Every once in a while, IPMS Canada includes a decal sheet in their quarterly magazine and such is the case this time. These sheets are accompanied by articles on whatever the subject might happen to be. In this case, these are all aircraft for which there are kits available or at least ones that can be fairly easily modified to match what is provided.

First of all, of the seven nice articles included, two have nothing to do with the sheet. The first is a rather unusual subject for most plastic modelers and that is a WWII German locomotive. In this nicely illustrated article, Barry Maddin builds the Trumpeter 1/35 Reichsbahn BR 52 kit. As with many kits, it benefits from some good research and some additional bits and such is the case here. A very interesting article to say the least.

The other non-decal article is on painting wood grain textures. This is something I simply have failed at pretty much every time I've tried. Brian Latour gives us an excellent step by step on recreating this finish and perhaps even this old dog should give it a go.

Then we get into the decal articles.

First is a C-45 in RCAF service. Both 1/48 and 1/72 markings are provided and there are kits from Hobbycraft and ICM. This is a post war plane so the ICM kit will need an upgrade set which is available.

Next is the XP-40 which visited Ottawa in 1940 to allow some RCAF pilots a chance to fly it. To properly duplicate this one in 1/48 you should start with a P-36 and graft an early P-40 nose as that is pretty much what Curtiss did to make the XP-40.

Third is Canada's first Spitfire. This plane was also at Ottawa to allow USAAF pilots a chance to fly it. This one is an easier plane to duplicate, but one has to remember this is a very early Spitfire and there are differences from a later Mk.I. This, like the XP-40 is provided in 1/48 scale.

The fourth option is an NA-64 Yale as seen in the movie 'Captains of the Clouds'. In 1/72 there is a ready to go kit while in 1/48 one starts with the Ocidental T-6 kit and adds a conversion set.

Finally, my choice of a kit to build is the Norseman of Jimmy Cagney from the above film. This is little more than a paint and decal job on the 1/72 Revell/Maltchbox kit and a most welcome scheme.

Now for the bad news. IPMS Canada only produces enough decals to meet the needs of current subscribers. No spares. This means that in order to get in on the deal, you need to be a member of IPMS Canada  Simply trade uncolorful money for full color magazines. It is well worth it. As a bonus, you also get their e-mail editions of Beaver Tails, which is separate from the magazine. As an added bonus, you get to be in with a group of really great people. Can't get much better than that, eh?

July 2018

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