This is #27 in their mini Top Colors series and covers eight aircraft. There are Spitfires of all variants from the Mk.I to the Mk. XVI. They also cover all the standard day fighter schemes and markings used by the Spitfire during the war.   Like others in this series, it is a bit difficult to categorize. Is it a book with a huge decal sheet or a huge decal sheet that has the world's largest  color and markings guide?

Regardless, the art work is superb, with the right and left side profiles filling one page. The other has upper plan view with the underside of the wings alone to show paint and markings. Each one of these subjects is based on photos and Kagero provide the references for the origin of these markings. Naturally, there is some conjecture involved, especially where the images are not complete, but they are based on the norms of the unit in question and are as accurate as they can be.

- Spitfire IIa (P8387) coded PK-H of No. 315 (Deblinski) Squadron, Northolt, August 1941,

- Spitfire Ia (X4828) coded RF-K of No. 303 (Kosciusco) Squadron, flown by F/L Wojciech Kołaczkowski, Speke, September 1941,

- Spitfire Vb (AA853) coded WX-C of No. 302 (Poznanski) Squadron, Croydon, early July 1942,

- Spitfire F.IX (BS456) coded UZ-Ż of No. 306 (Torunski) Squadron, flown by F/L Józef Żulikowski, Northolt, autumn 1942,

- Spitfire F.IX (EN179) coded SZ-J of No. 316 (Warszawski) Squadron, flown by F/L Władysław Gnyś, Northolt, spring 1943,

- Spitfire F.IX (MH353) coded WX-K of No. 302 (Poznanski) Squadron, Northolt, autumn 1943,

- Spitfire LF.IX (TA864) coded LW-L of No. 318 (Gdanski) Squadron, flown by P/O Zdzisław Uchwat, Risano near Udine, May-June 1945,

- Spitfire LF.XVI (maybe TB898) coded JH-L of No. 317 (Wilenski) Squadron, Ahlhorn, late 1945.

To modelers, a highlight of the book is a superbly printed decal sheet that offers the unique markings for each subject in 1/72, 1/48 and 1/32 scales. Fortunately for us all, at this time in the hobby's development, there are quality kits of all these planes available. The sheet itself is printed by Cartograf so you know that you are getting one of the best around.

In all, it is a great offering and one that should have you digging around in your Spitfire kit stash for one to build. 

November 2011

Review book courtesy of the fine folks at Kagero. Visit them for more books.

If you would like your product reviewed fairly and fairly quickly, please contact the editor or see other details in the Note to Contributors.