Exito Decals 1/48 "In Enemy Hands"
By Jacob Russell
This new colorful 1/48th scale decal sheet from Exito Decals covers 3 Luftwaffe planes captured and flown by the RAF during World War 2. They are as follows:
Junkers Ju-88 A-4, Werknummer 300227, 87th FS/79th FG, Foggia, Italy, autumn 1943. This Ju-88 had a complex and fascinating color scheme. It was originally painted in RLM 70/71 Greens over black with tight RLM 65 Light Blue squiggles over the upper surfaces. After its capture the entire rear fuselage, lower wings, outer upper wings and the lower engine nacelles were painted RAF Identification Yellow and the spinners and cowling flaps were painted RAF Dull Red.
Messerschmitt Bf109K-4, coded "Yellow 5", Salzburg-Maxglan, Austria, Italy, mid-1945. Exito's interpretation of this interesting K-4 differs considerably from that of one the references cited in the instructions, Eagle Editions' Wings of the Black Cross Number Four. It is depicted here as painted in the mid War RLM 74/75 Greys over 76 Light Blue with the fin and rudder in RLM 81 Brown Violet with hard edged splotches of RLM 83. The spinner was RLM 70 Dark Green and the rudder was RLM 02 Yellow with another RLM 02 band around the cowling. The German national markings on the port wing were over painted with crude USAAF markings as were the national markings on the fuselage sides. The swastikas were over painted with off white paint.
Heinkel He 111 H-6, coded "HS-?" and named "Delta Lily", No. 211 Group RAF, North Africa, December 1942. This He 111 was originally coded 5J+GR and painted in RLM 70/71 Greens over RLM 65 Light Blue with the 65 extending over the wing leading edges. After its capture the rudder painted in RAF colors and all of the national insignia were over painted and replaced. There were 2 RAF Identification Yellow fuselage bands and the spinners were RAF Dull Red.
Cartograph of Italy printed the decals and they are top quality with tight registration. They are brightly colored and crisply printed. The decals come with a 2-sided color profile for each plane, with period photographs and a guide to applying the decals plus color call outs for AK Interactive, Tamiya and GSI Creos Mr. Hobby paints.
This is a first class product. All 3 planes are colorful and interesting. If you're looking for some markings for your next Ju-88, Bf109K-4 or Heinkel He 111 model here are some options worth considering. I recommend these decals and I would like to thank Exito Decals for the review sample.