US Spitfires

Africa and Italy
 

AeroMaster Decals
 

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

Aeromaster's 1/48 scale US Spitfires Africa and Italy is available online from Squadron.com

Looking for some different markings to apply to your Spitfires? 

This sheet from AeroMaster Products will supply them for you.  Sheet 48-624 is amongst the new batch of decals recently released from AeroMaster.  It gives you markings for four different mark Supermarine Spitfires wearing USAAF markings during WWII. 

First machine is ER180, a Mk Vc (Trop) of the 307^th Fighter Squadron.  Camouflage scheme is dark earth/middle stone over azure blue with a white spinner.  The supplied markings consist of:  

• Early white star on blue circle with yellow surround US national insignia in four places.

• A red and white shark mouth and eyes for the nose with a smaller set of eyes for the cannon barrels.  The shark mouth is a two-part decal to ease placement.

• White MX P squadron codes.

• Black ER180 serial.

Next is MB113, a Seafire IIc of the Royal Navy's Force H that wore bogus US markings for Operation Torch in November 1942.  Camouflage scheme is extra dark sea grey/dark slate grey over sky with a red spinner.  Markings consist of:

• Early white star on blue circle US national insignia in six places.

• Fin flashes.

• White 6H B squadron codes.

• Black MB113 serial and small US NAVY titles.

The third machine is "FARGO Express" a MK VIII (no serial given) flown by Captain Leland P Holland of the 308th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group out of Castel Volturno, Italy in February/March 1944.  Camouflage scheme is dark earth/middle stone over azure blue with a red spinner.

• The supplied markings consist of: the later style Star and Bar US national insignia in four places.

• White HL K squadron insignia.

• "FARGO Express" nose art.

• A scoreboard consisting of five black swastikas and a single white swastika.

• Yellow band theatre markings for the upper and lower surfaces of the each wing.

The final aircraft is MH894 "Lady Ellen III", a Mk IX of the 309th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group.  Camouflage is dark green/ocean grey over medium sea grey with a red spinner.  The spinner back plate is either sky or natural metal.  Markings consist of:

• Red bordered US star and bar insignia in four places.

• White WZ JJ squadron codes.

• White "Lady Ellen III" scripts.

• A white rectangle with that lists the pilot's and ground crew's names in black.

• An unusually small black MH894 serial that is applied in an equally unusual position for Spitfires – on the top of the fin.

• Theatre markings for the wings, this time in red.

A single set of comprehensive set of stencil data is also supplied.  These stencils look like the same ones that AeroMaster has previously supplied as a separate sheet.  Sufficient markings are supplied to produce each and every option on the sheet.   The Placement guide is a little different from AeroMaster's normal practice in that provides a fairly comprehensive discourse on the general colour schemes worn by the Spitfire whilst it was used by 31st Fighter Group – a good move AeroMaster.  The placement sheet and decals come packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag. 

The references quoted are American Spitfires Part I and Part II (or to give them their correct title, American Spitfire Camouflage and Markings Part I and Part II) by Paul Ludwig and Malcolm Laird.  These are Ventura Publications out of New Zealand.  If you have only a passing interest in Spitfires flown by the USAAF these two books are worth tracking down. 

The decals themselves have been printed by Cartograf.  The decals are beautifully printed and in perfect register.  Cartograf decals can be a bear to use.  They are definitely not as user friendly as those produced by Microscale.  Persistence is the key note with Cartograf decals.  That, coupled with copious settling agent and a sharp pin will ensure that you end up with the desired solution. 

The recommended kits are the Hasegawa, Tamiya and Airfix ones.  Be aware that the Tamiya kit is a Mk Vb and not a Mk Vc. 

A nice sheet from AeroMaster. 

Recommended.

hanks to AeroMaster Products for the review sets

On-line sales are available from the AeroMaster Products / Eagle Strike Productions web site.

Review TextCopyright © 2003 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 24 July, 2003
Last updated 14 August, 2003

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