The Ukrainian decal designer has issued tantalising schemes for 1/72 P-51 Mustangs and, in 1/48, Lockheed Lightning fighter and recce variants.
You can always rely on World War Two aircraft of the United States Army Air Forces to ensure colour and interest. Foxbot’s latest releases don’t disappoint in this regard, as they offer five options each for P-51s and Lightnings, with cool nose art and other eye-catching décor.
Set 72-052 Teeth and Girls P-51 Part II provides markings for both Olive Drab/Neutral Gray and bare-metal Mustangs, from the European, Pacific and China-Burma-India Theatres. The airframes are:
• P-51B, 43-6964/C3-G The Mighty Midget, 382nd Fighter Squadron, 363rd Fighter Group, France, summer 1944 (Malcolm cockpit glazing)
• P-51A, 13 Miss Virginia, 1st Air Commando Group, India, early 1944
• P-51C, K5 Miss Appropriated, 394th Bomb Group, France, autumn 1944
• P-51B, 42-106486/C3-A Virginia, 382nd Fighter Squadron, 363rd Fighter Group, France, summer 1944
• P-51D, 44-63967/114 DEAR EDNA, 78th Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group, Iwo Jima, summer 1945
The main sheet is accompanied by another carrying a multitude of stencilling and spare digits with which to create other serial numbers if desired. Notably, two of the airframes wear teeth under the noses – one traditionally menacing sharkmouth, the other example being decidedly more comedic in design. These decals can be employed on a multitude of kits, from Airfix, Academy, Italeri and Hasegawa to Arma Hobby and KP.
Modellers who favour 1/48 have absolutely splendid options on sheet 48-081 Pin-Up Nose Art Part I, which provides for PRU Blue, bare metal and Olive Drab/Neutral Gray USAAF Lightnings from the European and Pacific Theatres. As you’ll imagine from the product name, impressive nose art is front and centre here, with colourful designs and great printing. The airframes are:
• F-5C 128 DOT-DASH, 7th Photographic Group (Reconnaissance) Poltava area, Ukraine, Operation Frantic, summer 1944
• F-5E, SPY IN OUR BLUE HEAVEN, 7th Photographic Group (Reconnaissance), Mount Farm, Oxfordshire, UK, 1944
• P-38J, 42-67962/CL-B BAMBI, 338th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group, Wormingford, Essex, UK, autumn 1944
• P-38L, 44-25594/410 PHILLIE BABY II, 44th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, Philippines, 1945
• P-38L, 44-26304/71 EMBRACEABLE-You, 9th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group, Philippines, early 1945
• P-38L, 411 HAWKEYE HATTIE II, 44th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, Philippines, 1945
• P-38J Droop Snoot, 7F-Q “Bomba-Dear”, 401st Fighter Squadron, 370th Fighter Group, Belgium, March 1945
• P-38L, ‘Q’ Barely Yours, 35th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, Mindoro, Philippines, early 1945
If you like nose art, the selections here are stunning and you can apply them to 1/48 Lightnings by Tamiya, Academy/Eduard, Minicraft/Italeri and Revell-Monogram. This set also provides a separate sheet of stencils and spare individual serial numbers.
Read a review of Tamiya's 1/48 P-38J
Foxbot supplies good instructions with colour artwork and quotes the following paint codes: Federal Standard, Humbrol, Tamiya and AK Interactive. While both sheets can be obtained direct from Foxbot, they are also at Hannants in the UK, for £14.99 and £20.69 respectively.
