Decal Manufacturer: Aeromaster

Title: Spitfire Mk V Collection Pt. II

Ref: 48-122

Scale: 1/48 

Decals: The sheet contains decals for four Supermarine Spitfire aircraft, a Royal Air Force (RAF) Mk.IIb serving with 306 (Polish) Squadron (Sqn), a RAF Mk.Vb serving with 317 (Wileński) Sqn, a South African Air Force (SAAF) a Mk.Vb serving with 40 Sqn and a Free French Air Force Forces Aériennes Françaises Libres (FAFL) Mk.Vc Trop serving with 326 Sqn (Groupe de Chasse II/7 (GC II/7) ‘Nice’). 326 Sqn was the RAF designation given to GC II/7 'Nice', a French fighter squadron that had served with the Vichy forces in North Africa before joining the Allies in 1943. On 8th Nov 1942 GC II/7 was based in Tunisia and equipped with the Dewoitine D.520. After a period of some uncertainly early in 1943, the Allies decided to re-equip the former Vichy units, and GC II/7 received the Spitfire Mk.V. In September 1943 the French helped liberate Corsica, and GC II/7 moved onto the island. On 1st December 1943 GC II/7 was given the RAF designation 326 Sqn, indicating that it was to be used outside North Africa and Corsica, and under RAF operational control. The squadron operated alongside 327 Sqn (GC I/3 'Corse'), and from the spring of 1944 was joined by 328 Squadron (GC I/7 'Provence'). The three French squadrons then formed a complete French Spitfire wing.

Includes Black solid and stencils aircraft serials, Sky, Grey, White and two part White and Red aircraft codes, nose art including small White “CERAM” titles, the Polish City the aircraft was named after, under art work of a circus artist shooting a Golden bow and arrow and riding a unicycle for 306 (Polish) Sqn Spitfire, GC II/7 ‘Nice’ aircraft markings in the form of ‘Black Panthers’ for the fuselage based on the SPA 78 markings of the GC II/7 ‘Nice’ unit badge, 306 Sqn and 317 Sqn unit badges for the two RAF Polish Sqn’s, small Polish national markings within the RAF aircraft codes for the 306 (Polish) Sqn Spitfire and under small White “POLAND” titles for the 317 (Wileński) Sqn Spitfire, three part French roundels for the fuselage and two part French roundels for the wing surfaces using RAF Roundel Blue for the centres, three and two part South African roundels for the fuselage and wing surfaces, with the Orange centres, South African fin flashes and three part British type A1 roundels for the fuselage, two part type A roundels for the lower wing surfaces and type B roundels for the upper wing surfaces and British fin flashes.

There are sufficient decals to complete one of the two RAF Spitfires, the SAAF Spitfire Mk.Vb and the FAFL Spitfire Mk.V Trop from the sheet. The RAF Spitfire Mk.IIb is finished in Dark Green and Ocean Grey uppers over Medium Sea Grey lowers, with a Sky spinner and fuselage band. The RAF Mk.Vb is finished in Dark Green and Dark Earth uppers over Sky lowers with a Sky fuselage band and White/Red banded spinner. The SAAF and the FAFL Spitfires are finished in Middle Stone and Dark Earth uppers over Azure Blue lowers with Red spinners.

Also includes a double sided A4 colour placement guide showing the side, upper and lower profiles.

Decals for four Spitfire aircraft - click the highlighted links, above and below, for images of the actual aircraft or similar:

1. Spitfire Mk.IIb, PB342 , .UZ-N, “CERAM”, Sqn Ldr Tadeusz Rolski, 306 (Polish) Sqn, Northholt, August, 1941, RAF

2. S|pitfire Mk.Vb, ADI40 , JH-H, “POLAND”, 317 (Wileński) Sqn, 1941, RAF (superb image of the actual aircraft)

3. Spitfire Mk.Vb, EP688, WR-R, 40 Sqn, Italy, Aug 1943, SAAF

4. Spitfire Mk.Vc Trop, JL3I6, 2, 326 Sqn, (GC II/7 ‘Nice’), French Fighter Wing, Borgo, Corsica, 1944, FAFL

Condition: mint, as with all older decal sheets, test a piece and if in any doubt, coat with liquid decal film before use