Begemot Decals 1/48 P-63 Kingcobra

Aftermarket decals for the Bell P-63 Kingcobra are few and far between. This sheet from the Russian company, Begemot, takes a giant step towards rectifying that situation by providing a wopping 51 marking options. That is too many to describe or provide images of in this brief review so descriptions of the options are grouped by the nationalities of the users.

USAAF – 15 options

3 in olive drab over neutral gray. National insignia in four positions. (all P-63As)

3 in Natural metal with olive drab anti-glare panels. National insignia in four positions. (2 x P-63As and 1 x RP-63G).

1 RP-63G in international orange with white stripes running vertically on the fuselage and chord wise on the upper and lower surfaces of the wings and horizontal stabilizers. National insignia in four positions)

6 in International orange overall with national insignia in four positions (All RP-63Gs)

2 in orange-yellow with flat black anti-glare panels. National insignia in four positions. (both RP-63Gs)

USSR- 19 options

6 x P-63As and 13 x P-63Cs (including 3 aircraft converted to 2 seat trainers). All in Olive Drab over Neutral Gray. National insignia in six positions.

France- 12 options

All P-63Cs in Natural metal with Olive Drab anti-glare panels. National insignia in six positions and French tri-color on both sides of fins.

Great Britain-2 options

Both P-63As – one in Natural metal with Olive drab anti-glare panel and one in Olive drab over neutral gray. National insignia in six positions . Fin flashes on both sides of the fins.

Honduras-1 option

P-63E in overall l natural metal with black anti-glare panel. National insignia on upper and lower surfaces of wing tips and both sides of rudder.

Civilian aircraft-2 options

P-63C in red overall with white letters and race numbers

P-63C in natural metal overall black letters and race numbers. This aircraft has a modified canopy and prominent nose art.

I can't imagine another company producing a more comprehensive sheet of decals for the P-63 in 1/48 scale. I have mixed feelings about single subject decal sheets with so many marking options. On one hand, I enjoy having all of the choices, but on the other hand, I think that it is unlikely that I will ever build more than a few P-63 models. Maybe I need to organize a group build that is restricted to P-63 models using only the decals on this sheet.

Rob Hart

March 2024

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