Cutting Edge Modelworks

1/48 P-40's AVG Flying Tigers decal sheet

Product # CED48182 for $8.99

Product Article by Steve Bamford on Apr 6 2004 

 

 

 

This new decal sheet from Cutting Edge Modelworks includes markings for four different 1/48 P-40's.  The recommended kits for these decals is the 1/48 AMTech P-40E or the AMT P-40B.

The American Volunteer Group or "Flying Tigers" is a story that will live in legend forever.  These American pilots hired by the Chinese were an impressive disruption to the Japanese as they fought against the Chinese prior to Dec 7 1941.  It is a very big story....too big to go into here.

The first aircraft is a Hawk 81-A-2 (P-40B) flown by Erik Shilling.  Serial numbers are P-8153 or P-8147 of the 2nd P.S. of the American Volunteer Group in Kunming, China in 1942.  The paint scheme on this P-40 appears to be the British camo scheme of Dark Green and Dark Brown on top and FS 16473 Aircraft Grey on the underside.  This plane had a thin white stripe around the rear of the fuselage and a blue stripe for the 2nd PS was added.  This aircraft has a sharks mouth and of note....the lips on the sharks mount are the same colour of blue as the 2nd PS fuselage band.  Artwork on the engine cowling is persons head wearing what appears to be a turban.  This particular aircraft  was converted to  reconnaissance duties which involves removing the wing guns and added a scale 10" hole in the underside of the fuselage belly immediately under the fuselage access hatch door.   Serial numbers on the tail are P-8147 or P-8153.....decals for each serial number are provided.  This aircraft has Chinese national insignia. 

The second aircraft is a P-40E-1 with the American Volunteer Group in China in May 1942.  The paint scheme on this P-40 Olive Drab on top and Neutral Grey on the underside.  This aircraft has a sharks mouth on the nose.  Artwork on the side of the fuselage behind the cockpit is the famous AVG Flying Tiger.  This aircraft is 6 months after the Dec 7 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, but what I found interesting is the plane still wears Chinese National insignia, but on the underside of the wing is the text US ARMY.  The Chinese National insignia on the side of the fuselage have been painted over....so there is fresh Olive drab circles on the side of the fuselage with the rest of the fuselage being a more faded Olive drab.   On the side of the fuselage are the numbers 106.  

The third aircraft is a Hawk 81-A-2 (P-40B) flown by John Newkirk.  Serial numbers are P-8196 of the 2nd P.S. of the American Volunteer Group in Toungoo, Burma in Dec 1941.  The paint scheme on this P-40 appears to be the British camo scheme of Dark Green and Dark Brown on top and FS 16473 Aircraft Grey on the underside.  This plane had a thin blue stripe around the rear of the fuselage for the 2nd PS.  This aircraft has a sharks mouth on the engine cowling.  Artwork on the side of the fuselage is Panda Bear wearing a Tuxedo and top hat.  Serial numbers on the tail are P-8196.  This aircraft has Chinese national insignia and on the rear of the fuselage is the large white number 34.  An extra set of larger Chinese National insignia are included for this aircraft.

The fourth aircraft is a P-40E-1 flown by R.T. Smith with the American Volunteer Group in China in March 1942.  The paint scheme on this P-40 Olive Drab on top and Neutral Grey on the underside.  This aircraft is 4 months after the Dec 7 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, and it wears US National insignia and on the underside of the wing is the text US ARMY.  On the side of the fuselage are the text 1RT.  In the top of the fusegae behind the cockpit is the white identification markings of the ferry flight when this and five other aircraft were delivered to the AVG. 

The decals were flawlessly printed and the clear carrier film is trimmed very close to the crisply printed colored areas.  The artwork is interesting to say the least....but I have a very strong love for the story of the AVG.  

The instructions are clear and includes 3 view drawings and an extra page of text instructions is included with a small bit of info about 3 of the planes as well as helpful tips for decal application. 

A very nice decal sheet and highly recommended for all the P-40 builders and especially AVG fans out there.

I would like to thank Cutting Edge Modelworks for providing me with this review sample.

Steve

Click on images below to see larger images of the instruction sheets

 

Photos and text © by Steve Bamford