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In-Box Review
Wings of Stars decals
Wings of Stars decals parts 1 and 2
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by: Andy Brazier [ BETHEYN ]

Wings of Stars decals

Model Alliance decals which are part of the Aviation Workshop group have released two sets of decals to compliment the On-Target Special No 6 Wings of Stars - US Army Air Corps 1919-1941 book.
The decals cover a few of the schemes that are featured in the book, and is nice to see the in-between wars period covered.
Both sheets are impeccably printed by Cartograph, and in register. Very little carrier film is present around the edges of the decals. Both sets are produced in 1/72nd and 1/48th scale, with six schemes for each decal sheet covered.
Each instruction booklet has all four views of the aircraft, with decal placement, and colour schemes. Recommended kit info is also present for each scheme. The colour charts cover the Xtra colour, Lifecolour, Humbrol and Modelmaster paints, along with the appropriate F.S numbers.
Prices are -
MA-190: Wings of Stars Part 1, £11.00 for the 1/72nd and £15.00 for the 1/48th.
MA-191: Wings of Stars Part 2,£11.00 for the 1/72nd and £15.00 for the 1/48th.

MA-190: Wings of Stars Part 1

Boeing P-26A of 18th Pursuit Group, Hawaii 1939
The aircraft has a blue fuselage, yellow wings, with a gold cowling and fuselage and wing stripes. The gold fuselage and wing stripes are decals, but the cowling will have to be matched with paint as only the red stripe is supplied as a decal.
Recommended kits -
1/72nd - Pavla or the Revell P-26A
1/48th - Hobbycraft P-26A
Boeing P-12E of 19th Pursuit Squadron, Hawaii 1933
Olive drab fuselage and yellow wings, tail and stabilisers. The top of the wing sports red and blue stripes, with the fuselage having red, yellow, and blue stripes.
Recommended kits -
1/72nd - Matchbox P-12E
1/48th - Classic Airframes P-12E
Spad XIII of 17th Pursuit Squadron, Michigan 1922-23
This Spad XIII was painted in olive drab with a white tail and stabilisers. A large white number eight adorned the upper and lower wings. A black band edged in white with the unit emblem adorns both sides of the fuselage.
Recommended kits -
1/72nd - Eduard or Revell Spad XIII
1/48th - Eduard or Dragon Spad XIII
Curtiss P-36A Hawk of 55th Pursuit Squadron, Louisiana 1939
Natural metal finish with a large blue band on the cowling, a thinner blue band is on the rear fuselage. The smaller band is supplied as a decal. Red, white and blue striped rudder.
Recommended kits -
1/72nd - Azur or Special Hobby Curtiss P-36A (this actually reads P-38A on the sheet, which is the Lockheed Lightning, spelling mistake, me thinks)
1/48th - Academy Curtiss P-36A
Bell P-39D HQ Flight, 31st Pursuit Group during the 'Carolina Manoevres' 1941
Olive drab uppers, neutral grey lowers, tail section is yellow. A green fuselage band, along with several yellow UMP markings adorn the fuselage and wings. The spinner is red, white and yellow, and could be a little tricky to paint.
Recommended kits -
1/72nd - Academy P-39Q/N. These will have to be backdated to D standard, which I believe the D had a smaller propeller and four 0.303 in (7.7 mm) machine guns mounted in the wings, but don't quote me on this lol.
1/48th - Eduard P-39 family.
Curtiss P-0E of 79th Pursuit Group, 'Louisiana Manoeuvres' 1941
Olive drab uppers, neutral grey lowers, with several yellow rings on the wings and surrounding the fuselage stars. Later aircraft had the white part of the stars on the fuselage over-painted with yellow dots.
Recommended kits -
1/72nd - Academy P-40E
1/48th - Hasegawa or Am-Tech P-40E

MA-191: Wings of Stars Part 2

Nieuport 28, 213th Aero Squadron, Florida 1919
Five colour camouflaged wings with a white cowling, blue forward fuselage and red-and-white stripes on the rear fuselage area, and white stabilisers. An Indian head adorns both sides of the fuselage. The red stripes and blue, white and red tail bands are supplied as decals.
Recommended kits -
1/72nd - Revell Nieuport 28
1/48th - Roden Nieuport 28
Curtiss P-6E Hawk, 33rd Pursuit Squadron, 8th Pursuit Group, Virginia Beach, 1934
Light blue fuselage and yellow upper and lower wings, with a yellow tail. Red band edged in white on the fuselage. Nose and wheel spats are red.
Recommended kits -
1/72nd - Olimp or Monogram P-6E Hawk
1/48th - Classic Airframes P-6E Hawk
Boeing P-12E of 95th Pursuit Group, California 1934
Olive drab fuselage, yellow wings and control surfaces. Yellow and black cowling and fuselage stripes. The fuselage stripes and the yellow stripe on the cowling are supplied as decals. Red, white and blue rudder.
Recommended kits -
1/72nd - Matchbox P-12E
1/48th - Classic Airframes P-12E
Seversky P-35 of 27th Pursuit Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, Michigan 1937
Natural metal finsh, with yellow nose, and double yellow fuselage stripes. Red, white and blue rudder.
Recommended kits -
1/72nd - MPM P-35
1/48th - Academy P-35
Bell P-39D of 40th Pursuit Squadron, 31st Pursuit Group, 'Carolina Manoeuvres' 1941
Olive drab uppers, neutral grey lowers, and a yellow spinner. Two large white crosses for the wings and two smaller crosses for the fuselage adorn this aircraft.
Recommended kits -
1/72nd - Academy P-39Q/N. As with the first sheet this kit will have to be backdated to D standard.
1/48th - Eduard P-39 family.
Curtiss P-40B of 55th Pursuit Squadron, 20th Pursuit Group, California 1940
Olive drab uppers, neutral grey lowers, white spinner, and a red, white and blue rudder. Double white fuselage stripes and yellow numbering.
Recommended kits -
1/72nd - Trumpeter P-40B
1/48th - Hobbycraft P-40B

Please remember, when contacting retailers or manufacturers, to mention that you saw their products highlighted here - on AEROSCALE.
SUMMARY
Highs: Beautifully printed. Some colourful schemes.
Lows: Some of the suggested kits might be a little hard to locate.
Verdict: A nice selection of schemes for this often overlooked part of aircraft history.
Percentage Rating
90%
  Scale: Other
  Mfg. ID: see text
  Suggested Retail: see text
  PUBLISHED: Jun 25, 2010
  NATIONALITY: United States
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 84.81%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 94.00%

Our Thanks to The Aviation Workshop!
This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.

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About Andy Brazier (betheyn)
FROM: ENGLAND - SOUTH EAST, UNITED KINGDOM

I started modelling in the 70's with my Dad building Airfix aircraft kits. The memory of my Dad and I building and painting a Avro Lancaster on the kitchen table will always be with me. I then found a friend who enjoyed building models, and between us I think we built the entire range of 1/72 Airfi...

Copyright ©2021 text by Andy Brazier [ BETHEYN ]. Images also by copyright holder unless otherwise noted. Opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AeroScale. All rights reserved.



Comments

Two things to note. First the P-12E of the 95th has an "early" fuselage, so some conversion is necessary. Second (and I forgot this in my review as well) the P-35 that MPM supplies is the P-35A so some conversion will be necssary to back-date it (I'm not 100% sure, but I think the fuselage was longer than the P-35A).
JUN 25, 2010 - 03:06 AM
Cheers Andy Wow! I really like the look of that yellow-tail P-39! All the best Rowan
JUN 25, 2010 - 03:20 AM
Just had a quick check, the fuselage was longer, 25 ft 2 in (7.67 m) for the P-35 and 26 ft 10 in (8.17 m) for the P-35A, height was 8 inches difference as well. It also had the larger Pratt & Whitney R-1830-45 engine. Andy
JUN 25, 2010 - 05:17 AM
Nicely done Andy!
JUN 25, 2010 - 07:40 AM
   
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