Supermarine Spitfire F.IX - Gabreski's Spitfires.

Set #72044 - 5.55 EUR
Set #48075 - 7.41 EUR

Three aircraft are featured from Gabreski's time with 315 Sqn.:
1. Spitfire F.IX, BS513, PK-Z, flown by Gabreski on a training sortie on 4th January 1943 (the instructions state 1942).
2. Spitfire F.IX, EN172, PK-K, flown by Gabreski on a Rodeo to St. Omer 4th February 1943.
3. Spitfire F.IX, BS410, PK-E, flown by Gabreski on his first combat sortie with 315 Sqn. on 21st January 1943.

The set includes national markings and a full set of stencils for one aircraft, plus the individual markings for all three. Along with the decals, there are vinyl painting masks for the canopy and wing leading-edge stripes. The instructions are excellent, with full-colour camouflage and markings diagrams and a clear guide to placing the numerous stencils. The colours are given their RAF names along with nearest FS equivalents.

Accompanying the painting instructions is a very handy bi-lingual sheet outlining the distinctive points of the Spitfire F.IX and a log of all the flights made by Gabreski in 315 Sqn., with details of the type, serial number and squadron code in each case.

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX.

Set #72048 - 5.55 EUR
Set #48079 - 7.41 EUR

Once again 3 Spits are featured, but they are more varied than Gabreski's.

1. Spitfire F.IX, SZ-V, MA563, of 316 Sqn., summer 1943.
2. Spitfire LF.IX, ZF-R, MK984, St. Denijs, Belgium, autumn 1944, with fuselage stripes.
3. Spitfire LF.IX, LW-D, PL353, of 318 Sqn., Italy, 1945.

Antoni Lachetta has conducted a detailed analysis of the featured aircraft in the forum .

As before, the schemes are illustrated in colour and backed up with a stencil placement diagram. Vinyl painting masks round off a very neat package.

As usual with Techmod decals, the printing in both sets is second to none. The decals are thin, with excellent colour depth and minimal carrier film. The register is literally perfect and the smallest stencil markings are legible (with the aid of a magnifier!) even in 1/72 scale. The colours look pretty good, with a decent version of Sky for the fuselage codes and bands. WW2 Roundel Red is always a fun topic for debate and Techmod have chosen a duller red than used for the small Polish squadron markings. I've seen a more "brick red" in some WW2 colour photos and paint chips, but there does seem to have been a degree of variation, so Techmod's colour is a fair compromise. The sheets include decals to represent fabric patches printed in bright red and these I really would replace with scraps painted in Red Oxide to represent the doped originals.

Conclusion

Another pair of great sets from Techmod, which deserve to be a big success among Spitfire fans. Superb quality and very reasonably priced - what more can you ask for? Recommended.

contact details.

The samples were very kindly supplied by Adalbertus, Techmod's sole export representative.

Please remember, when contacting retailers or manufacturers, to mention that you saw their products highlighted here - on AEROSCALE.