Reviewed by Rodger Kelly
 

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FirstLook

Cutting Edge Modelworks CED32047 Fancy Girls Part 2 provides decals for two F-105 Thunderchiefs and has been produced for the new 1/32 scale Trumpeter kits.      F-105D-25 RE 61-069, 'Cherry Girl'.  The markings depict the aircraft when it was based at the Royal Thai Air Force Base, Takhli, in Thailand.  'Cherry Girl' was a Mig killer and belonged to the 375th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 355th Tactical Fighter Wing.   Camouflage is the standard South East Asian scheme of tan FS 30219, light green FS 34102, and dark green FS 34079 over light grey FS 36622.  Her markings are sparse and consist of:  ·        Small full-colour national insignia in four places.  ·        White RU Unit Aircraft Identification letters and black and white AF 61-069 aircraft serial number for the vertical stabilizer.  ·        A red and yellow Soviet star 'kill marking'.  Whilst this marking looks to be out of register I wouldn't be too worried as these marking never seemed to be perfect register on the one-to-one scale examples.  ·        Ejection seat warning triangles and yellow stencil rescue arrow and rescue information.  ·        A data block.  ·        The 'Cherry Girl' marking itself.  As with that other famous F-105 girl 'Pussy Galore', 'Cherry Girl' was placed so that her private parts were situated on the in-flight refuelling receptacle door and when the aircraft was fuelled by a tanker in flight, the re-fuelling boom extended and made contact it appeared that, um -well enough said!  As with 'Pussy Galore' Cutting Edge has produced this marking as a two-part decal – 'Cherry Girl' herself and a separate piece that they quaintly call "the pie part".  F-105F-1-RE 63-8301, 'Jinkin Josie', also of the 375th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 355th Tactical Fighter Wing and based Takhli in 1968.  'Josie' also wears South East Asian camouflage scheme with a white fin tip.  Her markings consist of:  ·        Small full-colour national insignia in four places.  ·        Samll black USAF and white 38301 aircraft serial number for the vertical stabilizer.  ·        Ejection seat warning triangles and yellow stencil rescue arrow and rescue information.  ·        A data block.  ·        'Nose art' consisting of a topless cartoon blonde (she looks like she is straight from the pages of the old Playboy magazine's Little Annie Fannie comic) in yellow bikini pants and a white missile with the words 'Jinkin Josie' in yellow.  This is a two-part decal with the white of the missile's "swoosh" as a separate design.  Apart from what is mentioned above, there is no other stencil data provided.  This is not a problem as the decal sheets in the Trumpeter kits feature a very comprehensive set of stencil data that have been printed by Microscale.  These decals also look as if they have been printed by Microscale.    The decal placement guide is Cutting Edge's normal A-4 sized full-colour sheet.  It shows left hand side profiles of both aircraft and a top view as well.  A further sheet of notes is also provided.  This sheet gives a thumbnail sketch on both aircraft.  A cross reference chart on the required FS matches to readily avail able model paints, and a comprehensive bibliography are also feature on this sheet.  All up, a good package from Cutting Edge.  Recommended.  Thanks to Cutting Edge Modelworks for the review samples.. Cutting Edge Modelworks products, including Cutting Edge Decals, can be viewed at Meteor Productions website Review Copyright © 2003 by Rodger Kelly This Page Created on 21 October, 2003 Last updated 21 October, 2003 Back to HyperScale Main Page Back to Reviews Page