side.

• A set of early white star on insignia blue circle background.

The final option is 41-30517, an unnamed B-25D-1 considered the personal aircraft of the 345th Bomb Group's Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Jarred V. Crabb.  The machine is in olive drab over neutral grey with yellow cowling rings and all white vertical stabilisers identity markings of the 498th Bomb Squadron.  The supplied markings comprise:

• 130517 aircraft serial in black.

• A four-clawed crab (one for each of the Squadrons in the Group) with red eyes.  This marking appeared on both sides of the nose and there is a further one supplied in case they were 'handed'.

• A scoreboard consisting of yellow bomb silhouettes.

• A set of "Fifth Air Force Variation" national insignia.

Stencil data is confined to three sets of propeller stencils as well as manufacturer logos. 

The placement guide is A-4 in size and it shows full colour left-hand side profiles of each option as well as plan views of two of the machines.  The tops and bottoms of the wings are also shown as is a guide to stencil data placement for the propeller blades. 

The decals themselves have been "Printed in Mexico".  Everything is in perfect register and sharply printed. The decals and placement sheet come packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag. 

The recommended kit is the superb Accurate Miniatures offering. 

This is another great sheet from AeroMaster. 

Recommended. 

Postscript 

One of the references mentioned on the placement guide is Warpath Across the Pacific by Lawrence J. Hickey.  This is an absolutely fantastic book and it has been used extensively in the research for this sheet.  Original photographs, paintings and complete histories of all of the aircraft on this sheet appear in the book.  If you are a student of the Pacific War don't even hesitate to buy it, it's well and truly worth the price!