1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Aces, Pt.4

The fourth part of the series devoted to Spitfire aces

The sheet brings ten complete color schemes of Supermarine Spitfire fighters whose pilots were among the most successful airmen of the Royal Air Force. The span of time reaches from Mk.IIA machines of 1941 through the Mk.VB and Mk.VC versions to the Mk.IX and a late Mk.VIII that operated from the island of Morotai in 1945.

The names behind the individual schemes

Here you will find the aircraft of Brian Lane, commander of No. 19 Squadron, the machine of Eric Lock of No. 611 Squadron and the one flown by Neville Duke, who in Libya in 1943 was still building the reputation of the later record breaker and test pilot. Bobby Oxspring appears twice, first over the Channel with No. 91 Squadron and later in Algeria with No. 72 Squadron. The line-up is closed by the New Zealander Evan Mackie of No. 243 Squadron from Malta and by the Australian ace Clive Caldwell.

What the sheet contains

• ten schemes with national markings, unit codes and personal emblems
• fuselage letters and serial numbers for every machine
• a thin carrier film that practically disappears under the varnish once dry
• the spacing matches the usual Spitfire kits in this size

Give the surface under the artwork a gloss coat first, cut the individual pieces out close to the edge and settle them on a moistened surface. A decal softener will help the film flow over rivets and panel lines. The plastic kit and the paints are not part of the delivery.

Dividing the series into five parts has its logic: the sheets do not go by version but by people, so machines from different theaters and different years meet in one package. Anyone building a display case of successful fighter pilots can put it together this way without the schemes repeating.