Euro Decals 1/35 Supermarine Spiftire Mk.Vb
By Jacob Russell
Euro Decals' new decal sheet covers the Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vb in service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) and South Africa Air Force (SAAF). The earliest Mk.Vbs retained the full-span wings of the Mks. I and II but later clipped wings of 30 feet 6 inch span were introduced. The Mk.Vb used various versions of the liquid-cooled 12 cylinder Merlin 45, 46, and later engines. The landing gear's forward rake was increased by 2 inches and 4 cannon could fit in the later Mk.Vc wing.
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There are 11 decal options on the sheet. They include:
"AZ*B," BL415, Spitfire LF Mk.Vb, Lt. Walt "Johnnie" Johnson, 234 (Madras Presidency) Squadron, Royal Air Force, based at RAF Deanland, June 6, 1944. This Mk. Vb had the clipped wings for low-altitude combat and was painted in the classic Mid-War European Theatre colors of Ocean Grey and Dark Green over Medium Sea Grey with a Sky Type "S" aircraft codes, fuselage band and spinner. Invasion Stripes wrapped around the mid wings and fuselage.
"ZX*S," ER228, Spitfire Mk.Vb Trop, 145 Squadron, Royal Air Force, based at RAF Deanland, June 6, 1944. This Mk.Vb was painted in Desert Theatre colors of Middle Stone and Dark Earth over Azure Blue with a Red spinner. This aircraft was fitted with a Volks tropical filter and the aircraft codes were Blue with a White outline.
"YQ*X" 3458, Spitfire Mk.Vb Trop, Lt. Les "Buck" Casson, 616 (South Yorkshire) Squadron, Royal Air Force, based at RAF Tangmere, August 9, 1941. This airplane was painted in the Early-War European Theatre colors of Dark Earth and Dark Green over Medium Sky Type "S." The spinner and fuselage band were painted Sky Blue and the aircraft codes were Dark Grey..
"NN*E," EP464, Spitfire Mk.Vb of 310 (Czech) Squadron, Royal Air Force, based at RAF Exeter, July 1942. This Mk. Vb was painted Ocean Grey and Dark Green over Medium Sea Grey with a Sky Type "S" fuselage band, aircraft codes and spinner. White Stripes cover the upper surfaces of the nose and the horizontal stabilizers.
"WR*O," JK792, Spitfire Mk.Vb Trop, 40 Squadron, South African Air Force, Italy, 1944. This Mk. Vb Trop had clipped wings and was painted in Desert Theatre colors of Middle Stone and Dark Earth over Azure Blue with a Red spinner. This aircraft was fitted with a Volks sand filter and the aircraft codes were White.
"JU*E," W3458, Spitfire Mk.Vb of 111 Squadron, Royal Air Force, based at RAF North Weald, October, 1941. This plane was painted in overall Night (Black) with Dark Red aircraft codes. Exhaust anti-glare panels were fitted.
"DW*B," EB254, Spitfire Mk.Vb, Squadron Leader J.E. "Johnnie" Johnson, C.O. of 610 (County of Chester) Squadron, Royal Air Force, based at RAF West Maling, August 9, 1942. This Mk. Vb was painted in Ocean Grey and Dark Green over Medium Sea Grey with a Sky Type "S" fuselage band, aircraft codes and spinner.
"RY*S," EP644, Spitfire LF Mk.Vb, of 313 (Czech) Squadron, Royal Air Force, based at RAF Churchstanton, March 1943. This Mk. Vb clipped wings and was painted in Ocean Grey and Dark Green over Medium Sea Grey with a Sky Type "S" fuselage band, aircraft codes and spinner.
"GN*H," AB264, Spitfire Mk.Vb Trop, 249 Squadron, Royal Air Force, based at Ta'Qali, Malta, 1942. This Mk.Vb Trop had the Volks sand filter and was painted the unusual colors of Dark Earth and Dark Sea Grey over Sky Type "S." The spinner was Sea Grey and the aircraft codes were White.
"WR*D," ER622, Spitfire Mk.Vb Trop, 40 Squadron, South African Air Force, based at Gabes, North Africa, April 1943. This Mk.Vb Trop had clipped wings and was painted in Middle Stone and Dark Earth over Azure Blue with a Red spinner. This aircraft was fitted with the"Aboukir" sand filter and the aircraft codes were red with a white outline..
"YO*H," BL753, Spitfire Mk.Vb, Plt. Don Blakselee, 401 Ram Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, based at RAF Gravesend, May 1942. This Mk.Vb was painted Ocean Grey and Dark Green over Medium Sea Grey with a Sky type "S" fuselage and spinner.
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The decals are crammed together on a large single sheet; you'll have "fun" cutting them out! They are crisply printed, the colors are vibrant and all decals are in register. 1/35th scale aircraft is a slowly growing scale for modelers wanting to put aircraft and armor together in dioramas. This is a great decal sheet, with 11 neat options. I recommend this sheet and would like to thank Fantasy Printshop for the review. My sincere apologies to Fantasy Printshop for the delay in completing this review.
References
Spitfire in Action, Aircraft Number39, by Jerry Scutts, Squadron/Signal Publications, 1980