This new 1/32
Spitfire decal sheet
from Victory
Productions
includes
many of the aircraft featured on their very popular and long sold out 1/48
Spitfire decal sheet. This sheet includes 14 aircraft flown by some of the
most famous Aces from the British Empire.
Spitfire #1 and
Spitfire #2 was a Mk.VII MD188 flown by Wing Commander Peter Brothers of
the Culmhead Wing during June 1944 and it's paint scheme can be one of the
following. Scheme A; June 1944 Medium Sea Gray over PRU Blue or Scheme B;
late June/July 1944 Medium Sea Gray over PRU Blue or Scheme C; late summer 1944
Medium Sea Grey upper surfaces crudely overpainted with standard temperate
scheme of Ocean Grey/Dark Green in generally the standard "A" scheme
with underside of PRU blue.
Spitfire #3 is a
Mk.VIII A-58-484 flown by Group Captian Clive R. Caldwell of No. 452 Sqn
RAAF, Morotoi in early 1945 and it's paint scheme was Dark Earth (possibly
Australian Earth Brown)/Foliage Green over Medium Sea Gray.
Spitfire #4 is a
Mk.VIII A-58-602 flown by Wing Commander Robert "Bobby" Gibbes
of No. 457 Sqn RAAF, Morotoi in early 1945 and it's paint scheme was field
applied temperate scheme of Ocean Grey/Dark Green over Medium Sea Gray.
Note Sharks mouth.
Spitfire #5 is a
MK.IXb EN398 flown by Wing Commander J.E. Johnnie Johnson of Kenley Wing
during summer 1943 and it's paint scheme was Dark Green/Ocean Grey over Medium
Sea Grey with a fuselage band and spinner in sky. This Spitfire could
quite possibly be the highest scoring Spitfire of the war. Note, bottom of
fuselage band is angled.
Spitfire #6 is a
MK.IXc MA585 flown by Flight Lieutenant George "Buzz" Beurling
of 403 Sqn RCAF in September 1943 and it's paint scheme was Dark Green/Ocean
Grey over Medium Sea Grey with a fuselage band and spinner in sky. 30th
kill for "Buzz" was in September 1943.
Spitfire #7 is a
MK.IXc MH883 flown by Flight Lieutenant George "Buzz" Beurling
of 412 Sqn RCAF in December 1943 and it's paint scheme was Dark Green/Ocean Grey
over Medium Sea Grey with a fuselage band and spinner in sky. 31st and
final kill for "Buzz" was on Dec 30 1943.
Spitfire #8
is a MK.IXc BS410 flown by Captain Frances "Gabby" Gabreski of
No. 315 (Polish) Sqn in January 1943 and it's paint scheme was Dark Green/Ocean
Grey over Medium Sea Grey with a fuselage band and spinner in sky. Gabby
flew this Spitfire on his first combat mission of the war...famous Spitfire
indeed which launch the career of a VERY famous pilot.
Spitfire #9 is a
Mk.IXc EN520 flown by Squadron Leader Colin Gray of No. 81 Squadron,
Tunisia in April 1943 and it's paint scheme was Dark Earth/Middle Stone over
Azur Blue and a bright red spinner. Gray scored 5 kills during this time
frame at the end of the Tunisia campaign.
Spitfire #10 is a
Mk.IXc MA408 flown by Wing Commander Colin Gray of No. 322 Wing, Sicily in
July 1943 and it's paint scheme was Dark Earth/Middle Stone over Azur Blue and a
bright red spinner. Gray scored 5 kills during this time frame at the end
of the Tunisia campaign.
Spitfire #11 is a
MK.IXe* MK392 flown by Wing Commander J.E. Johnnie Johnson of No. 144 Wing
during summer 1944 from St. Croix-sur-Mer and it's paint scheme was Dark
Green/Ocean Grey over Medium Sea Grey with a fuselage band and spinner in sky
with 3 different options for D-Day stripes depending to date you choose.
Spitfire #12 is a
MK.IXe* MK392 flown by Wing Commander J.E. Johnnie Johnson of No. 127 Wing
during January 1945 from Eindhoven, Holland and it's paint scheme was Dark
Green/Ocean Grey over Medium Sea Grey. Basically same as above plane
without D-Day stripes or fuselage band and spinner is black.
Spitfire #13 is a
LF MK.IXe RR201 flown by Flight Lieutenant Richard "Dick" Audet
of No. 411 Squadron on December 29 1944 from Heesch, Holland and it's
paint scheme was Dark Green/Ocean Grey over Medium Sea Grey with a fuselage band
and spinner in sky. On Dec 29 1944 "Dick" shot down 2 Bf-109's
and 3 Fw-190 in a single mission......and even more amazing is his canopy came
off halfway through the attacks.
Spitfire #14
is a MK.IXe "MK329" flown by Wing Commander J.E. Johnnie Johnson
of No. 144 Wing during summer 1944 from St. Croix-sur-Mer and it's paint scheme
was Dark Green/Ocean Grey over Medium Sea Grey with a fuselage band and spinner
in sky. This is the famous "JEJ Jr" that was used to ferry beer kegs
for Squadron parties.....kegs were held on hard points under the wing(s).
Plane was created from spares from wrecks.
Click on
images below to see larger images
The instruction
sheets are full of data. War stories, painting information, decal
placement info of course and even highly detailed info on what type of gun to
fit....what type of prop and wheels to fit or what type of Antenna or windscreen
to fit. Heck the info is packed into this set....amazingly complete.
Often a model can become stalled on the workbench because a modeller doesn't
know what prop or wheels to fit.....these instruction sheets have done the
research leg work for you with regards to these critical details.
The decals
themselves are beautifully printed and perfectly in register. These decals
are thick enough to provide good coverage of colours, but thin enough to conform
nicely. Considering the fantastic variety of famous pilots and planes
featured......I think most modellers will find quite a few Spitfires on this
sheet they would love to build and add to their collection. I do not see
this decal sheet lasting long and I do see many 1/32 Spitfire kits being sold
due to the release of this one decal sheet.
There are 2 types of
modellers in this world.....those that bought the legendary Victory
Prodcutions 1/48
Spitfire decal sheet and those that didn't but wish they did. Now history
is repeating itself in 1/32 scale......don't miss out on this sheet if you have
a passion for Spitfire flown by the various countries of the Commonwealth.
Steve
I would like to
thank Victory
Prodcutions for
providing me with this review sample.
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