Reviewed by Rodger Kelly
 

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FirstLook

CED48232 is the second of three sheets from Cutting Edge Modelworks covering the P-47D Thunderbolt.  Markings are provided for and a 5^th Air Force, an 8th Air Force and a 9^th Air Force machine.

P-47D-30-RE 42-27210,"LOOK! NO HANDS" of the 509^th Fighter Squadron, 405^th Fighter Group 9^th Air Force.  The provided markings depict the aircraft as it appeared in the spring of 1945.   The aircraft is in overall natural metal finish with black theatre markings on the fin and rudder, a red spinner, cowling ring and canopy framing.  The markings comprise:

• Nose art consisting a scantily clad female on a yellow background for the nose.

• The words "LOOK! NO HANDS".

• Black G9-E squadron and individual aircraft letter.  The note on the supplementary note sheet for this aircraft advises that on the code letters were not painted as 'neatly' as found on other aircraft within the squadron.

• Black 227210 serial numbers for the fin and rudder.

• Non standard fuselage national insignia.

• Black data block.

There is also a theatre band provided on the sheet for this aircraft but it is in red rather than the black shown on the placement sheet profile.  A search through my meagre (not what my wife thinks!) library turned up the ancient but good Kookaburra Publication Thunderbolt Part 2 which advises that the 509th Fighter Squadron did indeed mark their aircraft with red tail bands.

P-47D-15-RE 42-22637 "Noisy" as flown by Lieutenant Robert Yaeger of the 40^th Fighter Squadron 35^th Fighter Group, 5^th Air Force.  The markings depict the aircraft as it appeared 'sometime in 1944' which would make it a long-lived Thunderbolt to still be around wearing these markings.  Finish is olive drab over neutral grey with theatre markings consisting of white empennage and wing leading edges and a red scalloped cowling.  The markings comprise:

• The white edges to the cowling scallops.  No masking template is provided so you are on your own with this one!

• Nose art, comprising a naked female (brunette this time!).

• Yellow 222637 serial number.  This appears on the fin inside an olive drab rectangle so you will have to mask the white off and spray the olive drab or easier still – spray a piece of clear deal film olive drab and then apply it over the white fin.

• Black 50 plane-in-squadron number for the fin.

• The red lightning bolt of the 40^th Fighter Squadron for the fin.  These markings are provided in the two different styles worn by the aircraft of the 40^th Fighter Squadron as no photographic evidence of the tail of this aircraft was available when this sheet was being researched.

• The name "Noisy" in white with yellow shadowing.

• A scoreboard consisting of five Rising Sun flags.

• Pilot's and Crew Chief's names in white.

• A black data block.

P-47D-25-RE 42-26628;""Miss Fire – Rozzie Beth II" of the 62^nd Fighter Squadron, 56^th Fighter Group, 8t^h Air Force.  The marking s depict the aircraft when it was being flown by Captain Fredrick Christenten out of Boxted in the UK in July of 1944.  The aircraft is in overall natural metal finish with a red cowling ring, yellow rudder and a set of D-Day markings on the under surfaces of the wings and the rear fuselage.  The markings consist of:

• The name "Miss Fire" in yellow with white shadowing.

• Nose art in the form of a naked female.

• The name "Rozzie Beth II" in red with yellow shadowing.

• Black LM-C squadron and individual aircraft code letters

• Black 226628 serial number.

• Black data block.

• An additional national insignia is supplied for the lower surface of the port wing.

As with the first sheet in the Thunderbolt trilogy, there are two sets of national insignia supplied.  The fuselage insignia is supplied in two forms so that you can model the aircraft with the cooler doors open or closed.  The very complete set of stencil data for the airframe and propeller in both black and white as appropriate to the aircraft's finish is also a feature on this sheet. 

The placement guide is Cutting Edge's standard fare of an A-4 sized sheet with side profiles of each option as well as upper and lower views of the wings.  There is a further A-4 sized sheet included and this one provides detail notes on each option, model paint matches for olive drab and neutral grey, and line drawings showing placement of the stencil data. 

The decals themselves look as if they have been printed by Microscale. Everything is in perfect register and there is an absolute minimum of decal film surrounding each design. 

The decals and the two placement sheets are packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag. 

The recommended kits are the Tamiya and Hasegawa efforts. 

Recommended.

Thanks to Cutting Edge Modelworks for the review samples..

Review Copyright © 2003 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 30 August, 2003
Last updated 30 August, 2003

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