Caracal Models CD 48079: C-45 Expeditor pt 2

Caracal Models has produced a second sheet for the new ICM C-45 kit. This sheet contains options for five aircraft, most of them post war types and all are non-US aircraft. This sheet is designed for the ICM kit which is for the early WWII version and as such has the shorter, rounded upper engine nacelles. In order to properly model the later variants, the builder will need to add the extension on the upper engine nacelles and the extended inner wing roots either via aftermarket parts or with plastic card and putty. Now I'm betting that ICM will do a post war boxing with the proper upper engine nacelles as the kit is clearly designed for this, but for now, it is up to the modeler to make the adjustment.

With that in mind, here is what is on the sheet.

The first two options are for Expediter 3TMs as flown by the Royal Canadian Air Force. Both aircraft are in aluminum with white tops and have red arctic markings on the wing tip top and bottoms as well as the top and bottom of the horizontal stabs. The first is with Training Command in the 1960s while the second (which also has red fins) was with the 4th Wing in 1966. These are both later planes with the extended nacelles and note that the second option has the later roundels.

Next is a JRB-4 that was provided to the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force in the 1960s. This is an early plane with the rounded upper nacelles and is white with very large sections painted in international orange, making for a quite colorful plane.

Another early plane is an Expeditor II as supplied to RAF 231 Group in India during 1945. This is complete with SEAC roundels and is camouflaged in brown and green.

The final option is a later SNB-5 as flown by Air America in 1968. This plane is silver and blue with a white top. Markings are minimal, but it does have a pretty nice paint scheme.

The set includes full color painting and markings guide and there are enough common markings included to do most of the options. 

March 2015