This is the second sheet on RCAF Mustangs from Leading Edge Decals and it covers Eastern Canada and Manitoba. There are markings for nine different aircraft from five different units. Like the previous sheets in this series, this one contains three resin ADF antennas. It also has enough common markings to allow you to do four aircraft, thanks to the smaller size of the markings.

Here are some generalities about these aircraft in terms of the way they were painted and equipped. Those delivered from 1950 onward generally had black interiors, cuffless Hamilton Standard props and were painted overall aluminum lacquer. One can assume that during the overhaul, the putty in the seams of the wings was removed if it wasn't already.

Now on to the schemes. A bit of a note in that the majority of these schemes are listed as being unpainted metal since most were delivered before 1950. Just looking at the images, it seems that if the plane had an ADF antenna on the spine in place of the mast, it was probably painted aluminum.

By far the greatest number of schemes are from 402 Squadron based at Winnipeg. You have four options with a variety of spinner and rudder schemes. All are marked 'City of Winnipeg Sqn' on the black anti-glare panel. One has a solid blue spinner and rudder. All have blue wing and stab tips. Two spinners have fore and aft stripes on it while the other has circumferal ones. Three options have blue and yellow rudder stripes. The kit decals provide the yellow bits for you on these.

The aircraft coded AW*N is from 420 City of London squadron. This aircraft has a red forward spinner and 'Arctic' markings on the wings and tailplanes.

424 Squadron has two options, both with squadron code 'BA'. One has the red bits as mentioned earlier and a yellow spinner with black spiral (the spiral decals are on the sheet. It also has the 'Arctic' markings. The other is quite plain with only the large squadron badge on the fuselage.

Aircraft FB*N has been done in several other sheets and is a plane from the Experimental Test unit. This one has the early wing markings and roundels without any white in them. The rest of the aircraft is standard Mustang.

Finally, we have OU*287 from the Tactical Fighter Flight at Rivers, Manitoba. This aircraft has a red spinner and 'Arctic' markings with the unit name on the lower cowling.

The decals themselves are superbly printed with excellent research that includes photo references for each set of markings, as well as some information on how the plane was painted and the equipment it used, just as one would expect from Leading Edge. For kits, pretty much anything in 1/72nd scale will be sufficient. Most will probably choose the Hasegawa or Tamiya kits, especially the latter as it comes with uncuffed props.

April 2012

Review sheet courtesy Leading Edge Decals. Thanks for your support

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