History

Lockheed's Ventura was an improved Hudson, based upon the Model 18 Lodestar airliner rather than the Electra. It served well in the anti-submarine patrol role in the US Navy, RAF and RCAF. Post war, it went on to serve in the RCAF's Bombing and Gunnery School until the early 1950s.

First Impressions

This is a very thorough decal sheet, which supplies complete markings to do eleven different aircraft. The sheet is extremely thoroughly researched and accompanied by a thick instruction booklet. Aviaeology go to great lengths to avoid inferring marking details. Wherever possible, multiple photos of the given scheme are presented. There is a lot going on in these instructions. They absolutely must be studied very carefully in order not to miss important details. The notes on the finishing, especially spot refinishing are very thorough and often date specific where the markings are known to have been altered over time.


Options offered on the sheet:

• 1. Ventura GR.V 2195 of the RCAF AAS in overall natural metal with red search markings on the wing tips and tailplane tips;
  
• 2. Ventura GR.V (TT) 2222 of the RCAF AAS Sea Island detatchment in standard target tug scheme of overall yellow with black diagonal bands and early postwar red/blue maple leaf roundels;
  
• 3. Ventura GR.V (TT) 2254 "UBAT" in standard target tug scheme of overall yellow with black diagonal bands and later postwar maple leaf roundels;
  
• 4. Ventura GR.V 2195 of the RCAF AAS overall natural metal with red search markings on the wing tips and tailplane tips.
  

Each of these aircraft had been converted to Bombing and Gunnery School configuration. and the details of each individual aircraft's conversion are covered where necessary.

This decal was produced to fit Revell's excellent Ventura B.II kit in 1/48 or Minicraft's 1/72 kit.

The Decal Sheet

The decals come on three sheets. Each one is crammed with markings. Roundels, fin flashes serial numbers and code letters fill the largest sheet. The two smaller sheets contain more code letters and darker "wartime" roundels and fin flashes to be used at the modeller's discretion. All markings are in perfect register, with no blurring or smudging. The fine letters and numbers are crisply printed.

Instructions

The instructions as mentioned above are extremely thorough. Each subject gets half a page, with notes and details crammed around the profile drawings. There is also a page giving general details of the two different paint schemes the sheet's subjects wore. If this decal set has a downside, it is here. The printing is a little grainy, and the details and fine print are sometimes difficult to make out for those of us of a certain age. Magnification and close study are highly recommended. A very detailed PDF version of the instruction sheet is available through Aviaeology's website after purchase.




This decal was kindly provided for review by Aviaeology.

Please remember, when contacting retailers or manufacturers, to mention that you saw their products highlighted here - on AEROSCALE.