PYN-up Decals

Fortress Chicks Part 1 and Part 2

Stock Number: PYND-72007, PYND-72008

Reviewed By Clarence “Clare” Wentzel, #11478

These two sheets are additional examples of the excellent new line of nose art decals from PYN-up Decals.  As mentioned previously, this line of decals features photo-realistic reproductions of different items of nose art.  Each decal includes an excellent full color direction sheet to show decal placement and special painting and construction requirements.  This is augmented with an additional page containing a small history of the subjects, directions for applying the decals, color references and a bibliography.  Two decal sheets are provided, a standard sheet, which contains general markings and insignia and then the separate photo realistic nose art.  This latter sheet is much thinner and more fragile than normal decals and must be handled with care.

The first decal set contains markings for two different B-17s.  The first is a B-17G-20-BO of the 323rd Bomb Squadron / 91st Bomb Group based at Great Ashford, England in February 1944.  This airplane was named “Mount N Ride”.  The Vargas type girl was painted by the famous 91st Bomb Group artist, Tony Starcer.  On its seventh mission, this aircraft was damaged and landed in Dubendorf, Switzerland where it was interned for the remainder of the war.  The second aircraft on the sheet is the “Cincinnati Queen”.  This was a B-17F-115-BO of the 569th Bombing Squadron / 390th Bomb Group based at Framlingham, England in early 1944.  This was one of the original aircraft of the Group.

The people at PYN-up provide additional details such as areas where the deicer boots have been removed as well as differences in the color of the olive drab paint on certain fin panels.   They do not necessarily provide specific details of the basic aircraft.  The modeler must check out any differences between the kit that is used and the model that he is building.  As an example, “Mount N Ride” is an early B-17G and did not have the staggered waist gun positions of later models.  Check your kit before starting assembly.

The second decal set contains markings for a single natural metal B-17G-50-DL of the 550th Bomb Squadron / 385th Bomb Group based at Great Ashford, England in the spring of 1945.  This was a brand new B-17G that was named “Ruby’s Raiders” in honor of Corporal Ruby Newell of the 3rd Bomb Division staff.  She had been voted as the most beautiful WAC in the ETO in a Stars & Stripes readers’ poll.  Corporal Ploss of the 385th Bomb Group painted the beautiful artwork.

For this aircraft, the designers at PYN-up indicate those areas where they cannot find specific photos to confirm details of the full “Ruby’s Raiders” markings but they take you through the logic that they used to provide the markings on the sheet.  They have indicated that the aircraft was a late model B-17G and featured staggered waist guns.  They also mention areas on this natural metal airplane what were painted Neutral Gray by sub-contractors.  The only minor problem that I noted is where the direction sheet lists the width of stripes that must be painted on the wings and horizontal stabilizers.  The dimensions listed are correct for 1/48 scale models but must be reduced for to .67 and .50 inches for 1/72.

I have seen examples of “Ruby’s Raiders” on some old decal sheets printed by conventional methods.  The photo realistic process of the PYN-up sheets is a day and night improvement.  Your model will look as good as the original B-17.

I have always enjoyed the subject of nose art and own a number of sets of decals featuring different examples of the art.  One sheet from the bottom of my stash also features Mount N Ride.  The attached photo shows the improvement between the photo realistic process of the PYN-up sheets and the normal printing process normally used for all decals.

As mentioned previously, this new range of decals is somewhat expensive but they will also be unique. Only 300 examples of each sheet will be available, so interested modelers should order these while the supply lasts.  Generally, where appropriate, each sheet is produced in both 1/72 and 1/48 scale.  According to the direction sheet, these decals are only available from Meteor Productions – www.meteorprod.com.

I have yet to use these sheets but am looking forward to building some models that will utilize these famous examples of nose art.  Well recommended.  My thanks to Meteor Productions for providing this sample and to John Noack for letting me review this product.

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