Home  |  What's New  |  Features  |  Gallery  |  Reviews  |  Reference  |  Forum  |  Search

F4F-4 Wildcat Decals

Cutting Edge Decals 

 

S u m m a r y

Catalogue Number: 48120
Scale: 1/48
Contents and Media: One decal sheet; one colour artwork and decal placement guide; one black-and-white instruction sheet.
Price: USD $8.99
Review Type: First Look
Advantages: Beautiful artwork by Tom Tullis; generous allowance of national markings; interesting subjects; thoughtful inclusion of "painted-out" yellow roundels; perfect register and colour opacity.
Disadvantages:  
Recommendation: Highly Recommended


Reviewed by Brett Green


HyperScale is proudly sponsored by Meteor Productions

 

F i r s t   L o o k

 

This new decal set covers four Grumman F4F-4 Wildcats in 1/48 scale. All four Wildcats were based at Guadalcanal in the turbulent period of 1942 to 1943.

Registration and colour on my sample sheet is perfect.

This sheet features Tom Tullis' colour artwork in "ultra-realistic" mode. Light, shadows, reflections and weathering are all subtly depicted to create a very vivid, three-dimensional feel to the artwork. Each aircraft receives a single port-side profile

Nobody could accuse Wildcats of this period of having garish colour schemes. Each aircraft is finished in basic Navy camouflage of Blue Grey over Light Grey. Despite the apparent limitations of this scheme, the subjects are lifted from the norm by some very interesting markings. "White 77" has a painted-out tail stripe, a cartoon caveman on the fin and victory flags under the cockpit. "White 2" has the number repeated on the nose and a swag of victory flags under the cockpit. "Black 8" is a well-travelled machine with yellow Operation Torch markings painted out around each roundel and a stylised Indian Head under the windscreen. "Black 53" is plainly marked but significant as the mount of Marines ace Capt. Joe Foss.

Three full sets stars are supplied, including one set with Operation Torch markings "painted out".

This is a terrific decal sheet to enhance Tamiya's kit.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Meteor Productions for the review sample

 


Cutting Edge Modelworks Resin accessories are available at Meteor Productions Website


Review and Image Copyright © 2000 by Brett Green
Page Created 25 January, 2001
Last updated 22 July, 2003

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Reviews Page