Reviewed by Rodger Kelly
 

This is, again, another relatively early offering from Cutting Edge. 

Issued in 1/72 scale as sheet CED72095 and in 1/48 scale as CED48095, Skyraiders #1 provides markings for four diverse schemes. 

First up is AD-4A, Bureau number 126921 of VF-194.  Finished in overall glossy sea blue (GSB), markings are provided for this aircraft when it flew from the deck of the USS Boxer during the Korean War.  The sheet provides standard markings the Skyraider wore in the GSB era including: 

·        a set of stars and bars without the blue disk and borders,

·        large “NAVY” script for the bottom of the left wing,

·        smaller NAVY scripts for the fuselage sides, and

·        white Bureau numbers

 Individual squadron markings include:

• yellow lightning bolts for the fuselage
• “417” modex
• large “B” identification letters for the fin and the upper right wing

·        nose art in the form of topless females for either side of the cowl – definitely not normal markings for a USN aircraft.

Next up is AD-6, Bureau number137569 when it belonged to VA-85 when the squadron was aboard the USS Forrestal in the early 1960s.  The aircraft is finished in the standard gull grey and white scheme but bought alive with the addition of the colourful green markings of VA-85.  All of these green markings are provided as separate decals.  As this aircraft was not yet fitted with the anti collision beacon on the top of the fin you should have no troubles getting the decals to fit.  Markings for this aircraft are rounded out with the USS Forrestal titles in red – unusual as these are normally in black- and the Bureau and modex numbers as well as the “AJ” Airwing identifier for the tail. 

Number three is A-1H, Bureau number 142016 when it was being flown of the USS Kitty Hawk by VA-115 in 1966.  Shock horror!  The decals are provided for the aircraft when it was being flown in an experimental camouflage scheme of two-tone green water-based paint.  The markings are very few and far, far smaller than you would expect for this era.  They include NAVY scripts, Bureau number and full colour, but small stars and bars as well as the “gross weight” stencil that was on the lower cowl. 

Bringing up the rear is a USMC machine.  AD-6, Bureau number 35225 of AES-12. This aircraft is finished in the prone to fading, international orange and white scheme.  Standard USMC markings are provided along with the squadron insignia of “a bomb through a bullseye” for both sides of the fuselage.  A colourful option indeed. 

Other decals provided on the sheet include one set of standard sized stars and bars, as well as one set of wing-walks, two sets of propeller blade markings, and two sets of prop tip markings (thank you, thank you, thank you for these last items Cutting Edge). 

There is also a further set of white Bureau numbers 126905, provided with the VF-194 markings.  Also included is a set of “00’s for a CAG marking as well as a smaller “01”s for the CO’s mount.  Curiously, no mention is made of these decals in the instruction sheet but I’d reckon that they have been supplied so as you can replicate more than one aircraft from this squadron in markings that were worn at different times. 

As with all of the earlier Cutting Edge sheets, a comprehensive instruction sheet is provided which give notes on each aircraft.  However, it makes no mention of the extra markings for the VF-194 bird.  The sheet also gives an excellent bibliography and a matrix that provides a match to FS 595 to readily available model paints. 

A full colour, double-sided A-4 sized sheet is also included and this gives a guide to decal placement for each aircraft with the exception of the VF-194 aircraft.  Whilst it features on the front of the sheet it does not appear on either the centre or rear pages which is a tad disconcerting if you want to model this option seeing as it bore non-standard markings. 

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

With the exception of the experimental camouflaged VA-115 machine, be aware that you will have to modify the existing available kits (Hasegawa in 1/72 scale and Monogram/Tamiya in 1/48 scale) if you want to model aircraft from this sheet.  As with all modeling projects, check your references before you embark on the project! 

A nice sheet that offers some colourful markings which span the Skyraider’s career.

Thanks to Cutting Edge Modelworks for the review samples..

Review Copyright © 2002 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 12 October, 2002
Last updated 22 July, 2003

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Reviews Page