Reviewed by Rodger Kelly
 

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FirstLook

This is the first release in a three part series from Cutting Edge covering B-1s, or "Bones" as they have come to be known.  These sheets are issued in both 1/72 and 1/48 scales, hence the double title. 

This sheet covers four different Bones. 

85-0074 “Penetrator”, of the 96^th Bomb Wing (BW), Dyess Air Force Base (AFB).  Finish is overall FS 36081 dark grey, with a disruptive pattern of FS34086 dark green, to the upper surfaces and FS 36118 gunship grey to the undersides. 

·        Nose art is substantial with a white winged horse being ridden by, what appears to be a Centurion bearing an orange lance and the black with white shadow “Penetrator” titles.

·        A full colour Texas State flag with a steer’s skull on both sides of the top of the vertical stabiliser.

·        A Semi-subdued squadron badge for the left-hand side of the nose.

·        Other markings include the aircraft number, two blue and white “last four” for the nose undercarriage leg, set of unusual lo-viz stars and bars, as well as rescue arrows and rescue stencilling. 

86-0133 “Memphis Belle” of the 116^th BW based at Robbins AFB, Georgia.  This Bone is finished in overall FS 36118 gunship grey with FS 36081 dark grey nose and tail radomes. 

Markings are sparse but include: 

·        The “Memphis Belle” herself.  Obviously fashioned after her more famous WWII sister but this time wearing a blue swimsuit.

·        A black with red edges band across the top of the fin with yellow GEORGIA titles.

·        Stencil type Air National Guard shields for the top of the tail and squadron badges for the nose.

·        Black GA Wing identifiers and serial numbers for the tail.

·        Air and ground crew names.

·        Rescue arrows and rescue stencil data

·        Two different full-colour campaign ribbons. 

84-0051, “Boss Hawg” of the 9^th Bomb Squadron (BS), 7^th BW, Dyess AFB.  Finish is overall FS 36118 gunship grey with FS 36081 dark grey nose and tail radomes.  Markings include: 

·        Red with white outline and detail running boar.

·        A semi subdued wing badge, and a fully subdued squadron badge.

·        A black tail bad with a white bat.

·        Red with white “last four” markings for the nose undercarriage leg.

·        Black DY Wing identifiers and aircraft serial numbers for the tail. 

86-0093, “Global Power” of the 37^th BS, 28^th BW, Ellsworth AFB.  Finish is overall FS 36118 gunship grey with FS 36081 dark grey nose and tail radomes.  Markings include: 

·        Nose art in the form of a tiger clutching a globe of the world with a white B-1 stencilled across it.

·        A yellow edged black band with yellow “Tiger” titling for the top of the tail

·        A Semi subdued Strategic Air Command badge for the top of the tail

·        Black Wing “EL” Wing identifiers and serial numbers for the tail.

·        A set of rescue arrows and rescue stencil data. 

As luck would have it, the October 2002 issue of Fine Scale Modeller has an article on the Revell/Monogram 1/72 scale B-1 kit by Paul Boyer. 

Paul’s article tells you how to update the kit to reflect the changes that occurred from the time that the kit was released and the B-1 came into service. 

Combine this article and any of the three new Cutting Edge sheets and you will have a nice looking Bone for your collection.

Recommended.

Click thumbnails below to view larger images:

Thanks to Cutting Edge Modelworks for the review samples..

Review Copyright © 2002 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 17 October, 2002
Last updated 14 August, 2003

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