S u m m a r y
Catalogue Number:	CED48256 Zirkus Rosarius Part 1: CED48257 Zirkus Rosarius Part 2: CED48258 Zirkus Rosarius Part 3: CED72114 Zirkus Rosarius:
Scale:	1/32
Contents and Media:	Double-sided full colour letter-sized instructions plus notes sheet; 1 x full-size decal sheet;
Price:	Each USD$8.99 from Meteor Productions website
Review Type:	FirstLook
Advantages:	Very unusual schemes for wide variety of familiar aircraft; excellent kits available; plenty of options; includes notes; decals thin and printed in perfect register; great timing for Classic Publications "On Special Missions"
Disadvantages:
Recommendation:	All Recommended

Reviewed by Brett Green

HyperScale is proudly sponsored by Meteor Productions

The Luftwaffe Verscuchsverband (the Trials and Research Unit of the Luftwaffe High Command) flew and evaluated new Luftwaffe aircraft types and captured Allied fighters. They also toured Luftwaffe operational airfields with their flying war booty under the moniker of "Wanderzirkus Rosarius" (Travelling Circus Rosarius, named after its Commander).

This unit operated and tested Spitfires, Mustangs, Lightnings, Thunderbolts, Typhoons, Mosquitos and more.

Cutting Edge Decals presents three brand new sheets in 1/48 scale with a total of nine subjects, and a 1/72 scale sheet with five aircraft (permitting seven different schemes). The subjects wear RLM 04 Yellow lower surfaces (with a couple of exceptions), and large German markings. Some of the aircraft are wearing remnants of their original colour schemes, but most are finished in RLM 74 Grey-Green upper surfaces.  P-47 Thunderbolt YF-U, "Beetle", includes the original US markings as well as the Zircus Rosarius version.

The decals are produced to Cutting Edge's usual high standard - thin and with a minimum of carrier film. Artwork includes top and bottom views as required.

It is also nice to see that each sheet offers a variety of aircraft types, and that excellent kits are available for the Mosquito, P-47, Mustang, Spitfire and Typhoon subjects covered.

Finally, timing of these sheets is perfect with the recent release of Classic Publications' "On Special Missions - The Luftwaffe's Research and Experimental Squadrons 1923-1945", also reviewed on HyperScale. This book represents a one-stop research stop for this subject, with fascinating text and typically gorgeous artwork by Tom Tullis.

Specific details are as follows:

1/48 Scale

CED48256 Zirkus Rosarius Part 1
(see above image)

Subjects on this sheet are:

• Mosquito B.IV, T9+XB, 2./VVB OKL, Königsberg, Neumark, July 1944;

• P-47D-2-RA, T9+FK, 2./VVB OKL, Wunstorf, July 1944;

• P-51B, T9+HK, 2./VVB OKL, Neuruppin, late 1944

USD$8.99

CED48257 Zirkus Rosarius Part 2:

Subjects on this sheet are:

• P-51B Mustang, T9+CK, natural metal/RLM 04 scheme, 2./VVB OKL, Summer 1944

• P-47D-2-RA Thunderbolt "Razorback", "Beetle," YF*U, 2nd. Lt. William Roach, 358th FS, 355th FG;

• P-47D-2-RA, Thunderbolt "Razorback", "Beetle," 2./VVB OKL, Wunstorf, July 1944

USD$8.99

CED48258 Zirkus Rosarius Part 3:

Subjects on this sheet are:

• P-51B, T9+CK, RLM 74/RLM 04 scheme, 2./VVB OKL, Wunstorf, Summer 1944;

• Spitfire XI, T9+EK, 2./VVB OKL, Neumark, Summer 1944;

• Typhoon Ia, T9+GK, 2./VVB OKL, Neumark, Summer 1944

USD$8.99

1/72 Scale

CED72114 Zirkus Rosarius (see title image):

This sheet includes five selected aircraft permitting seven possible schemes:

• Mosquito B.IV, T9+XB, 2./VVB OKL, Königsberg, Neumark, July 1944;

• P-47D-2-RA, T9+FK, 2./VVB OKL, Wunstorf, July 1944;

• P-51B, T9+HK, 2./VVB OKL, Neuruppin, late 1944;

• P-51B, T9+CK, natural metal/RLM 04 scheme, 2./VVB OKL, Summer 1944;

• P-51B, T9+CK, RLM 74/RLM 04 scheme, 2./VVB OKL, Wunstorf, Summer 1944;

• P-47D-2-RA, "Beetle," YF*U, 2nd. Lt. William Roach, 358th FS, 355th FG;

• P-47D-2-RA, "Beetle," 2./VVB OKL, Wunstorf, July 1944

USD$8.99

Cutting Edge's four new "Zircus Rosarius" decal sheets will really impart a different "look" for your Allied fighter models.

Recommended.

Thanks to Cutting Edge Modelworks for the review samples.

Review Copyright © 2004 by Brett Green
This Page Created on 19 February, 2004
Last updated 19 February, 2004

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