Blue Nose Birds of Bodney

Part V

Eagle Strike Productions
 

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

Eagle Strike's 1/48 scale Blue Nose Birds of Bodney  Pt. V
is available online from Squadron.com

More Blue Nosed Birds from Bodney of the 352^nd Fighter Group from Eagle Strike Productions. 

IP4811 is the penultimate sheet in this series and it provides markings for four aircraft, two P-51Bs and two P-51Ds.  The individual aircraft and their markings are as follows: 

'GIG'S UP II', 43-7185, a P-51B-10 flown by Edward 'Pappy' Gignac, the 'B' Flight leader of the 428^th Fighter Squadron.   The machine is in overall natural metal with black theatre bands over the wings and the horizontal stabilizers (not supplied) and the blue nose and spinner group marking with a thin red outline.  The thin red outline extends around the canopy's rear –view window and "tombstone".  The supplied markings consist:

• Black PZ squadron code and G individual aircraft code.

• Black 37185 aircraft serial for the fin and rudder (supplied as one-piece decals).

• A data block with the correct serial number (as are all of them on the sheet)

• The name 'GIG'S UP II'.  This marking is supplied in two different forms.  As a one-piece decal incorporating a silver background and as a two-piece decal with separate red script and surround and silver background in case of register problems (none on my sample).

• Pilot's and Crew Chief's names.  These have been provided as separate red and blue as there is doubt as to which was correct.

P-51D-10 44-14397, 'EX-LAX…Shht'nGit!' of the 487^th Fighter Squadron, flown by Flight Officer Cyril B. Dolac.  It is in natural metal finish with black theatre bands over the wings and the horizontal stabilizers (not supplied) with blue nose and spinner group marking and the 487th's blue rudder.  The supplied markings comprise: 

• Black squadron HO codes and individual aircraft code letter E.

• 414397 aircraft serial for the fin and rudder.  The marking is a one-piece decal in black and white – white over the blue of the rudder and black over the natural metal of the fin.

• The name 'EX-LAX…Shht'nGit!'  The name is supplied as two-part decal with the yellow background of 'Shht'nGit' supplied separately to counter any register problems.

• A data block.

• Pilot's name in blue cursive script for the canopy rail.

'Cripes a' Mighty' 42-106451, a P-51B-10 piloted by Major George E. Preddy of the 487th Fighter Squadron.  This aircraft is in overall natural metal with full D-Day markings (not supplied) over the wings and fuselage and the blue nose and spinner group marking.  The supplied markings consist: 

• Black HO squadron codes and individual aircraft letter P.  The codes are supplied as partial letters as they were over painted with the D-Day stripes.

• Black 2106451 aircraft serial for the fin and rudder.

• The name 'Cripes a' Mighty' in yellow with a thin red outline.

• The data block.

• Two scoreboards.  The upper one consists of four white-outline Balkenkrauz with the bottom comprising eight red and white Balkenkrauz.  The second scoreboard is a two-part decal with the red one being applied over the top of the white one to give a white outline to the red Balkenkreuz.

• Pilot and ground crew names in blue.

'GOLIATH', P-51D-15 44-15513 flown by Lieutenant Karl Waldron of the 487th Fighter Squadron.  The machine is in overall natural metal finish with the blue nose and spinner group marking and the 487th's blue rudder and black theatre bands over the wings and horizontal stabilisers(not supplied).  Supplied markings comprise:

• Black HO squadron codes and individual aircraft letter U.

• 415513 aircraft serial for the fin and rudder.  The marking is a one-piece decal in black and white – white over the blue of the rudder and black over the natural metal of the fin.

• The name 'GOLIATH'.  A complex piece of artwork is this one!  The name is in yellow with black shadowing.  On the yellow, the name is repeated in a segmented form in white with a thin red outline.  The reproduction of this marking is superbly printed.

• The data block.

• A scoreboard comprising 10 hakenkreuz in black.

• The Name Lieut. Karl Waldron in black cursive script for the canopy rail.

• Five thin black lines for the upper surfaces of the wings.  Apparently these were aiming marks (for ground attack perhaps?) and applied to the aircraft with black tape.

The sheet incorporates two sets of national insignia and two very complete sets of stencil data.  These latter items appear to be reprints of the AeroMaster single stencil data sheets. 

The decals themselves have been printed by Cartograf.  Everything is in perfect register and sharply printed.  Cartograf decals will work!  Just be patient and apply heaps of settling solution.  The decals and placement sheet come packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag. 

The placement guide is A-4 in size and shows side profiles of each option.  The tops and bottoms of the wings are also shown as is a complete guide to stencil data placement which includes the propeller.  Individual comments are provided for each option that advises on the position and colour of mirrors, shrouded or unshrouded exhausts and ways of depicting the aircraft at different times during its life.   A short discourse on the 352^nd Fighter Group is also included.  It includes a discussion on the blue used for the nose markings and advises that the shades varied between medium blue for the P-51Bs and a darker blue for the P-51Ds.  The origins of the red and white barber's pole markings seen on the Groups aircraft are also explained. 

The recommended kits are the Tamiya P-51B and P-51D. 

This is another nice sheet from Eagle Strike.  It supplies markings for four different machines that, as far as I'm aware, have not been produced in decal form before. 

Recommended.