Reviewed by Rodger Kelly
 

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FirstLook

48268 is the second sheet in the Cutting Edge's F4U-4 trilogy 

Part two provides markings for four machines, all in overall glossy sea blue finish with white markings.  The individual aircraft are: 

F4U-4B Bureau number 62969 of VMA-332 Polka Dots off CVE-115, the USS Bairoko.  The markings depict it from July of 1953 when the USS Bairoko was steaming off the coast of Korea.  The supplied markings comprise:

• MR unit designator for the vertical stabilizer/rudder

• Number 16 modex, large ones for the sides of the fuselage and the top of the right wing with smaller ones for the forward facing main gear doors

• Large MARINE titles for the lower surface of the left wing with smaller ones for the fuselage sides

• VMA-332 unit titles for the rear fuselage – these are part of a one-piece decal that incorporates the MARINES titles

• Bureau number block for the rear fuselage

• Red polka dots for the cowling – supplied as a one-piece decal.  You will have to paint the white band yourself first before applying the dots.

Bureau number 97231 as flown by Ensign Jesse L. Brown of VF-32 off CVS-32, the USS Leyte in 1950.  VF-32s machines carried white spinner domes and tips of the fin and rudder.  The markings are: 

• Modex 203 and 217 for the sides of the fuselage with smaller abbreviated 03s and 17s for the tail cone.  There is debate as to what modex was worn by this aircraft - 203 or 217 - on the day that Ensign Brown was shot down near the Chosin Reservoir on 4 December 1950 so both are supplied

• Large K unit designator for the rudder and topside of the right wing with a smaller pair for the undersides of both wings.

• Large NAVY title for the underside of the left wing with a smaller pair for the rear of the fuselage.  The fuselage NAVY titles incorporate the VF-32 titles as well as a one-piece decal.  The placement guide advises that VF-32 removed their titles at some point during the cruise so it's your choice if you apply them.

• Bureau number blocks for the rear fuselage.

Bureau number 82050 as flown by Lieutenant JG Tom Hudner (also of VF-32)  The markings depict the aircraft on the day he crash landed it beside the wreck of Ensign Jesse L. Brown's machine (the subject of the above markings) in an attempt to rescue him after he was shot down by ground fire on 4 December 1950.  The unit designator K markings, NAVY and VF-32 titles are shared with the above option but the following separate markings are provided:

• Modex 205s for the fuselage and upper wing with a pair of smaller abbreviated 05s for the tail cone.

• Bureau number blocks for the rear fuselage.

The final option is Bureau number 97193 as flown by Lieutenant Commander Lou Burke the commanding Officer of VA-14 Tophatters in September of 1949.  Again, the machine is in overall glossy sea blue and it sports yellow on the tips of the fin and rudder and propeller dome.  The supplied markings include: 

• Large 401 modex for either side of the fuselage and upper surface of the right wing with two pair of smaller ones for the forward facing undercarriage doors and the sides of the engine cowling.

• Large T unit designators for the fin and rudder and upper surface of the right wing.

• A pair of small white stripes that fit inside the 0 of the fuselage modex

• Bureau number blocks for the rear fuselage

• Pilot's name for the canopy rails (both sides)

• Three top hat unit insignia.  The third one is a "handed" one but no mention of it is made on the placement guide.

A single set of national insignia is supplied for all four options as are a single set of logos and stencils for the propeller blades. 

The decals themselves look to have been printed by Superscale and are well up to what we have come to expect of their products. 

The placement guide shows full colour right hand side profiles for the first three options and a left hand profile for the VA-14 option in the centre pages with top and bottom plan views of each machine (the two VF-32 machines share a single illustration).  There is also a smaller single-sided page included that supplies information on the VF-32 options. 

The decal sheet, placement guide and smaller information sheet are all packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag. 

The recommended kits are Hasegawa and Academy. 

Another nice sheet from Cutting Edge Modelworks. 

Recommended.

Postscript 

For the full story of Ensign Brown and Lieutenant JG Hudner on 4 December 1950, head on over to the AcePilots.com website at http://www.acepilots.com/korea_hudner.html

Thanks to Cutting Edge Modelworks for the review samples..

Review Copyright © 2004 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 15 September, 2004
Last updated 15 September, 2004

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