Reviews

DISCLAIMER: USAF SIG does not vouch for the accuracy or otherwise of any item - we review what we see so that you, the modeller, can make up your own mind! However, where we are aware of errors or omissions, we will note this in our review.

Caracal Models sheet CD48131 provides markings for 11 different H-19 variants, covering the US Coast Guard, USAF and Royal Navy. The following USAF aircraft are included:

• H-19A 51-3860 from the USAF during 1953. It was overall natural metal with yellow rescue bands (outlined in black) on the tailboom and "RESCUE" on the fuselage; 
• H-19A 51-3856 from the USAF in the 1950s. This was used for service in the Arctic and was overall natural metal. The upper fuselage and boom were Insignia Red (noted as FS31136 but more likely the ANA equivalent) and the aircraft also carried the yellow rescue bands. This aircraft was also one of the few to carry pontoons instead of wheels, these being painted in black. It also carried a MATS emblem on the boom;
• H-19A 51-3893 'Hopalong' from the USAF. This aircraft carried out the first transatlantic helicopter flight in 1952. It wore the standard rescue scheme, but also carried "HOPALONG" in red on the nose and a map of the route followed on the starboard side of the nose;
• H-19A 51-3862 from the USAF in the 1962. This wore the slightly later rescue scheme, where "RESCUE" on the fuselage was replaced by "U.S. AIR FORCE" on the upper fuselage and "RESCUE" in a white in a smaller blue box on the nose, outlined in yellow;
• H-19B 53-4424 from the USAF during the 1960s. This later model had a "cranked" boom versus the 'A model. It was overall natural metal with "U.S. AIR FORCE" on the upper fuselage and the serial number on the boom; 
• VH-19B 53-4436 from the Presidential Flight during the 1960s. It wore Medium Blue on the lower surfaces (marked as FS15183 but appears darker in pictures) and gloss white on the upper surfaces and boom. It carried "U.S. AIR FORCE" on the upper fuselage and carried black "34436" serial numbers, together with a medium blue fin band containing "MATS" in white.

As with all Caracal sheets, this provides an A5 instruction sheet with (at least) a colour side view of each aircraft; additional views are provided where needed, together with stencilling and nose views.

The decals are printed by Cartograf and are in perfect register, even including metallic sections where required!

This is a great sheet - such a pity it was never released in 1/72!

Review and images by Chris St Clair

• CD48131 001
  
• CD48131 002
  
• CD48131 003
  
• CD48131 004
  
• CD48131 005
  
• CD48131 006
  
• CD48131 007
  
• CD48131 008
  
• CD48131 009
  

Views

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•