I’m looking for the Cutting Edge CED48268 decals for a 1/48 scale F4U-4 I’m going to build. Two of the Corsairs depicted on the decal sheet are from VF-32. VF-32 flew off the carrier USS Leyte during the Korean War. The Corsair that I am interested in is that of Ensign Jesse Brown, the US Navy’s first black aviator. He died when his Corsair was shot down near the Chosin Resevoir in 1950. I’ve done a broad internet search trying to find these decals to no avail. If someone can point me toward these decals or who has these decals and is willing to part with them, I would very much appreciate it.
Cutting Edge shut down many years ago. Ultracast has that set on their site for WAYYYYY TOO MUCH.
But on the plus side, most of the markings are “generic”, as is typical for USN aircraft of that era. If you can get a number/letter set, you can do the tail code and numbers for that F4U.
Wait a minute! I just ordered the decals off the Cutting Edge/Fine Art of Decals website! Have I made a mistake? The copyright date at the bottom of the page is 1996-2016. Geez. Well, if the charge doesn’t appear on my credit card statement in a month. I hope I haven’t thrown my money away.
I just now emailed the Fine Art of Decals support. We’ll see what happens.
Old stock perhaps? They were part of Meteor Productions with resin and all sorts of goodies. Great stuff! If you found them, and did not pay the obscene price that Ultracast is asking for that set, well done!
Just looked at Ultracast’s website. Didn’t see those decals but the prices on Cutting Edge decals is very exorbitant to say the least.
Also heard back from Dave Klaus! He’s still in the decal business. So I guess (hope) I can look forward to receiving the decal sheet for ENS Jesse Brown’s Corsair.
Heard from Dave again. The decals go into the mail tomorrow! Now that’s customer service!
That’s good news, I used his sheet for my Olathe NAS Corsair. BTW, Frank, have you read the book “Devotion” that chronicled Brown’s and also Tom Hudner’s lives up to the point of that incident? They were great examples of sacrifice and courage.
I have not read Hudner’s book. I found out about ENS Brown when I watched a program about black aviators, from Bessie Coleman to Chappie James. Plus, at The Gathering of Mustangs and Legends back in '07, I had the opportunity to meet some of the veterans of the 332 Fighter Group. I’ve seen the episode about black aviators a few times. Each time, when it gets to Jesse Brown’s story, I cry. Brown’s and Hudner’s stories need to be told often. Just like the Tuskegee Airmen, they are true heros and great Americans.
I have a Red Tail Mustang I’ll be starting soon as well as ENS Brown’s Corsair, when the decals arrive.
“Devotion” is authored by Adam Makos, same guy who wrote “A Higher Call”. It has a lot of storylines from different perspectives, it’s truly worth the read. There’s also a museum in Mississippi with a display commemorating Brown. I can’t remember the name, but if you Google it, they may be online.
Well, the decals arrived today. They look great. The marking and codes are very simple. I may scan them and have stencils made so I can paint the markings instead of using the decals themselves. The decal set includes marking for Thomas Hudner’s airplane too. May end up building both Corsairs.
I checked the Seminole County Library for the books Devotion and A Higher Call by Adam Makos. The Library does not have them. I’m going to check with a couple of used book stores locally to try to find them.
You may ask your Librarian to check for any Library exchange program they are associated with. If so, then your Library can request an inter-library loan of your books, if they are in the system.
I have both books. However, you will find Devotion at your local Barnes and Nobles in the clearance aisle. They’re going for $9.98. With a 10% coupon, you can get it for even less than that.
