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Martin B-26 Marauder

Printscale Decals, 1/144 scale

S u m m a r y :

Catalogue Number:

Printscale Decals Item No. 144-007 - Martin B-26 Marauder

Scale:

1/144

Contents & Media:

Decals for 17 subjects with colour-printed painting & markings guide.

Price:

Available on-line from :

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Review Type:

First Look.

Advantages:

Attractive subjects, good print registration.

Disadvantages:

Reputation for fragility (although unconfirmed by personal use or testing).

(Editor's Note - I have just bought a set of Printscale Blenheim decals, and they performed perfectly. They were robust and laid down over a dark grey, semi-matte surface without any problem)

Conclusion:

This is a nicely printed set of decals providing a nice selection of markings for French and American Marauders.

However, Print Scale’s reputation means that I would proceed with caution, and test any Print Scale decals you purchases with a subject you do not plan to use from the sheet, before committing to finish your model in one of schemes offered.

I encourage users to of newly purchased examples of Print Scale’s products to report back HyperScale’s “Plane Talking” with their experience.


Reviewed by Mark Davies


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F i r s t L o o k

 

The decals come in a zip-lock plastic bag with a colour printed and folded A-4 sheet, plus another half-sheet, that are the colours and markings guide. This provides a single colour profile of each of the seventeen schemes; and in three cases, a very small colour photo of the subject. Colour call-outs include FS-numbers. 

 

  

The decals look to be very nicely printed, with excellent registration. Opacity is hard to judge without testing, but I have no reason to doubt these, as colour density looks good.

 

 

National insignia sufficient for three French and one American machine are included.

 


 
The set covers the following options:

  • B-26C-20-MO s/n 41-35018 B/N 32 'Spooks' flown by Lt. Chester M. Angell of the 37th BS, 17th BG.

  • B-26C-11-MO 41-34891 B/N 06 'Some? Punk-Kin!!' flown by Capt Wilfred E. Corey of the 437th BS, 319th BG.

  • B-26G-5-MA 42-96214 43-34381 K9-D 'Willie the Wolf' crewed by Lt. Arthur ‘Art’ Kramer of the 494th BS, 344th BG.

  • B-26G-1-MA 43-34213 4T-C 'The Old Goat' flown by Capt  John C. Furnas of the 585th BS, 394th BG.

  • B-26B-20-MA 41-31714 KS-K 'Keller's Killer' flown by Col. Keller of the 557th BS, 387th BG.

  • B-26B-15-MA 41-31590 B/N 79 'Repulsive Rabbit' flown by Capt. W.C.Wood 'Bill' of the 440th BS, 319th BG.

  • B-26G-25-MA, 1 Escadrille, GBM I/22 "Maroc", Armee de l'Air, 8X/02 (44-68171) St.Dizier, France, May 1945.

  • B-26C-45-MO, GBM I/19 "Gascogne", Armee de l'Air, No. 67 (42-107823) Lyon, France, 1945.

  • B-26C-45-MO, GBM 2/52 "Franche-Comte", Armee de l'Air No. 05 (42-107569) Lyon, France, 1945.

  • B-26G-25-MA, GBM 2/63 "Senegal", Armee de l'Air No. 31 (44-68207) Mengen, Germany, 1945.

  • B-26C-15-MO 41-34914 B/N 18 'Willie Jr' flown by Capt John W. Young of the 437th BS, 319th BG.

  • B-26C-45-MO 42-107791 B/N 18 'Alabama Express' flown by Lt. Palmer of the 437th BS, 319th BG.

  • B-26C-11-MO 41-34895 B/N 75 'Twin Engin Queenie' of the 440th BS, 319th BG.

  • B-26C-15-MO 41-34934 B/N 39 'Lady Luck' flown by Lt Blakee of the 438th BS, 319th BG.

  • B-26B-20-MA 41-31695 FW-G 'QQQQ' flown by Capt. Early of the 556th BS, 387th BG.

  • B-26G-15-MO 43-34284 No.32 'Green Eyed Glodine' named and flown by Lt. Robert A. Perrine of the 442nd BS, 320th BG.

  • B-26B-50-MA 42-95894 K9-P 'Georgia's On My Mind' (AKA 'Old Dog Pee') of the 494th BS, 344th BG.

 

Reportedly Variable Performance

I have no personal experience of using Print Scale’s decals, but I have recently read on HyperScale’s Plane Talking comments that suggest their performance varies from acceptable to poor; with the main problem being their fragility. A coat of Future or proprietary decal strengthening product apparently helped with this problem.

To balance this, I have recently had verbal reports from a couple of modellers that their Print Scale decals worked perfectly.

Print Scale prints some attractive subjects, but their reputation is less than stellar; with supporters and detractors about even in my limited experience of the brand. I wonder if it’s case of the product having changed for the better, as the verbal accounts I received were using recent purchases.

(Editor's Note - I have just bought a set of Printscale Blenheim decals, and they performed perfectly. They were robust and laid down over a dark grey, semi-matte surface without any problem)

 

 

C o n c l u s i o n

 

This is a nicely printed set of decals providing a nice selection of markings for French and American Marauders.

However, Print Scale’s reputation means that I would proceed with caution, and test any Print Scale decals you purchases with a subject you do not plan to use from the sheet, before committing to finish your model in one of schemes offered.

I encourage users to of newly purchased examples of Print Scale’s products to report back HyperScale’s “Plane Talking” with their experience.

Thanks to Printscale Decals for the review sample.

Text and Images Copyright © 2014 by Mark Davies
This Page Created on 27 August, 2014
Last updated 27 August, 2014

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