History

Lockheed's Hudson, based upon the Model 14 Super Electra airliner was a stop-gap maritime patrol aircraft, ordered by the RAF in the dark days leading up the Second World War. Hudsons also served with distinction in the RCAF and USN. This set provides markings for 8 successful U-boat killers.

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. Hudson I 784 of 145 BR Squadron in Temperate Sea Scheme of Extra Dark Sea Grey and Slate Grey disruptive Comouflage over Sky undersurfaces and fuselage sides or in US equivalent colours for Dark Green and Dark Earth disruptive camouflage over sky undersurfaces depending upon the time period chosen;
  
• 2. PBO Hudson 82-P-8 of VP-82 in US equivalent colours for Dark Green and Dark Earth disruptive camouflage over sky undersurfaces;
  
• 3. PBO Hudson 82-P-9 of VP-82 in US equivalent colours for Dark Green and Dark Earth disruptive camouflage over sky undersurfaces;
  
• 4. Hudson Mk. IIIa BW403 of 113 BR in US equivalent colours for Dark Green and Dark Earth disruptive camouflage over sky undersurfaces;
  
• 5. Hudson Mk. IIIa BW617 of 113 BR in US equivalent colours for Dark Green and Dark Earth disruptive camouflage over sky undersurfaces;
  
• 6. Hudson Mk. IIIa BW625 of 113 BR in US equivalent colours for Dark Green and Dark Earth disruptive camouflage over sky undersurfaces;
  
• 7. Hudson Mk. IIIa BW616 of 113 BR in US equivalent colours for Dark Green and Dark Earth disruptive camouflage over sky undersurfaces. Later repainted in in Temperate Sea Scheme of Extra Dark Sea Grey and Slate Grey disruptive Comouflage over Sky undersurfaces and fuselage sides;
  
• 8. Hudson Mk. IIIa BW624 of 113 BR in overall white;

This decal was produced to fit the Classic Airframes 1/48 kit or the MPM 1/72 kit. It may also be used on the ancient Airfix kit.

The Decal Sheet

The decals come on two sheets. Each one is crammed with markings. Roundels, fin flashes serial numbers and code letters fill the largest sheet. The second contains squadron code letters and the distinctive USN tail stripes which were worn during the early part of 1942. Lighter red roundel centres and fin flash portions are supplied 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.

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