PYN-UP Decals

1/72 B-24 Ploesti Heroes, Part 1 decal sheet

Product # PYND72011 for $21.99

Product Article by Steve Bamford on Nov 7  2006

 

 

 

This new decal sheet from Cutting Edge Modelworks includes markings for four different vewrsion of 1/72 B-24's that took part in the Ploessti raids during World War 2 with noseart.  Three of the planes on this decal sheet are the same B-24 in different times during it bomber career. 

The first aircraft is a B-24D-70-CO,  "Wongo Wongo", flown by Lt Brian W. Flavellewith the 513 BS, 376 BG out of Berka 2, Benghazi, Libya on 1 August 1943.  The paint scheme for this aircraft is the desert camo  scheme with Sand on top and Neutral Gray on the underside.  The nose art is a bald eagle wearing a red/white/blue Stars and Stripes Uncle Sam top hat with red text that reads "Wongo Wongo!".  Beside that is skull and cross bones over a painted propeller.  The artwork for this aircraft has a white decal to go underneath the noseart decal.   

The second plane is a B-24D-65-CO, "Fightin' Sam" with the 566 BS 389 BG flown by Capt. Tom Conroy against Ploesti, Rumania from Hethel, England in Aug 1943.  The paint scheme for this aircraft is the olive drab scheme with Dark Olive Drab on top and Neutral Gray on the underside.  The nose art is of Uncle Sam with a black eye from the Japanese rolling up his sleeve to prepare to fight with white text that reads "Fightin' Sam".  The artwork for this aircraft has a white decal to go underneath the noseart decal.

The third and fourth aircraft are later versions of "Fightin' Sam" with different mission markings and different paint scheme on the vertical flying surfaces of the tail.  Both of these aircraft are in the olive drab scheme with Dark Olive Drab on top and Neutral Gray on the underside.  

The noseart decals are delicate and two are included for each plane in case you mess up the first ones.  Exacting instructions are included on how to prepare and install these decals…..read these instructions carefully to avoid disaster.  Apparently these noseart decals are very thin and need special care, but once installed they will look very accurate and realistic.  The nose art decals are printed on a one piece decal sheet, so you’ll need to cut the decal free from the rest of the decal film…..patience is the key here.  

The instructions are clear and include views of each aircraft and an extra 4 pages of text including the history of these aircraft and helpful tips for decal application. 

A very nice decal sheet and  sure to please the lucky 300 people that manage to buy one of these limited edition sheets.  

Click on images below to see larger images

  

  

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

Steve

Photos and text © by Steve Bamford