This is a new decal sheet from
IPMS
Canada. The sheet includes markings for 4 different and colourful RCAF
Mustangs in 1/48 scale.
As with all good
decal sheets....this one has a story behind these colourful
markings. These 4 RCAF Mustangs flew one of the last operational
missions of WW2 in the European theatre. 14 RCAF Mustangs set
out on this mission on May 9 1945 to provide an escort for naval forces
sent to liberate of the Channel Islands which had been under German
occupation since 1940 and were overlooked during the D-Day landings in
Normandy. The Germans had offered to surrender, but there were
rumours the German Commandant wanted to blow the destroyers out of the
water. The RCAF Mustangs of 442 'Caribou' Squadron were sent to make
sure the naval forces didn't meet unnecessary harm. As luck would
have it, the German's surrendered peacefully and the mission was
uneventful. Although 14 RCAF Mustangs left RAF station Hunsdon,
Hertfordshire, 3 Mustangs had to return with mechanical problems.
This mission was lead by Wing Commander James (JAS) Storrar flying KM232.
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The first plane is
a Mustang Mk. 1VA, KH729, flown by Squadron Leader Mitchell Johnston. This
aircraft is a US P-51K, s/n 44-11497, fitted with an Aero Products prop, Dallas
canopy and shrouded exhaust. The aircraft is natural metal. The
Spinner is yellow with a black tip and the anti-glare panel and
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canopy frame are yellow with a thin
blue outline. There is a Squadron Leaders flag on the fuselage by the
cockpit and on both sides of the tail you'll find the RCAF's overseas' roundel,
which is a red maple leaf inside a blue ring. The code letters "Y2
A" are black with a yellow outline. The code letter decals come in 2
layers to ensure perfect registration.
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The second plane is
a Mustang Mk. 1VA, KH680, "Edmonton Special" flown by Pilot Officer
A.J. Mallandaine. This aircraft is a US P-51K, s/n 44-11383, fitted with
an Aero Products prop, Dallas canopy and shrouded exhaust. The aircraft is
finished in the correct MAP colours of Dark Green and Ocean
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Grey and Medium Sea Grey
undersurfaces. The Spinner, antiglare panel and lower canopy are yellow
while the rest of the canopy frame is natural metal. The entire
aircraft has a rather worn and weathered appearance. The white script on
the fuselage side by the canopy reads "Edmonton Special". There
is an 18" wide Sky fuselage band. The code letters "Y2 B"
have a yellow outline. The code letter decals come in 2 layers to ensure
perfect registration.
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The
third plane
is a Mustang Mk. 1VA,
KM232, flown by Wing Commander James Storrar. This aircraft is a US P-51K,
s/n 44-12395, fitted with an Aero Products prop, Dallas canopy and shrouded
exhaust. The aircraft is natural metal. The anti-glare panel and
canopy frame are light (RAF?) blue with a dark blue
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edge. Note that the lower
canopy frame and hydraulic fluid reservoir cover are a lighter shade. The
windscreen framing appears to be dark blue. The front of the carburator
intake and a thin stripe around the front of the nose are also dark blue.
This aircraft was kept highly polished. The code letters "JAS"
are black and have a light blue outline. The code letter decals come in 2
layers to ensure perfect registration. This aircraft has a Wing Commanders
Pennant on the side of the fuselage by the canopy. The pilots eat armour
and gun sight have been removed. this aircraft was fitted with an
AN/APS-13 tail warning radar system
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The fourth plane is
a Mustang Mk. 1VA, KH661, flown by Flying Officer P. Bremner. This
aircraft is a US P-51D, s/n 44-11188, fitted with a cuffed Hamilton Standard
Prop, Inglewood style canopy and shrouded exhaust. The aircraft is
finished in the correct MAP colours of Dark Green and Ocean Grey and Medium
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Sea Grey
undersurfaces. The Spinner, antiglare panel and canopy frame
are yellow. The entire aircraft is kept well and shows few
signs of wear. There is an 18" wide Sky fuselage
band. The code letters are "Y2 C". There is
a light grey replacement panel on the front of the left side of
the engine cowling. On both sides of the tail you'll find
the RCAF's overseas' roundel, which is a red maple leaf inside a
blue ring.
The decals are
contained on one decal sheet and do not include any
stencils. The decals were flawlessly printed and the clear carrier film is trimmed
very close to the crisply printed colored areas, which is always good to
see. Some of the more complicated decals are 2 layers to ensure
perfect registration. The printing is clear, crisp and of a
quality that will ensure ease of use. The colours are solid
enough that it appears these decals will cover any underlying
paint with no problems. There are enough decals to make 3 of
the RCAF Mustangs on this decals sheet. This decal sheet has a good variety of colourful
schemes.
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Also included are resin louvres which are designed to go over the perforated
cowl breather panels in each side of the nose. These louvres were
unique to Commonwealth Mustangs. The casting is very thin and cleanly
done with no air bubbles. |
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The instructions
are clear and include one page of colour profiles, a page of B&W tope views an extra 2 pages of text instruction
are included with a info
about all 4 aircraft. this is also text info about the placement of the
resin louvres and how to create a Hamilton Standard prop from the kit prop
and this includes a B&W line drawing to cut out and use at a template
you attach with rubber cement of stick glue to the prop blades in the
Tamiya Korean War P-51 D to create uncuffed Hamilton Standard prop blades. |
Click on
images below to see larger images
of the
instruction sheets |
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A very nice product
and highly recommended.
Steve
I would like to
thank IPMS
Canada for providing me with this review sample.
To order this product which costs
CDN$15 plus CDN$3 for shipping for IPMS Canada members or CDN$20 plus
CDN$3 for shipping for non IPMS Canada members. You can order these decals
from.....
IPMS
Canada
Box
626, Station 'B'
Ottawa,
Ontario
K1P
5P7
CANADA
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