This new decal
sheet from Cutting
Edge Modelworks includes markings for three different 1/48 P-40's. The recommended kit for these decals is the
1/48 AMTech P-40E, AMTech P-40N and the 1/48 Mauve P-40N.
Here's a little history about the
Aleutian Islands Campaign 1942-1943.
As a diversionary move in conjunction with their strike against Midway,
the Japanese in June 1942 bombed Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Island chain and
landed troops on Kiska and Attu islands. Here the Japanese remained, primarily
in a defensive situation, to prevent any movement by American forces toward
Japan through the Aleutians. Aerial operations by the enemy and by the 11th AF
were often restricted by severe weather and, in general, it was a struggle
against nature rather than against rival enemy forces. During the first six
months of the campaign, the 11th AF lost 72 planes, nine of which were destroyed
in combat.
In May 1943, American forces
seized Attu and on July 10 the AAF began using it as a base for raids against
the Kurile Islands. When U.S. troops invaded Kiska on August 15, they found the
enemy had already given up its foothold on the North American outpost two weeks
before. Bombing raids against the Kuriles were limited, although the presence of
American forces immobilized substantial numbers of enemy aircraft as a defense
against a major attack on the northern Japanese islands which never came.
The first Warhawk on this decal
sheet is P-40E-1 with the 11th FS, 343rd FG at Kiska in the Aleutian Islands of
Alaska in 1942. This fighter is Olive Drab on the top and sides and
Neutral Gray on the underside. Markings include a thin white fuselage band
directly behind the canopy and a similar narrow fuselage band on the
rudder......both of these bands are a bit tilted from the vertical axis.
The noseart steals the show....it is a predator with huge deadly looking teeth
surrounding the intake on the underside of the nose. This aircraft has a
small fairing over the first exhaust stub and info about how it looks are
included in the instructions. The
second Warhawk on this decal sheet is A P-40N-5-CU with Army Pilot Class 43-K at
Napier Alabama in 1943. This fighter is Olive Drab on the top and sides
and Neutral Gray on the underside. The noseart is big....it is a parrots
head....with a killer serious intend in it's eye. The mouth of this birds
head is down by the intake on the lower part of the nose.
The third Warhawk on this decal
sheet is A P-40e-1 captured by the Japanese at an unknown date and
location. This fighter is Olive Drab on the top and sides and Neutral Gray
on the underside. The Olive Drab on the cloth covered rudder is a lighter
faded shade that the rest of the airframe. Markings include a thin white
fuselage band just before the tail......this bands are a bit tilted from the
vertical axis. National insignia is of course for Japan with the fuselage
and upper wing 'meatballs' having a white border around them.
The decals are flawlessly printed and the clear
carrier film is trimmed very close to the crisply printed colored areas.
The colours look good and will cover very well. I particularly like the
selection of noseart as well as the aircraft captured by the Japanese. You get enough national markings for
all three aircraft.
|