S u m m a r y
Catalogue Number and Price:	PYND48024 - Curtiss Cuties Part One       USD$16.99 PYND48025 - Curtiss Cuties Part Two       USD$19.99 available online from Meteor Productions
Scale:	1/48 scale
Contents and Media:	Double-sided full colour letter-sized instructions plus notes sheet; 1 x screen printed decal sheet;
Review Type:	FirstLook
Advantages:	Perfect timing for new Hasegawa P-40E and N kits; terrific combination of excellent halftone rendition on nose art markings, separate conventional screen printed decals; interesting subjects; good instructions; thorough research; excellent printing
Disadvantages:	Extremely limited run - only 300 each
Recommendation:	Highly Recommended

HyperScale is proudly sponsored by Meteor Productions

FirstLook

In mid-2004, Meteor Productions released a new range of high-quality, limited-edition markings under the brand name of PYN-Up Decals. The decals feature near-photographic quality continuous tone nose art markings, with standard screen-printed decals for the other markings.

The latest two releases in the PYN-Up range compliment the brand new Hasegawa 1/48 scale P-40E and N kits, although they will be suitable for any other brand as well.

PYND48023 Curtiss Cuties #1:

Subjects included in this release are:

• P-40F, X2*8, 79th FG/85th FS, Tunisia, Late 1942; and

• P-40E, Dollye, #44, 49th FG/8th FS, Lt. Monty Eisenberg, Strauss Field, Darwin, Australia, June 1942.

USD$16.99

PYND48025 Curtiss Cuties #2

Also see title image.

The two subjects on this sheet are:

• P-40E-1, RAAF/Australia/United Kingdom, US flags on left nose, 77 Sq, RAAF, S/L Dick Cresswell, Goodenough Island, New Guinea, Late 1942; and

• P-40N-5-CU, 49th FG/7th FS, Empty Saddle/Keystone Kathlene, #20, Maj Arland Stanton, Squadron Commander, Gusap, New Guinea, Early 1944.

Meteor Productions has done a particularly thorough job on researching Cresswell's striking P-40E-1 which features the flags on the nose. This aircraft has been steeped in controversy about the colours and markings worn when Cresswell shot down a Betty bomber over Darwin in northern Australia on the night of 23 November, 1942.

The notes supplied with the decals suggest the most likely combination of national markings and colours, but  alternate decals for the code letter, serial number, fuselage roundels and fin flash are also supplied in case the modeller draws a different conclusion.

For a much more detailed discussion on this fascinating airframe, I highly recommend that you take a look at Dave Klaus's Reference Feature, which includes four historical photos of Cresswell's P-40E.

USD$19.99

Each set includes a full sized conventional decal sheet plus a smaller sheet with the half tone decals. A full-colour placement guide plus marking notes are also included.

One of the perennial challenges for aircraft modellers is the convincing depiction of nose art.

Conventional screen-printed decals exhibit a noticeable dot-screen pattern on flesh half-tones, and limited-run markings have been few and far between. The new PYN-Up Decal range addresses this gap with their innovative combination of high quality components, delivering a comprehensive finishing package.

The printing of all the markings is excellent but, in particular, the flesh tones on the nose art decals must be seen to be appreciated. The light and shade on Cresswell's nose art flags is oustanding too.

The research is also very thorough, and the inclusion of optional markings in the case of Cresswell's fascinating P-40E-1 is a thoughtful touch.

If you are planning to build either of Hasegawa's lovely new 1/48 scale P-40 kits, PYN-Up Decals' latest offerings will be the perfect finishing touch. You'd better hurry though - only 300 of each PYN-Up set will be produced.

Highly Recommended.

Review Text and Images Copyright 2005 by Brett Green
This Page Created on 01 June, 2005
Last updated 31 May, 2005

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