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RNZAF Curtiss P-40Es
Home Based and Tonga

Ventura Decals, 1/48 scale

S u m m a r y :

Catalogue Number:

Ventura Decals Item No. V48117 - RNZAF Curtiss P-40Es Home Based and Tonga

Scale:

1/48

Contents & Media:

One A4 decal sheet; double sided A4 colour instruction sheet.

Price:

USD$14.00 plus shipping available online from Ventura Publishing's web store

Review Type:

First Look

Advantages:

Excellent production standards; detailed historical and technical notes; interesting markings; perfect colour saturation and registration; thin film.

Disadvantages:

None noted.

Conclusions:

This new release offers four interesting options for colourful and unique large-scale Spitfire Mk.Vc and Mk.IX markings. Recommended.

Reviewed by Brett Green

FirstLook

 

Ventura Decals has a new release focusing on RNZAF Curtiss P-40Es based in New Zealand and in Tonga.

 

 

Five subjects are covered in 1/48 scale. They are all finished in Curtiss factory US equivalents to RAF Dark Green and Dark Earth with Sky lower surfaces and spinners.

The US Sky shade is more of a grey than the RAF version.

Sky codes were applied in New Zealand so there is opportunity for depicting some interesting variations between the Du Pont and New Zealand Sky colours.

 

 

Of particular interest in this set is the application of Blue-White-Blue upper and lower wing roundels on three of the options. Note that the New Zealand repainted blue is a paler shade than RAF Roundel Blue.

The other two Kittyhawks are painted with RAF-style B and C roundels on the wings and fuselage, but they are New Zealand repainted blue and bright red in the centre.

If that is not enough to pique your interest, one of the options has a C1 fuselage roundel with a tiny one inch red dot in its centre.

Three of the subjects have small black-and-white names painted on both sides of the engine cowlings.

The set is made up from one decal sheet and a double sided A4 folded instruction sheet on glossy paper.

The instructions are a real highlight with nine reference photos, an upper view illustration, port side colour profiles for each subject and detailed captions along with descriptive text.

The decals and instructions are packed in a clear zip-lock plastic bag.

The glossy decal sheet is printed by BOA Decals in the Czech Republic. The colour and saturation look great, and carrier film is thin. These should go down beautifully on your model.

 

 

Specific subjects are as follows:

  • NZ3094, No.15 Squadron, May 1943 

  • NZ3007, “Magnolia Mufflewurt”, March 1943 

  • NZ3008, “Umslopogaas”, March 1943 

  • NZ3041, “Ivan Ellovanich”, March 1943 

  • NZ3034, No.17 Squadron, mid 1943 

There are two sets of national markings.

 

 

Conclusion

 

This new release offers five very interesting options for colourful and unique 1/48 scale RNZAF P-40E Kittyhawk markings.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Ventura Publications for the sample.

Text and Images Copyright 2024 by Brett Green
Page Created 12 November, 2024
Last updated 13 November, 2024

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