Reviewed by Brett Green
 

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FirstLook

These four new decal sheets from Cutting Edge will be very appealing to Luftwaffe fans. The subjects are interesting, with many unusual features including a RV bands in colours and checks, variations on Gruppe markings and odd camouflage application.

Although all four decal sheets are labelled 1/48 scale, two of these new releases include 1/72 scale markings for several of the subjects. This is a handy bonus.

All four sheets share the same high quality for the decals. These are perfectly printed with no overlap or bleeding, and carrier film has been kept to a minimum.

Instructions are by way of a fold-out letter sized, double sided sheet with large single side views of each subject aircraft. The diagrams are very nice. The back of the sheets offer either one or two plan view diagrams of the top camouflage schemes, and a small supplementary instruction sheet is included with a brief description of some (but not all) of the subjects.

Specifics for the sheets are as follows:

CED48167 - Luftwaffe Over Czech Territory #4

After three sheets in this series featuring Fw 190s, the Bf 109 finally imposes itself. Four fascinating subjects are included on this sheet. These include

White 4 - A Bf 109G-10 with the "Type 110" cowling (featuring a flat fairing behind the cowl replacing the more common crescent shaped item). This aircraft has a blue-white checked RV band of KG(J)54 and a crudely painted White 4. I would love to know if this aircraft also carried the black and yellow Totenkopf badge of KG(J) 54 on the cowl!

White 33 - a fairly standard Bf 109G-14 except for a large area of the upper rear fuselage overpainted with RLM 02 Grey, and a small white ring on the end of the spinner.

Yellow 7 - This well-known aircraft features an overpainted Southern Theatre nose band, a Blue-White-Blue RV band, a white outlined Yellow 7 and a patchy, dark camouflage finish. The cowl is lighter in tone and appears to be a replacement.

Black 29 - A spotty, pale finish (possibly 02 Grey) over 74/75 Greys.

CED48190 - Bf 109E "Emils" Part Three

Five interestings Emils, two of which were operating as late as 1942 with JG 1.

Four of the schemes are 02 Grey and 71 Dark Green upper surfaces. The remaining subject, "Black <o", is finished in the early scheme of two greens.

In my opinion, the two most interesting schemes are the aircraft from JG 1 with their distinctive fuselage markings and unusual Gruppe identification.

This sheet includes bonus 1/72 scale markings for four of the options, but you'll have to supply most of your own national markings.

CED48192 - Fw 190A Reich Defenders Part 1

Four more interesting schemes for Focke-Wulf Fw 190As.

Once again, this sheet includes bonus 1/72 scale markings, this time for all four subjects. Those chequers will be a lot of fun in 1/72 scale!

CED48200 - Fw 190A Reich Defenders Part 3

Our final sheet for the night also provides markings for four 1/48 scale Fw 190As, including an attractive Wurger from 15./JG 54 with a broad blue RV band, yellow markings and a JG 54 "Green Hearts" badge under the cockpit.

"Black <O" of II/JG 1 features five narrow rings and a spot on the end of the spinner. This would be nigh on impossible to paint but Cutting Edge has supplied five separate circle decals plus a spot for the tip of the spinner. I'd recommend starting at the centre and taking your time with this one!

No 1/72 scale markings with this sheet.

All Recommended.

Thanks to Cutting Edge Modelworks for the review samples..

Review Copyright © 2002 by Brett Green
This Page Created on 09 December, 2002
Last updated 14 August, 2003

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