F8F Bearcat

Cutting Edge Decals 

Reviewed by Brett Green

HyperScale is proudly sponsored by Meteor Productions

Although hardly renowned for their colourful finish, your Hobbycraft 1/48 scale Bearcats can sport a good variety of markings with these new decal releases from Cutting Edge.

As with most of Cutting Edge's decal releases, my samples were in perfect register and colours look good. Each set includes a full-sized decal sheet and a smaller sheet packed with red and white stencil markings. The instructions are quite comprehensive, with three view drawings to assist the placement of each stencil marking. 

Set CED48111 includes markings for only two aircraft, but one of the subjects is the most colourful Bearcat you are ever likely to see. It is an F8F-2 attached to Air Development Squadron 2 (VX-2), Naval Ordinance Test Station at Chinocoteague in 1955. The aircraft sports yellow wings with broad red stripes, and a yellow/red fin. To top this off, the "NAVY" marking on the rear fuselage is in yellow too! This is a truly unique scheme.

Set CED48112 comprises two US Navy and two French Air Force Bearcats. Both French machines are marked with a fox's head and a black eagle in a yellow-bordered red triangle on the forward cowl (each aircraft features both of these markings). It'd be nice to set one of these French Bearcats beside your new Hasegawa 1/48 scale F4U-7! 

The US subjects are equally interesting for their nose art. One features the famous "Jolly Roger"; and the other has "Felix the Cat" of VF-3 Tomcatters. 

Combined with Cutting Edge's F8F cockpit; correction sets; wingfolds and landing gear, these decals will help produce a super Bearcat!

Thanks to Meteor Productions for the review samples

Cutting Edge Decals  are available at Meteor Productions Website

Review and Image Copyright © 2000 by Brett Green
Page Created 03 February, 2001
Last updated 22 July, 2003

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