This is the first sheet from Modelingtime and they have chosen a subject for which I have not seen a sheet before. This one covers the full history of the Spitfire in Italian service and from what I can see, they have hit every difference in markings. First thing, the decals themselves are superbly printed with no printing errors by Fantasy Printshop. These are world class printers so your markings will not only be opaque, but will work with setting solutions.

The documentation for the aircraft is a bit different from what I have seen in the past. You are provided with five card thickness inserts that have markings information on both sides of each insert. At the bottom of each card is a color guide in both standard and FS 595 paint reference. On the back of the last card is more information on these planes as well as a paint reference chart for a number of paint companies. Note that because of space limitations and the nature of the markings guide, only samples of each are provided. You can see them all at the links in the stats section or at the end of the review.

Each of the eleven entries gives information on the aircraft in question as far as can be determined. There are also some small detail drawings for things like prop logo placement and spinner designs when not standard.

We start off with a pair of Spitfire IXs in standard RAF camouflage except for the yellow wing leading edge ID bands. The first one has a red spinner and is the aircraft that is currently in the Italian Air Force Museum. Unlike period planes, this one does not have light paint where the RAF roundels were painted out. The second camouflaged Mk IX does have this feature. It was attached to the 102 Gruppo, 5 Stormo with the unit badge on the fin. This aircraft has a blue spinner.

Now we go into a selection of unpainted metal Spitfire IXs, the scheme most of us are familiar with. These all have black anti-glare panels on the nose and aside from different unit badges or serial size or code letter size/placement are pretty uniform in general appearance.

First of this group is from 155 Gruppo, 51 Stormo from 1948. It has a unit badge on the fin and a name on the nose in red. Red spinner with a large number 99 under each wing. Next is from 101 Gruppo, 5 Stormo with the unit badge on the fin and a white spinner. This aircraft and the previous one have very small serial numbers. Next plane is from 51 Stormo and has a polished aluminum spinner with the number 46 under each wing.

Next is the first of three with code letters/numbers on the fuselage. A-43 was assigned to the Air Force Chief of Staff. 51*26 was assigned to 155 Gruppo, 51 Stormo. The final one is S-3*104 assigned to the Flying School. This last one has a slightly different shape to the anti-glare panel. All of these Spitfires are from the period 1948-1950.

Finally, we come to three wartime or late 1945 Spitfire Vb/c aircraft. The first in a very fetching scheme we might see on a G-55 is from 20 Gruppo, 51 Stormo in November 1955. All three of these last entries have the Volkes filter. Next, in RAF colors with the RAF markings overpainted in a grey is another 20 Gruppo, 51 Stormo plane from Winter 1945. Note the codes are on the fin with these planes. The final one is also from the same unit, but from the autumn of 1944.

The decal sheet has enough roundels to do two aircraft and a goodly selection of stencils as well. Recommended kits are ICM and Airfix. I imagine the Hasegawa kit is not recommended due to it being 4 scale inches short. However, if you have a Mk.IX kit in 1/48, you can use these decals. For the Spit V, the Tamiya kit is recommended.

In all, it is a superb initial offering and if you like Spitfires or Italian air force planes, you should seriously consider this one.

August 2012

Thanks to Modelingtime for the review sheet. You can get yours from the link.

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