Reviewed by Rodger Kelly
 

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FirstLook

Cutting Edge Modelworks CED48116 provides markings for three 8th Air Force B-26B Martin Marauders. 

Each aircraft bears the standard early war finish of olive drab over neutral grey. 

First up is 41-31765, 'Fightin' Cock' of the 450^th Bomb Squadron, 322^nd Bomb Group based at Andrews Field, Essex in 1944.  The supplied markings comprise:

• Nose art consisting of a cartoon rooster's head with the words 'Fightn' Cock' in yellow and a scoreboard of yellow bombs.  This is a two piece decal with a separate thin black outline for the words 'Fightn' Cock'.

• Grey ER squadron, and X 'aircraft in squadron' codes.

• Yellow 41-31765 aircraft serial.

Next is 42-95864, 'Valkyrie' of the 497^th Bomb Squadron, 344^th Bomb Group based at Stansted, Essex in January 1944.  Her markings comprise:

• Nose art consisting of a reclining nude on a maroon background with the words 'Valkyrie' in maroon with a yellow border.  These markings are in four parts with the name supplied as separate maroon and yellow decals, the nude herself, and the maroon background for the nude

• Grey 71 squadron and B 'aircraft in squadron' codes.

• Yellow 42-95864 aircraft serial.

• White triangle Group identification marking.

The final option is 41-18054, 'Jezabelle' of the 452^nd Bomb Squadron, 322^nd Bomb Group based at Andrews Field, Essex in 1944.  The markings comprise: 

• Nose art consisting of a swimsuit clad blonde riding a bomb and the words 'Jezabelle' in yellow with a black border.

• Grey DR squadron and H 'aircraft in squadron' codes.

• Yellow 41-18054 aircraft serial.

A single set of national insignia is provided and there is no stencil data whatsoever.  The decals themselves look as if they have been printed by Microscale. 

The placement guide is A-4 in size and shows left hand side colour profiles of each aircraft as well as a generic top view of a single aircraft. 

As per Cutting Edge's normal practice, there is a smaller instruction sheet provided.  This sheet contains short notes on each aircraft, a cross match of readily available model paints for olive drab and neutral grey, as well as bibliography. 

The placement guide, note sheet and the decals themselves are all packed into a clear plastic zip-loc bag. 

Monogram/Revell is the recommended kit. 

This is a timely issue from Cutting Edge as the 1/48 scale Revell (previously Monogram) kit has just been re-issued. 

Recommended.

Thanks to Cutting Edge Modelworks for the review samples..

Review Copyright © 2001 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 10 November, 2002
Last updated 10 November, 2003

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